Tyan Computer Tyan S1598 user manual Chapter

Chapter 3

BIOS Configuration

hard drive types, such as SCSI drives. Note: We recommend that you select type auto for all drives.

The BIOS can automatically detect the specifications and optimal operating mode of almost all IDE hard drives. When you select type auto for a hard drive, the BIOS detects its specifications during POST, every time the system boots. If you do not want to select drive type auto, other methods of selecting the drive type are available:

1.Match the specifications of your installed IDE hard drive(s) with the preprogrammed values for drive types 1 through 45.

2.Select User and enter values into each drive parameter field.

3.Use the IDE HDD Auto Dectection function in Setup.

Here is a brief explanation of drive specifications:

Type: The BIOS contains a table of pre-defined drive types. Each defined drive type has a specified number of cylinders, number of heads, write precompensation factor, landing zone, and number of sectors. Drives whose specifications do not accommodate any pre-defined type are classified as type user.

Size: Disk drive capacity (approximate). Note that this size is usually slightly greater than the size of a formatted disk given by a disk-checking program. Cyls: Number of cylinders

Head: Number of heads

Precomp: Write precompensation cylinder

Landz: Landing zone

Sector: Number of sectors

Mode: Auto, Normal, large, or LBA

Auto: The BIOS automatically determines the optimal mode.

Normal: Maximum number of cylinders, heads, and sectors supported are 1024, 16, and 63.

Large: For drives that do not support LBA and have more than 1024 cylinders.

LBA (Logical Block Addressing): During drive accesses, the IDE controller transforms the data address described by sector, head, and cylinder number into a physical block address, significantly improving data transfer rates. For drives with greater than 1024 cylinders.

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