The next subsection in the Advanced Chipset Features section is called CPU Configuration and offers to control processor technologies and disable idling processor cores.
You can change voltage settings in the System Voltages subsection. It is extremely convenient that the current values of each parameter are displayed in a separate column right there:
Another advantage is the use of color indication: relatively safe values will be green, while high values will be red.
The voltages can be changed in the following intervals:
- CPU Core: 0.5125V - 2.0V with 0.00625V increment;
- CPU FSB: 1.1V - 1.45V with 0.05V increment;
- Memory: 1.5V - 2.275V with 0.025V increment;
- nForce SPP: 1.3V - 1.55V with 0.05V increment;
- nForce MCP: 1.5V - 1.75V with 0.05V increment;
- GTLVREF Lane 0-3: from -155 to +155 with 5mV increment.
NVMEM memory test from the Advanced Chipset Features is disabled by default, but it can be set to Fast, Medium or Slow. In this case the memory test on system boot-up will be performed faster or slower.
The next couple of parameters called Load timing/voltage set and Save timing/voltage set allow saving and loading three BIOS settings profiles.
Unfortunately, there are two serious drawbacks here. Firstly, you can’t name the profiles or add a detailed description to them, i.e. you have to remember what profile contains what type of settings. Secondly, not all the BIOS settings are saved, but only the Advanced Chipset Features part including FSB frequency, memory timings, CPU Configuration settings. However, the memory divider will not be saved. Of course, even this limited functionality is better than nothing, however, other mainboards may have something better to offer in this respect.
The options in most BIOS sections are pretty standard and should be pretty easy to configure. The next section after Advanced Chipset Features that we should dwell on is called System Monitor:
It offers pretty decent functionality, the best being CPU Current. It demonstrates how the processor power consumption would increase if CPU Core voltage did. Here you can control rotation speed of five fans out of six that can be connected to the board. To work with them you need to switch to Dynamic Fan Control page.
CPU Fan, Chassis Fan and nForce Fan rotation speeds change automatically depending on the temperatures. You can adjust the settings for the first two. Moreover, you can set the rotation speed of all five fans at a fixed rate in percents from the nominal. Unfortunately, the processor fan rotation speed may only be controlled and adjusted if the fan has a four-pin connector.
Overall, despite a few drawbacks we pointed out, ZOTAC nForce 790i-Supreme mainboard boasts very good BIOS functionality. There re a lot of options, the supported ranges are big enough, all settings and very well-thought and illustrative. As you remember, we were also very pleased with the mainboard accessories bundle and PCB layout. Now we have to discuss the most interesting part: we have to see how all these advantages play in real applications and tests.
