Hardware Reference
In-Depth Information
Most older BIOSs report memory as base and extended memory instead of as a single
value. Base memory is typically 640KB and sometimes is called
conventional memory
.
Extended memory
is that which is beyond the first megabyte in the system.
You can't change values in the memory fields; they are only for your information because
the system counts them automatically. If the memory count doesn't match what you have
installed, a problem has likely occurred with some of the memory: It is defective, is not
fully seated or properly installed, or is a type that is incompatible with your system.
Advanced Menus
The Advanced menus are used for setting advanced features that the motherboard chipset
typically controls. This part of your BIOS setup is somewhat specific to the particular
chipset the motherboard uses. Many chipsets are available on the market today, and each
has unique features. The chipset setup is designed to enable the user to customize these
features and control some of the chipset settings.
Table 5.6
shows the typical Advanced
menus available.
Table 5.6 Advanced BIOS Menus
Advanced PCI Configuration
The PCI Configuration menu is used to select the IRQ priority of add-on cards plugged
into the PCI slots. Auto (the default) should be used to allow the BIOS and OS to assign
