Gigabyte GA-8IMMT4: Chapter 4 Technical Reference

Chapter 4 Technical Reference: Gigabyte GA-8IMMT4

English

Revision History

Chapter 4 Technical Reference

Block Diagram

CPUCLK6 (100MHz)

Pentium 4

CPU

VGA Port

System Bus 400MHz

133 MHz

SDRAM

Intel

AGPCLK

HCLK6 (100MHz)

82845GL

(66MHz)

GMCHCLK (66MHz)

66 MHz

33 MHz

3 PCI

14.318 MHz

48 MHz

FWH

Intel

Game Port

ICH 4

LPC BUS

Floppy

ITE8702

RTL8100BL

LPT Port

PS/2

AC97 Link

24 MHz

KB/Mouse

RJ45

ATA33/66/100

33 MHz

6 USB

IDE Channels

Ports

COM x2

AC97

(2.0/1.1)

PCICLK

Ports

CODEC

(33MHz)

MIC

LINE-IN

LINE-OUT

HCLK6 (100MHz)

PCICLK (33MHz)

CLK GEN

CPUCLK6 (100MHz)

USBCLK (48MHz)

AGPCLK (66MHz)

14.318 MHz

ICS 950211BF

MCHCLK (66MHz)

33 MHz

ICH3V66 (66MHz)

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Technical Reference

@BIOS

Introduction

Gigabyte announces @BIOS

Windows BIOS live update utility

English

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 newest 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 mainboard 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, connected to internet at first, then you could have a internet BIOS update from your

Gigabyte @BIOS.

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English

EasyTune

4 Introduction

Gigabyte announces EasyTune

4

Windows based Overclocking utility

EasyTune 4 carries on the heritage so as to pave the way for future generations.

Overclock" might be one of the most common is-

sues in computer field. But have many users ever

tried it? The answer is probably "no". Because

"Overclock" is thought to be very difficult and in-

cludes a lot of technical know-how, sometimes

"Overclock" is even considered as special skills

found only in some enthusiasts. But as to the experts

in "Overclock", what's the truth? They may spend

quite a lot of time and money to study, try and use

many different hardware or BIOS tools to do "Overclock". And even with these technologies, they still

learn that it's quite a risk because the safety and stability of an "Overclock" system is unknown. Now

everything is different because of a Windows based overclocking utility "EasyTune 4" --announced by

Gigabyte. This windows based utility has totally changed the gaming rule of "Overclock". This is the

first windows based overclocking utility is suitable for both normal and power users. Users can choose

either "Easy Mode" or "Advanced Mode" for overclocking at their convenience. For users who

choose "Easy Mode", they just need to click "Auto Optimize" to have autoed and immediate CPU

overclocking. This software will then overdrive CPU speed automatically with the result being shown

in the control panel. If users prefer "Overclock" by them, there is also another choice. Click "Advanced

Mode" to enjoy "sport drive" class Overclocking user interface. "Advanced Mode", allows users to

change the system bus / AGP / Memory working frequency in small increments to get ultimate system

performance. It operates in coordination with Gigabyte motherboards. Besides, it is different from other

traditional over-clocking methods, EasyTune 4 doesn't require users to change neither BIOS nor

hardware switch/ jumper setting; on the other hand, they can do "Overclock" at easy step . Therefore,

this is a safer way for "Overclock" as nothing is changed on software or hardware. If user runs

EasyTune 4 over system's limitation, the biggest lost is only to restart the computer again and the side

effect is then well controlled. Moreover, if one well-performed system speed has been tested in

EasyTune 4, user can "Save" this setting and "Load" it in next time. Obviously, Gigabyte EasyTune

4 has already turned the "Overclock" technology toward to a newer generation. This wonderful

software is now free bundled in Gigabyte motherboard attached in driver CD. Users may make a test

drive of "EasyTune 4" to find out more amazing features by themselves.

*Some Gigabyte products are not fully supported by EasyTune 4. Please find the products supported

list in the web site.

*Any "Overclocking action" is at user's risk, Gigabyte Technology will not be responsible for any

damage or instability to your processor, motherboard, or any other components.

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Technical Reference

Flash BIOS Method Introduction

Method 1 : Q-Flash

English

A. What is Q-Flash Utility?

Q-Flash utility is a pre-O.S. BIOS flash utility enables users to update its BIOS within BIOS

mode, no more fooling around any OS.

B. How to use Q-Flash?

a. After power on the computer, pressing <Del> immediately during POST (Power On Self Test) it

will allow you to enter AWARD BIOS CMOS SETUP, then press <F8> to enter Q-Flash utility.

