BIOS: default is best...?

[J van E]

Today I updated the BIOS of my Gigabyte EX58-UD54 to f4. All went fine. I made pictures of most BIOS-screens before the update, otherwise I would have no idea how to set it up again, but after loading the fail-safe settings (as recommended) I noticed quite some things were different than before. My supplier clearly didn't use the default settings. For instance, RAM settings were manual (9-9-9-24) and not auto. With f4 there was an extra entry in that row and I don't know what to do with it (keep it auto or not). And I also noticed the RAM multiplier set the mem to 1066 by default, while it is 1333. This can easily be changed by setting multiplier so that RAM runs at 1333. Another thing I noticed: Profile QPI voltage was 1.2 before the update but it's 1,175 now... and I can't change it.

Anyway, I wonder what are the best settings for the BIOS? Is it always best to keep as much set to default (thus a lot on auto)? And should I load fail-safe for that? There are SO MANY settings I have no idea about, even with the manual...! At this moment I want to run everything at stock and at first maybe simply OC with EasyTune 6 when I really want to. I turned off EIST and C1E and something called PROCHOT, all in all a few things that (afaik) may give problems when OC'ing (even with EasyTune I suppose), but I wonder if I should have dont that or not...

In short: should I use default (fail-safe) and ONLY alter things that are REALLY necessary (like the multi to get men at 1333), or should I really have to alter more settings to get the best out of my system? Or do you only fiddle around in the BIOS when you want really want to OC...?

It would be nice if an expert user had screens of the optimal BIOS settings for a stock i7 920 with 9-9-9-24 1333 Ram...

 

[VirtualLarry]

After flashing a BIOS, ALWAYS reset to defaults, and then tweak again from there.
Or clear CMOS after a flash.

 

[J van E]

Yes, thank you, I know that but I was talking about the tweaking itself. When you've flashed the BIOS and everything is running well again, what to do then? Leave everything at default as much as possible? In my case that would mean I'd only have to change the RAM multiplier from auto to 10 (to make it run at 1333 instead o 1066). Is it best to leave as much as possible at default or not? As said, I noticed my supplier set the timings of the RAM to manual (9-9-9-24) and I wonder why not to auto... I also wonder about a lot of other settings: should I keep them at default as much as possible, or am I waisting precious performance if I don't tweak? Right now I still run everything stock.