Gigabyte GA-K8NS ULTRA-939 user manual III. Q How does DualBIOS technology work? Answer

Page 60

English

III.Q: How does DualBIOStechnology work? Answer:

This new technology will eliminate valuable system down time and costly repair bills cause by BIOS failures.

1.DualBIOStechnology provides a wide range of protection during the boot up procedure. It protects your BIOS during system POST, ESCD update, and even all the way to PNP detection/assignment.

2.DualBIOSprovides automatic recovery for the BIOS. When the first BIOS used during boot up does not complete or if a BIOS checksum error occurs, boot-up is still possible. In the DualBIOSutility, the "Auto Recovery" option will guarantee that if either the main BIOS or backup BIOS is corrupted, the DualBIOStechnology will use the good BIOS and correct the wrong BIOS automatically.

3.DualBIOSprovides manual recovery for the BIOS. DualBIOStechnology contains a built-in flash utility, which can flash your system BIOS from backup to main and/or visa versa. There is no need for an OS-dependent flash utility program.

4.DualBIOScontains a one-way flash utility. The built-in one-way flash utility will ensure that the corrupt BIOS is not mistaken as the good BIOS during recovery and that the correct BIOS (main vs. backup) will be flashed. This will prevent the good BIOS from being flashed.

IV. Q: Who Needs DualBIOStechnology?

Answer:

This new technology will eliminate valuable system down time and costly repair bills cause by BIOS failures. 1. Every user should have DualBIOStechnology due to the advancement of computer viruses. Everyday, there are new BIOS-type viruses discovered that will destroy your system BIOS. Most commercial products on the market do not have solutions to guard against this type of virus intrusion. The DualBIOS

technology will provide a state-of-the-art solution to protect your PC:

Case I.)

Vicious computer viruses may wipe out your entire system BIOS. With a conventional single

 

system BIOS PC, the PC will not be functional until it is sent for repairs.

Case II.)

If the "Auto Recovery" option is enabled in the DualBIOSutility, and if a virus corrupts your

 

system BIOS, the backup BIOS will automatically reboot the system and correct the main BIOS.

Case III.)

A user may override booting from the main system BIOS. The DualBIOSutility may be en-

 

tered to manually change the boot sequence to boot from the backup BIOS.

2.During or after a BIOS upgrade, if DualBIOSdetects that the main BIOS is corrupt, the backup BIOS will take over the boot-up process automatically. Moreover, it will verify the main and backup BIOS checksums when booting-up. DualBIOStechnology examines the checksum of the main and backup BIOS while the system is powered on to guarantee your BIOS operates properly.

3.Power Users will have the advantage of having two BIOS versions on their mainboard. The benefit is being able to select either version BIOS to suit the performance system needs.

4.Flexibility for high-end desktop PCs and workstation/servers. In the DualBIOSutility, the option can be set, "Halt On When BIOS Defects" to be enabled to halt your system with awarning message that the main BIOS has been corrupted. Most workstation/servers require constant operation

to guarantee services have not been interrupted. In this situation, the "Halt On When BIOS Defects" m e s s a g e m a y b e d i s a b l e d t o a v o i d s y s t e m p a u s e s d u r i n g n o r m a l b o o t i n g . Another advantage you gain from Giga-Byte's DualBIOStechnology is the ability to upgrade from

