User manual

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Unique Features
5-1 BIOS Update Utilities
GIGABYTE motherboards provide two unique BIOS update tools, Q-Flash
™
and @BIOS
™
. GIGABYTE Q-Flash
and @BIOS are easy-to-use and allow you to update the BIOS without the need to enter MS-DOS mode.
Additionally, this motherboard features the DualBIOS
™
design, which enhances protection for the safety and
stability of your computer by adding one more physical BIOS chip.
What is DualBIOS
™
?
MotherboardsthatsupportDualBIOShavetwoBIOSonboard,amainBIOSandabackupBIOS.Normally,the
system works on the main BIOS. However, if the main BIOS is corrupted or damaged, the backup BIOS will
takeoveronthenextsystembootandcopytheBIOSletothemainBIOStoensurenormalsystemoperation.
For the sake of system safety, users cannot update the backup BIOS manually.
WhatisQ-Flash
™
?
WithQ-FlashyoucanupdatethesystemBIOSwithouthaving toenteroperatingsystemslikeMS-DOSor
Windowrst.EmbeddedintheBIOS,theQ-Flashtoolfreesyoufromthehasslesofgoingthroughcomplicated
BIOSashingprocess.
What is @BIOS
™
?
@BIOSallowsyoutoupdatethesystemBIOSwhileintheWindowsenvironment.@BIOSwilldownloadthe
latestBIOSlefromthenearest@BIOSserversiteandupdatetheBIOS.
BecauseBIOSashingispotentiallyrisky,pleasedoitwithcaution.InadequateBIOSashingmay
result in system malfunction.
5-1-1 UpdatingtheBIOSwiththeQ-FlashUtility
A. Before You Begin
1. FromGIGABYTE'swebsite,downloadthelatestcompressedBIOSupdatelethatmatchesyourmotherboard
model.
2. ExtracttheleandsavethenewBIOSle(e.g.A88XMD3H.F1)toyourUSBashdrive,orharddrive.Note:
TheUSBashdriveorharddrivemustuseFAT32/16/12lesystem.
3. Restartthesystem.DuringthePOST,pressthe<End>keytoenterQ-Flash.Note:YoucanaccessQ-Flash
byeitherpressingthe<End>keyduringthePOSTorpressingthe<F8>keyinBIOSSetup.However,ifthe
BIOSupdateleissavedtoaharddriveinRAID/AHCImodeoraharddriveattachedtoanindependent
SATAcontroller,usethe<End>keyduringthePOSTtoaccessQ-Flash.
Chapter 5 Unique Features