CMOS Setup Utility-Copyright (C) 1984-2002 Award Software

Standard CMOS Features Load Fail-Safe Defaults

Advanced BIOS Features Load Optimized Defaults

Integrated Peripherals Set Supervisor Password

Power Management Setup Set User Password

Enter Q-Flash Utility (Y/N)? Y

PnP/PCI Configurations Save & Exit Setup

Frequency/Voltage Control Exit Without Saving

Top Performance

ESC:Quit :Select Item

F8: Q-Flash F10:Save & Exit Setup

Time, Date, Hard Disk Type...

b. Q-Flash Utility

Q-Flash Utility V3.07

Flash Type/Size : SST 49LF002A / 256K

Keep DMI Data : Yes

Load BIOS from Floppy

Save BIOS to Floppy

Space Bar:Change Value

Enter: Run ESC: Reset /: Select Item

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English

Load BIOS From Floppy

In the A:drive, insert the "BIOS" diskette, then Press Enter to Run.

1 File(s) found

XXXX.XX 256K

Total Size: 1.39M Free Size: 1.14M

F5: Refresh DEL: Delete ESC: Return Main

Where XXXX.XX is name of the BIOS file.

Press Enter to Run.

Are you sure to update BIOS?

[Enter] to contiune Or [ESC] ot abort...

Press Enter to Run.

!! COPY BIOS Completed -Pass !!

Please press any key to continue

Congratulation! You have completed the flashed and now can restart system.

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Technical Reference

Method 2 : BIOS Flash Utility

BIOS Flash Procedure

We use GA-7VTX motherboard and Flash841 BIOS flash utility as example.

English

Please flash the BIOS according to the following procedures if you are now under the DOS mode.

Flash BIOS Procedure:

STEP 1:

(1) Please make sure you have set "Auto" for BIOS Feature Setup (BIOS Flash Protection).

(2) Please make sure your system has installed the extraction utility such as winzip or pkunzip.

Firstly you have to install the extraction utility such as winzip or pkunzip for unzip the files. Both of

these utilities are available on many shareware download pages like http://www.shareware.cnet.

com

STEP 2: Make a DOS boot diskette. (See example: Windows 98 O.S.)

Beware: Windows ME/2000 are not allowed to make a DOS boot diskette.

(1) With an available floppy disk in the floppy drive. Please leave the diskette "UN-write protected" type.

Double click the "My Computer" icon from Desktop, then click "3.5 diskette (A)" and right click to select

"Format (M)"

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English

(2) Select the "Quick (erase)" for Format Type, and pick both "Display summary when finished" and

"Copy system files", after that press "Start". That will format the floppy and transfer the needed

system files to it.

Beware: This procedure will erase all the prior data on that floppy, so please proceed accordingly.

(3) After the floppy has been formatted completely, please press "Close".

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Technical Reference

STEP 3: Download BIOS and BIOS utility program.

(1) Please go to Gigabyte website

http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/index.html, and click "Support".

English

(2) From Support zone, click the "Motherboards BIOS & Drivers".

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English

(3) We use GA-7VTX motherboard as example. Please select GA-7VTX by Model or Chipset optional

menu to obtain BIOS flash files.

(4) Select an appropriate BIOS version (For example: F4), and click to download the file. It will pop up

a file download screen, then select the "Open this file from its current location" and press "OK".

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Technical Reference

(5) At this time the screen shows the following picture, please click "Extract" button to unzip the files.

English

(6) Please extract the download files into the clean bootable floppy disk A mentioned in STEP 2, and

press "Extract".

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English

STEP 4: Make sure the system will boot from the floppy disk.

(1) Insert the floppy disk (contains bootable program and unzip file) into the floppy drive A. Then, restart

the system. The system will boot from the floppy disk. Please press <DEL> key to enter BIOS setup

main menu when system is boot up.

American Release:09/16/99

Megatrends AMIBIOS (C) 1999 American Megatrend

7VTX F1

Check System Health OK

AMD-Athlon(tm)Processor-900MHz

Checking NVRAM...

262144KB

Wait...

Press F1 to enter Dual BIOS Utility. Press ESC to quit

Press any key to contiune

( C ) American Megatrends Inc.,

63-0001-001199-00101111-071595-VIA_K7-GA7VTX1-F

(2) Once you enter the BIOS setup utility, the main menu will appear on the screen. Use the arrows to

highlight the item "BIOS FEATURES SETUP".

