Having a msi 6309, and seeing many queries about bios settings in the forums, I will try to pass on the little
bit I have learned and read. Just my opinion, take it or leave it at your own risk. The amibios is unusual, not so
much in what it does, but in organizational format and definition of terms. I'll use the manual's reference #s.
3.2- use the auto defaults unless you have special requirements. Disable boot sector virus protection when
loading new programs, or making bios changes, otherwise leave it on. see 3.9.
3.3- Nothing real tricky here, set L2 cache to writeback, and the other stuff as your hardware allows.
3.4- This where it gets different. Enabling SPD disables the next two settings, changing them will have no effect.
Memory sticks must have spd eeprom for this to work. This pretty much optimizes 133 memory performance,
except under special circumstances. I wouldn't try any memory/fsb combo with a difference greater than 33mhz,
It may be disallowed, or may not work at all. See 3.8. It works pretty much like the +/- 33mhz setting in the
Award bios, except automatically. With 133 memory and bus speeds above 133, it sets the memory speed to
fsb- pci speed, and apparently tightens up the timing parameters considerably. Disabling spd lets you set the
frequency and cas timing manually, within the +/- 33mhz limits. Some have reported that celeron2's on 100mhz
bus with 133 spd memory need to have spd disabled and the dram frequency set to 100, or else the cpu in
order queue must be set to 1 rather than 4. 4 is the optimal setting if possible. Future revisions may improve
this, contact msi if you have this problem.
3.5- All your hardware must be ACPI compatible to use the feature. My vid card is not. You are on your own
here, shorting the cmos jumper and the returning it to normal is the only way I know of to reboot if you get too
far out in the weeds with any changes to the bios settings.
3.6- If you run win98, it is pnp aware. primary graphics adapter should be set to agp, if your vid card is also.
The rest works fine in default, unless you have old weird non-pnp hardware.
3.7- Standard stuff, the onboard sound and amr slot can be disabled here. Codec variable rate? I have it
disabled with my sound card and isa modem.
3.8- clkgen spread spectrum enabled varies the operating frequency slightly and continuously, to reduce EMI
emissions. Disabled can enhance stability, and allow bus speeds above 138. toggle one way, and run through
the avail speeds, then toggle the other way and look again. you will see what I mean. Cpu ratio selection
changes nothing on modern intel cpu's, they set their own multiplier, unless you have an engineering sample.
Cpu vcore selection is that sometimes important o/c tool, This board doesn't seem to go too far. bump it up
incrementally if necessary, DO NOT let the magic smoke out!
3.9- Use this just like the Award bios setup when you install any new IDE device.
3.10-Keep out unless you are exceptionally paranoid, if the machine is networked in a business environment,
or if the machine will be left unattended for a variety of users. Always run the full setup here for any floor
demo machine. Malicious power freaks seem to be a universal constant.
The rest of it is pretty standard. I'm no expert, I only know a little. IF ANYONE HAS ANY
ADDITIONAL INFO OR A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION, PLEASE POST IT! This is a good Via 133a
board, but the bios has fooled experts, check Thresh's Firing squad. A really extensive article is available
there and also at Hardware-one.
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