Chapter 4 Technical Reference

@BIOSTM Introduction

Gigabyte announces @BIOS

Windows BIOS Live Update Utility

Have you ever updated BIOS by yourself? Or like many other people, you just know what BIOS is, but always hesitate to update it? Because you think updating new- est BIOS is unnecessary and actually you don't know how to update it.

Maybe not like others, you are very experienced in BIOS updating and spend quite a lot of time to do it. But of course you don't like to do it too much. First, download different BIOS from website and then switch the operating system to DOS mode. Secondly, use different flash utility to update BIOS. The above process is not a interesting job. Besides, always be carefully to store the BIOS source code correctly in your disks as if you update the wrong BIOS, it will be a nightmare.

Certainly, you wonder why motherboard vendors could not just do something right to save your time and effort and save you from the lousy BIOS updating work? Here it comes! Now Gigabyte announces @BIOS -

-the first Windows BIOS live update utility. This is a smart BIOS update software. It could help you to download the BIOS from internetand update it. Not like the other BIOS update software, it's a Windows utility. With the help of "@BIOS", BIOS updating is no more than a click.

Besides, no matter which mainboard you are using, if it's a Gigabyte's product, @BIOS help you to maintain the BIOS. This utility could detect your correct mainboard model and help you to choose the BIOS accordingly. It then downloads the BIOS from the nearest Gigabyte ftp site automatically. There are several different choices; you could use "Internet Update" to download and update your BIOS directly. Or you may want to keep a backup for your current BIOS, just choose "Save Current BIOS" to save it first. You make a wise choice to use Gigabyte, and @BIOS update your BIOS smartly. You are now worry free from updating wrong BIOS, and capable to maintain and manage your BIOS easily. Again, Gigabyte's innovative product erects a milestone in motherboard industries.

For such a wonderful software, how much it costs? Impossible! It's free! Now, if you buy a Gigabyte's motherboard, you could find this amazing software in the attached driver CD. But please remember, con- nected to internet at first, then you could have a internet BIOS update from your Gigabyte @BIOS.

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Technical Reference

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Gigabyte GA-K8NS Pro user manual Technical Reference, @BIOSTM Introduction

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.