BIOS Updates forum

I recently upgraded my PC with a Pentium 4 2.4 CPU, an ECS P4S5A/DX motherboard and one 512 MB Corsair CMX512-2700C2 RAM (DDR 333), and am really confused by the settings in the motherboard BIOS setup.

Here are the settings and the options in question:

Timing setting mode: Can be set to: safe, normal, fast, turbo or ultra.

Manual says:
This item determines the timing setting mode of the memory. We recommend you leave this item at the default value.


Host to memory latency: Can be set to normal or fast.
I think the manual says leave at default=normal

MA 1T/2T select: The default is MA 2T. Other option is MA 1T.

Manual says:
MA 1T/2T Select
This item adjusts timing 1T/2T latency. We recommend you to leave this item at the default value.

Do you know where I can get information on what these settings actually change ? I have run a bunch of benchmarks and the best performance if with the ultra setting/MA 1T/Fast.

I'm concerned that I could be hurting my system by changing these without having any idea what they do.

The BIOS in an AMI dated 8-22-02

A site with the info you're looking for:

http://www.ocworkbench.com/hardware/mic ... leryp2.htm (read 1st paragraph)

THANKS !

I also found a review for my actual board there !!!!

Back again with more questions !

(I'm not trying to be a pest......)

I was reading the review of my board and the following was noted:

BIOS settings
P4S5A uses the AMIBIOS and it continues the tradition of ECS by not providing enough overclocking functions within the BIOS. The only option that you can play with it the CPU Ratio (which is locked by CPU unless you are using an Engineering Sample) and CPU/DRAM speed can be selected from the options below :
100/100, 100/133, 100/166, 133/100, 133/133 and 133/166. We were able to run the system at 100/166 which effectively is 200/333 at CAS 2.5 ram timing.


I am running mine at 133/133. I tried the 133/166 and got an error message, I believe it was something to do with a graphics or APTI (?) driver. I assumed "bigger is better" Which of these setting will give me the best performance ? If you would be so kind, please explain these settings.

Thanks !

Like it says, the timing is CPU/DRAM. If you have a CPU with 100 (or "200") MHz FSB and PC133 DRAM, use 100/133. If your CPU does 133 (or "266") MHz FSB, use 133/133 If you think your CPU or DRAM might go faster, try it - but it sounds as though one or the other is not happy with 133/166.

My CPU has a FSB of 533 ! What then ? My memory is 333 DDR.

FSB533 CPU means 133MHz FSB so use 133/133 or 133/166 with your PC-333 RAM - PC-333 uses 166MHz .

Like I saide before (I think I did) when I tried to run 133/166 it gave me an error. I'll try backing of on some other settings (latency, timing ect. ) to see if I can run 133/166. Would you think my performance would be better off with these other settings turned down a little and the 133/166 settings ?

Thanks !

P4 needs speedy memory so 166MHz should be faster .