GA-K8NS Ultra-939 Motherboard

- 60 -

Image 60
Contents GA-K8NS Ultra-939 Mother Board Motherboard GA-K8NS Ultra-939 Read Me First Installing the motherboard to the chassis Prepare your computerTable of Contents Table of Contents Features Summary IntroductionALC850 Codec UAJ GA-K8NS Ultra-939 Motherboard Layout Ultra-939Block Diagram CPUEnglish Hardware Installation Process StepInstall the Central Processing Unit CPU English Install Memory Modules DDRDual Channel DDR Dual Channel Technology DS Double Side, SS Single SideInstall Expansion Cards Install I/O Peripherals Cables PS/2 Keyboard and PS/2 Mouse ConnectorParallel Port, Serial Ports Coma / Comb USB/LAN Connector Audio ConnectorsPlease note Connectors Introduction ATX12V / ATX Power Connector 5 Cpufan / Sysfan / Pwrfan Cooler Fan Power Connector Nbfan Chip Fan ConnectorFDD Floppy Connector IDE1 / IDE2 IDE ConnectorSATA0SB / SATA1SB SATA0SII / SATA1SII Serial ATA Connector BatteryFpanel Front Panel Jumper Pwrled Faudio Front Audio Connector 15 2XLEDSurcen Surround Center Connector Spdifio Spdif In / Out ConnectorCdin CD In Connector FUSB1 / FUSB2 Front USB Connector21 F11394 / F21394 Front IEEE1394 Connector IrcirGame Game Connector InfolinkClrcmos Clear Cmos English Bios Setup Main Menu For example Bios Ver. E1 Load Optimized Defaults Set Supervisor PasswordSet User Password Save & Exit SetupStandard Cmos Features DateTime Floppy 3 Mode Support for Japan Area Drive a / Drive BHalt on MemoryAdvanced Bios Features Hard Disk Boot PriorityFirst / Second / Third Boot Device Boot Up Floppy SeekPassword Check Felxible AGPInit Display First IDE Function Setup Integrated PeripheralsIDE Channel 0 Master RAID IDE Channel 0 Slave RAIDIDE Channel 1 Master RAID IDE Channel 1 Slave RAIDOnboard LAN Boot ROM Parallel Port ModeVIA On-Chip LAN nVIDIA Onboard Serial ATA Onboard SiI3512 chipsetECP Mode Use DMA IDE DMA transfer accessGame Port Address Midi Port AddressPower Management Setup Resume by AlarmPME Event Wake Up Modem Ring OnPower On by Mouse Power On by KeyboardKB Power on Password AC Back FunctionPnP/PCI Configurations PCI 3 IRQ AssignmentPCI 4 IRQ Assignment PCI 1/5 IRQ AssignmentPC Health Status MB Intelligent TweakerM.I.T Top Performance Select LanguageLoad Optimized Defaults Set Supervisor/User PasswordSave & Exit Setup Exit Without SavingEnglish @BIOSTM Introduction Technical ReferenceFlash Bios Method Introduction What is Dual Bios Technology?How to use Dual Bios and Q-Flash Utility? Wide Range Protection DisableDefault, Enable Boot From Main BIOSDefault, Backup BiosAuto Recovery EnableDefault, Disable Halt On Error DisableDefault, EnableWhat is Q-Flash Utility? How to use Q-Flash?Save Main Bios to Floppy / Save Backup Bios to Floppy Whats DualBIOS? What is DualBIOS technology? AnswerIII. Q How does DualBIOS technology work? Answer IV. Q Who Needs DualBIOS technology? AnswerMethod 2 @BIOS Utility Methods and stepsEnglish Stereo Speakers Connection and Settings 6- / 8- Channel Audio Function IntroductionChannel Analog Audio Output Mode English Channel Audio Setup using Audio Combo Kit, Optional Device English Spdif Output Device Optional Device Spdif output device is available onIntroduction of audio connectors Jack-Sensing and UAJ IntroductionAuto-detecting Manual setting Enable UAJ functionUAJ Introduction Xpress Recovery Introduction What is Xpress Recovery ?How to use the Xpress Recovery F9 For Xpress Recovery Press F9 during powering on the computerRemove Backup Image  Remove backup image. Are you sure? Y/N Exit and RestartSerial ATA Bios Setting Utility Introduction RAID LevelsConfiguring the Nvidia RAID Bios Entering the RAID Bios SetupUsing the Define a New Array Window Completing the RAID Bios SetupSelecting the RAID Mode Selecting the Striping Block SizeBBS Installing the RAID drivers English English Install Drivers Pictures below are shown in Windows XPItem Description Software Application Software Information FAQ Long 2 short Monitor or display card error Troubleshooting END Technical Support/RMA Sheet Acronyms Ioapic English English English Contact Us Taiwan HeadquartersChina Shanghai

GA-K8NS ULTRA-939 specifications

The Gigabyte GA-K8NS ULTRA-939 is a high-performance motherboard designed for AMD's Athlon 64 and Opteron processors, which made significant strides in the computing world during the early 2000s. This motherboard harnesses the power of Socket 939, allowing users to unlock the full potential of AMD's 64-bit architecture, delivering enhanced performance and speed for demanding applications and gaming.

One of the standout features of the GA-K8NS ULTRA-939 is its support for dual-channel DDR SDRAM. This motherboard accommodates up to 4GB of memory across its four DIMM slots. With the dual-channel configuration, users experience increased memory bandwidth, allowing for faster data transfer rates essential for modern multitasking and high-performance computing scenarios.

Gigabyte’s proprietary technologies, such as its 8-phase Power Phase Design, significantly improve system stability and reliability by providing clean and steady power to the CPU. This design is particularly beneficial when overclocking, allowing users to push their systems to higher performance levels without compromising stability.

The motherboard features an NForce3 250Gb chipset, known for its impressive capabilities in enhancing system performance and providing support for various peripheral technologies. This chipset enables integrated Gigabit Ethernet, ensuring fast networking speeds suitable for gaming and data-intensive tasks.

Expansion capabilities are another highlight of the GA-K8NS ULTRA-939. It offers several PCI slots along with a PCI Express x16 slot, allowing users to upgrade their graphics cards for enhanced gaming performance. Additionally, the motherboard features 4 SATA connectors, supporting RAID 0, 1, and 0+1 configurations, enabling improved data redundancy and speed for storage solutions.

Connectivity is further enhanced with USB 2.0 support, providing multiple ports for peripherals, and integrated audio solutions, delivering decent sound quality for media consumption and gaming. Moreover, the Realtek ALC850 codec ensures that users can easily connect and enjoy high-quality audio.

The GA-K8NS ULTRA-939 also incorporates Gigabyte’s patented DualBIOS technology, which provides a backup BIOS that safeguards against corruption, ensuring system reliability and extended product longevity. This feature, along with a rich selection of configuration options in the BIOS, gives users the flexibility and control they need to optimize their computing experience.

In conclusion, the Gigabyte GA-K8NS ULTRA-939 represents a solid choice for users seeking a reliable and feature-rich motherboard to complement AMD’s Socket 939 processors. With its robust power design, extensive memory support, and a comprehensive array of features, it remains a memorable piece of hardware that contributed to the evolution of home computing.