Those new to PC setup and tuning are often advised to stay away from BIOS settings. While modern motherboards have built-in failsafes, carelessly changing BIOS settings can cause serious problems and crash your system. However, if you are curious about BIOS and want to learn more, this guide will help you understand some of the important options and prepare you for your first foray into BIOS.
Enter PC BIOS: Boot Priority
If you built your own computer, you may have gone into the BIOS to change the boot priority. The Boot Priority settings allow you to choose which storage device your computer will try to boot from first. The device with the lowest number has the highest priority. This is especially useful if you need to boot from a USB drive to install an operating system.
For users with UEFI Boot Mode, you may have noticed the Hard Drive BBS Priorities section. Here you can switch between drives with different bootloaders. If you are setting up a dual-boot system or frequently switch operating systems, you will be familiar with these settings.
Secure Boot: Protection and Compatibility
Secure Boot is a critical feature designed to protect your system from malware. It uses digital signatures to verify the authenticity of firmware and protects your computer from rootkits and other malware. Microsoft has made Secure Boot mandatory for Windows 11. We recommend that you keep it enabled for most users. However, if you are installing an operating system other than Windows 11, Secure Boot may interfere with the installation and you should disable it.
Virtualization: Extending Your Computer's Capabilities
Virtualization allows you to divide your computer's processing power and resources among virtual machines. This is useful for running multiple operating systems without installing them on your main system. Virtualization is also good for security because it allows you to safely experiment by isolating each virtual machine.
To use virtualization, you need to enable CPU Virtualization in your BIOS. Depending on your motherboard, this setting may be called VT-x (Intel), AMD-V (AMD), or SVM. For advanced users running Linux-based platforms like Proxmox, you need to enable IOMMU to set up PCIe passthrough, which allows virtual machines to access the GPU and other PCI Express devices.
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Overclocking: Increase Performance with Caution
Overclocking can increase your CPU and RAM performance, but it also leads to higher temperatures and potentially shorter lifespans for these components. If you’re ready to overclock, focus on the CPU Ratio (clock speed) and CPU Core Voltage (power sent to the CPU). Increasing the voltage can help you push the clock speed higher, but it also increases the temperature.
For RAM overclocking, you can adjust DRAM frequency, timings, and voltages. Beginners should consider using Auto OC settings for CPU and XMP/EXPO options for memory, which are reliable and maintain system stability.
Resizable BAR: Enhanced GPU Performance
A useful setting found on modern motherboards is Resizable BAR. This feature improves frame rates by allowing your processor to access all the VRAM on your GPU. You can find this under PCIe settings, usually in PCI Subsystem Options. Enabling Resizable BAR can improve performance, especially for those with Intel Alchemist graphics cards.
Fan Control: Managing System Cooling
While the BIOS allows you to set fan curves to manage your system's cooling, using a utility like Fan Control gives you more customization options without the risk of changing critical BIOS settings. This software lets you fine-tune your fan speeds based on temperature sensors, keeping your system cool and quiet.
Should You Change BIOS Settings?
If you are not sure about changing BIOS settings, there is no need to rush. For the average user, enabling virtualization and Resizable BAR are the most useful options. Most users will not need to change Boot Priority or Secure Boot settings and will be able to enjoy good gaming performance without overclocking.
Solution
Understanding BIOS settings can enhance your PC experience, but it’s important to proceed with caution. This guide provides a starting point for exploring BIOS, from managing boot options to enabling advanced features like virtualization and the Resizable BAR. Always make sure you understand the implications of any changes you make, and remember that for many users, the default BIOS settings are sufficient for everyday use.