AMIBIOS SIMPLE SETUP UTILITY - VERSION 1.24b

(C) 1999 American Megatrends, Inc. All Rights Reserved

STANDARD CMOS SETUP INTEGRATED PERIPHERALS

BIOS FEATURES SETUP HARDWARE MONITOR & MISC SETUP

CHIPSET FEATURES SETUP SUPERVISOR PASSWORD

POWER MANAGEMENT SETUP USER PASSWORD

PNP / PCI CONFIGURATION IDE HDD AUTO DETECTION

LOAD BIOS DEFAULTS SAVE & EXIT SETUP

LOAD SETUP DEFAULTS EXIT WITHOUT SAVING

ESC: Quit  : Select Item (Shift)F2 : Change Color F5: Old Values

F6: Load BIOS Defaults F7: Load Setup Defaults F10:Save & Exit

Time, Date , Hard Disk Type…

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Technical Reference

(3) Press "Enter" to enter "BIOS FEATURES SETUP" menu. Use the arrows to highlight the item

"1st Boot Device", and then use the "Page Up" or "Page Down" keys to select "Floppy".

AMIBIOS SETUP - BIOS FEATURES SETUP

English

( C ) 2001 American Megatrends, Inc. All Rights Reserved

1st Boot Device : Floppy

2nd Boot Device : IDE-0

3rd Boot Device : CDROM

S.M.A.R.T. for Hard Disks : Disabled

BootUp Num-Lock : On ESC: Quit : Select Item

Floppy Drive Seek : Disabled F1 : Help PU/PD/+/- : Modify

Password Check : Setup F5 : Old Values (Shift)F2: Color

F6 : Load BIOS Defaults

F7 : Load Setup Defaults

(4) Press "ESC" to go back to previous screen. Use the arrows to highlight the item "SAVE & EXIT

SETUP" then press "Enter". System will ask "SAVE to CMOS and EXIT (Y/N)?" Press "Y" and

"Enter" keys to confirm. Now the system will reboot automatically, the new BIOS setting will be

taken effect next boot-up.

AMIBIOS SIMPLE SETUP UTILITY - VERSION 1.24b

(C) 2001 American Megatrends, Inc. All Rights Reserved

STANDARD CMOS SETUP INTEGRATED PERIPHERALS

BIOS FEATURES SETUP HARDWARE MONITOR & MISC SETUP

CHIPSET FEATURES SETUP SUPERVISOR PASSWORD

POWER MANAGEMENT SETUP USER PASSWORD

PNP / PCI CONFIGURATION IDE HDD AUTO DETECTION

Save to CMOS and EXIT (Y/N)? Y

LOAD BIOS DEFAULTS SAVE & EXIT SETUP

LOAD SETUP DEFAULTS EXIT WITHOUT SAVING

ESC: Quit  : Select Item (Shift)F2 : Change Color F5: Old Values

F6: Load BIOS Defaults F7: Load Setup Defaults F10:Save & Exit

Save Data to CMOS & Exit SETUP

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English

STEP 5: BIOS flashing.

(1) After the system boot from floppy disk, type "A:\> dir/w" and press "Enter" to check the entire files

in floppy A. Then type the "BIOS flash utility" and "BIOS file" after A:\>. In this case you have to

type "A:\> Flash841 7VTX.F4" and then press "Enter".

Starting Windows 98…

Microsoft(R) Windows98

© Copyright Microsoft Corp 1981-1999

A:\> dir/w

Volume in drive A has no label

Volume Serial Number is 16EB-353D

Directory of A:\

COMMAND.COM 7VTX.F4 FLASH841.EXE

3 file(s) 838,954 bytes

0 dir(s) 324,608 bytes free

A:\> Flash841 7VTX.F4

(2) Now screen appears the following Flash Utility main menu. Press "Enter", the highlighted item will

locate on the model name of the right-upper screen. Right after that, press "Enter" to start BIOS Flash

Utility.

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Technical Reference

(3) It will pop up a screen and asks "Are you sure to flash the BIOS?" Press [Enter] to continue the

procedure, or press [ESC] to quit.

Beware: Please do not turn off the system while you are upgrading BIOS. It will render your BIOS

corrupted and system totally inoperative.

English

Are you sure to flash the BIOS?

[Enter] to continue Or [Esc] to cancel?

(4) The BIOS flash completed. Please press [ESC] to exit Flash Utility.

EXIT?

[Enter] to continue Or [Esc] to cancel?

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English

STEP 6: Load BIOS defaults.

Normally the system redetects all devices after BIOS has been upgraded. Therefore, we highly

recommend reloading the BIOS defaults after BIOS has been upgraded. This important step resets

everything after the flash.

(1) Take out the floppy diskette from floppy drive, and then restart the system. The boot up screen will

indicate your motherboard model and current BIOS version.

American Release:09/16/99

Megatrends AMIBIOS (C) 1999 American Megatrend

7VTX F4

Check System Health OK

AMD-Athlon(tm)Processor-900MHz

Checking NVRAM...

