Whats DualBIOS? | Gigabyte GA-K8NS Pro guide

DualBIOS™ Technology FAQ

GIGABYTE Technology is pleased to introduce DualBIOS technology, a hot spare for your system BIOS. This newest "Value-added" feature, in a long series of innovations from GIGABYTE, is available on this motherboard. Future GIGABYTE motherboards will also incorpo- rate this innovation.

What's DualBIOS™?

On GIGABYTE motherboards with DualBIOS there are physically two BIOS chips. For simplicity we'll call one your "Main BIOS" and the other we'll call your "Backup BIOS" (your "hot spare"). If your Main BIOS fails, the Backup BIOS almost automatically takes over on your next system boot. Almost automatically and with virtually zero down time! Whether the problem is a failure in flashing your BIOS or a virus or a catastrophic failure of the Main BIOS chip, the result is the same - the Backup BIOS backs you up, almost automatically.

I.Q: What is DualBIOS™ technology? Answer:

DualBIOS technology is a patented technology from Giga-Byte Technology. The concept of this technology is based on the redundancy and fault tolerance theory. DualBIOS™ technology simply means there are two system BIOSes (ROM) integrated onto the motherboard. One is a main BIOS, and the other is a backup BIOS. The mainboard will operate normally with the main BIOS, however, if the main BIOS is corrupt or damaged for various reasons, the backup BIOS will be automatically used when the system pow- ered-On. Your PC will operate as before the main BIOS was damaged, and is completely transparent to the user.

II.Q: Why does anyone need a motherboard with DualBIOS™ technology? Answer:

In today's systems there are more and more BIOS failures. The most common reasons are virus attacks, BIOS upgrade failures, and/or deterioration of the BIOS (ROM) chip itself.

1.New computer viruses are being found that attack and destroy the system BIOS. They may corrupt your BIOS code, causing your PC to be unstable or even not boot normally.

2.BIOS data will be corrupted if a power loss/surge occurs, or if a user resets the system, or if the power button is pressed during the process of performing a system BIOS upgrade.

3.If a user mistakenly updates their mainboard with the incorrect BIOS file, then the system may not be able to boot correctly. This may cause the PC system hang in operation or during boot.

4.A flash ROM's life cycle is limited according to electronic characteristics. The modern PC utilizes the Plug and Play BIOS, and is updated regularly. If a user changes peripherals often, there is a slight

chance of damage to the flash ROM.

With Giga-Byte Technology's patented DualBIOS™ technology you can reduce the possibility of hangs during system boot up, and/or loss BIOS data due to above reasons.

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

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Technical Reference

GA-K8NS Pro specifications

The Gigabyte GA-K8NS Pro is a reliable and feature-rich motherboard designed for users seeking high performance, particularly for AMD Athlon 64 processors. Launched in the early 2000s, this ATX form factor motherboard is still noted for its robust features and expandability options, making it a solid choice for both gamers and general users.

One of the key features of the GA-K8NS Pro is its support for the AMD K8 architecture, allowing it to handle AMD Athlon 64, Athlon 64 FX, and Sempron processors. This compatibility ensures that users can experience significant processing power, particularly beneficial for multi-threaded applications and gaming.

The motherboard boasts a versatile memory architecture with support for up to 4GB of DDR RAM running at 400 MHz. This capacity allows for smooth multitasking and improved overall system performance. The presence of four DIMM slots provides users with the option to upgrade their memory easily, accommodating varying needs from gaming to heavy-duty graphical tasks.

In terms of connectivity, the GA-K8NS Pro features an impressive array of options. It includes three PCI slots, one AGP 8x slot for graphics cards, and various onboard connectors. This ensures flexibility and expandability, allowing users to install additional components, such as sound cards or network adapters, to fit their specific requirements.

The motherboard comes equipped with a total of four SATA II ports, facilitating high-speed data transfer rates, and it also includes two IDE ports for connecting legacy drives. Gigabyte has incorporated RAID support, enabling users to configure their storage in RAID 0, 1, or 0+1 setups, enhancing data performance and reliability.

Additionally, the GA-K8NS Pro features Gigabit Ethernet connectivity, ensuring fast networking capabilities suitable for online gaming and large file transfers. Audio support is provided through an integrated Realtek ALC655 codec, delivering decent sound quality suitable for gaming, multimedia playback, and general use.

For reliability and longevity, the motherboard is designed with Gigabyte’s renowned durability characteristics, including high-quality capacitors and efficient thermal management solutions. The inclusion of Dual BIOS technology enhances system stability by providing a backup BIOS, preventing any potential failures from affecting the system boot process.

In conclusion, the Gigabyte GA-K8NS Pro remains a commendable motherboard, delivering a solid foundation for users seeking performance, expandability, and reliability in their computing experience. With its support for a variety of processors, ample memory capacity, and numerous connectivity options, it continues to be an appealing choice for those looking to build or upgrade their systems.