262144KB

Wait...

Press F1 to enter Dual BIOS Utility. Press ESC to quit

Press any key to contiune

( C ) American Megatrends Inc.,

63-0001-001199-00101111-071595-VIA_K7-GA7VTX1-F

(2) Don't forget to press <DEL> key to enter BIOS setup again when system is boot up. Use the arrows

to highlight the item "LOAD SETUP DEFAULTS" then press "Enter". System will ask "Load Setup

Defaults (Y/N)?" Press "Y" and "Enter" keys to confirm.

AMIBIOS SIMPLE SETUP UTILITY - VERSION 1.24b

(C) 2001 American Megatrends, Inc. All Rights Reserved

STANDARD CMOS SETUP INTEGRATED PERIPHERALS

BIOS FEATURES SETUP HARDWARE MONITOR & MISC SETUP

CHIPSET FEATURES SETUP SUPERVISOR PASSWORD

POWER MANAGEMENT SETUP USER PASSWORD

Load Setup Defaults? (Y/N)?N

PNP / PCI CONFIGURATION IDE HDD AUTO DETECTION

LOAD BIOS DEFAULTS SAVE & EXIT SETUP

LOAD SETUP DEFAULTS EXIT WITHOUT SAVING

ESC: Quit  : Select Item (Shift)F2 : Change Color F5: Old Values

F6: Load BIOS Defaults F7: Load Setup Defaults F10:Save & Exit

Load Setup Defaults

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Technical Reference

(3) Use the arrows to highlight the item "SAVE & EXIT SETUP" and press "Enter". System will ask

"SAVE to CMOS and EXIT (Y/N)?" Press "Y" and "Enter" keys to confirm. Now the system will

reboot automatically, the new BIOS setting will be taken effect next boot-up.

English

AMIBIOS SIMPLE SETUP UTILITY - VERSION 1.24b

(C) 2001 American Megatrends, Inc. All Rights Reserved

STANDARD CMOS SETUP INTEGRATED PERIPHERALS

BIOS FEATURES SETUP HARDWARE MONITOR & MISC SETUP

CHIPSET FEATURES SETUP SUPERVISOR PASSWORD

POWER MANAGEMENT SETUP USER PASSWORD

PNP / PCI CONFIGURATION IDE HDD AUTO DETECTION

Save to CMOS and EXIT (Y/N)? Y

LOAD BIOS DEFAULTS SAVE & EXIT SETUP

LOAD SETUP DEFAULTS EXIT WITHOUT SAVING

ESC: Quit  : Select Item (Shift)F2 : Change Color F5: Old Values

F6: Load BIOS Defaults F7: Load Setup Defaults F10:Save & Exit

Save Data to CMOS & Exit SETUP

(4) Congratulate you have accomplished the BIOS flash procedure.

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English

Method 3 : @BIOS Utility

BIOS update procedure:

If your OS is Win9X, we recommend that you used Gigabyte @BIOS

Program to flash BIOS.

Press "Utilities" icon.

2. Click "@BIOS Writer Utility

1. Click "Gigabyte Utilities" item.

v.1.08q" item.

(2)(1)

Click "3".

Click here.

(4)(3)

Methods and steps:

I. Update BIOS through Internet

a. Click "Internet Update" icon

b. Click "Update New BIOS" icon

c. Select @BIOS

sever

d. Select the exact model name on your motherboard.

e. System will automatically download and update the BIOS.

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Technical Reference

II. Update BIOS NOT through Internet:

a. Do not click "Internet Update" icon

b. Click "Update New BIOS"

c. Please select "All Files" in dialog box while opening the old file.

English

d. Please search for BIOS unzip file, downloading from internet or any other methods (such as:

8IMMT4.F1b).

e. Complete update process following the instruction.

III. Save BIOS

In the very beginning, there is "Save Current BIOS" icon shown in dialog box. It means to save the

current BIOS version.

IV. Check out supported motherboard and Flash ROM:

In the very beginning, there is "About this program" icon shown in dialog box. It can help you check

out which kind of motherboard and which brand of Flash ROM are supported.

Note:

a. In method I, if it shows two or more motherboard's model names to be selected, please make

sure your motherboard's model name again. Selecting wrong model name will cause the

system unbooted.

b. In method II, be sure that motherboard's model name in BIOS unzip file are the same as your

motherboard's. Otherwise, your system won't boot.

c. In method I, if the BIOS file you need cannot be found in @BIOS

server, please go onto

Gigabyte's web site for downloading and updating it according to method II.

d. Please note that any interruption during updating will cause system unbooted

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English

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Technical Reference

English

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