Saturday, December 13th 2008

MSI's First EFI BIOS, More Now Available

Press Release by

Dec 13th, 2008 02:49 Discuss (24 Comments)

MSI has launched the first EFI BIOS based motherboard "P45D3 Platinum & P45 Platinum". EFI, Extensible Firmware Interface, is intended to replace the legacy BIOS firmware interface used by current PCs. It offers a new and more flexible enviroment that supports colorful graphical interfaces, multiple languages and has mouse support. The EFI BIOS will encourage users to experience the full potential of MSI motherboards. Even at this early stage MSI has seen excellent OC potential using the current generation of MSI motherboards in combination with EFI BIOS.

New Type of Graphics BIOS Settings

MSI has started to adapt EFI into its next generation motherboard platform. The ability to use a GUI and mouse provides the opportunity to fully experience the possibilities of MSI motherboards. EFI also supports LAN, pre-OS applications such as live update, games, instant messenger, media player and a browser. Microsoft will add EFI support to the x64 versions of Windows Vista with Service Pack 1.

What is EFI BIOS?

The Extensible Firmware Interface (EFI) is a specification that defines a software interface between an operating system and platform firmware. EFI is intended as a significantly improved replacement of the old legacy BIOS firmware interface historically used by all IBM PC compatible PCs. The EFI specification was originally developed by Intel, and is now managed by the Unified EFI Forum and is officially known as Unified EFI (UEFI).

Benefits of EFI BIOS:

Supports graphical menus and features
Supports mouse-controlled interface
Supports pre-OS applications, file oriented (ex: System
recovery, games, media player, Internet browser, etc.)
Supports multiple languages
UEFI support for x64 versions of Windows Vista are included in Service Pack 1

To find out more and download MSI Click BIOS for you P45 Platinum based motherboard, visit this page!

Source: MSI

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24 Comments on MSI's First EFI BIOS, More Now Available

James1991

i have been using EFI on my board for ages(have gone back to normal now because of problems), it is nothing new.

btarunrEven at this early stage MSI has seen excellent OC potential using the current generation of MSI motherboards in combination with EFI BIOS

with EFI i found that i can get higher stable clocks(normal bios i cant get past 420 FSB stable but with EFI i was pushing past 470). i would not recomend it to anyone though until it comes out of BETA. after a while it just says BOOT FALIURE and you cant boot again until you reflash it(clearing CMOS doesn't work).

32bit colour in the BIOS is good though:D

douglatins

This mean i can run Leopard?

Mussels

Freshwater Moderator

douglatinsThis mean i can run Leopard?

its a step towards it, at least.

Weer

I don't know.. it sound a little.. Eee-Fee. I don't know if I want to risk it :D

DrPepper

The Doctor is in the house

I've been dying for the switch to EFI bios' they sound so cool.

Mussels

Freshwater Moderator

DrPepperI've been dying for the switch to EFI bios' they sound so cool.

same. they just seem to be a long overdue improvement.

I mean, having a BIOS with data recovery/driver storage would be epic. i wonder how far they'll go, and if we'll start seeing mobos with built in drivers etc, making windows installs easier.

James1991

Musselssame. they just seem to be a long overdue improvement.

I mean, having a BIOS with data recovery/driver storage would be epic. i wonder how far they'll go, and if we'll start seeing mobos with built in drivers etc, making windows installs easier.

at the moment it's ok. it currently has a drive backup program in it:cool:. You can access the internet from it:eek:. they are planning to add a internet browser to it.

the BIOS chip is 30mb(all the extra programs are on a disk that you need to put in to use them)

Mussels

Freshwater Moderator

James1991at the moment it's ok. it currently has a drive backup program in it:cool:. You can access the internet from it:eek:. they are planning to add a internet browser to it.

the BIOS chip is 30mb(all the extra programs are on a disk that you need to put in to use them)

well 30MB can include a SATA AHCI driver, a LAN driver and a web browser to update them for new OS's. i think its brilliant, and will save lots of hassle with future system installs.

James1991

Musselswell 30MB can include a SATA AHCI driver, a LAN driver and a web browser to update them for new OS's. i think its brilliant, and will save lots of hassle with future system installs.

yes it could quite easily include all that stuff. at the moment the BIOS file size is only 4mb. they have alot to add:D

currently when in the BIOS you can use a live update program to update the BIOS so they could probably integrate it into that to update the drivers.

#10

mikek75

Wow, what a nightmare that was..... Got it flashed alright, but the BIOS OC options didn't match the original BIOS. The memory divider that I normally use was missing, the CPU voltage options were too widely spread, it kept freezing on startup, just generally a scary experience. Managed eventually to use the inbuilt bios flash utility to go back to original. Nice idea and all that, but be warned, it ain't finished

#11

kysg

What in the sam hill internet browser, geez making windows installs easier if anything it may as well oust windows if it's going to have all this extra stuff in it.

#12

philbrown23

this sounds awesome, I'll wait for asus to adopt it though because I dint much trust newer msi boards, anything P35 and back is ok but newer and they are a night mare.

#13

mikek75

Have to disagree with you there philbrown23, my MSI P45 Zilent (Platinum) is very good, I've managed an extra 200mhz stable over my DFI P35. Its very stable with a clear and powerful BIOS. The only problem I've had is with this EFI bios, which just doesn't feel finished.

#14

James1991

mikek75Have to disagree with you there philbrown23, my MSI P45 Zilent (Platinum) is very good, I've managed an extra 200mhz stable over my DFI P35. Its very stable with a clear and powerful BIOS. The only problem I've had is with this EFI bios, which just doesn't feel finished.

The EFI BIOS still has a long way to go. I also noticed the voltages being to far apart. you should have given it a shot overclocking with it. I can get alot more out of the EFI than i can with the normal BIOS.

hmmmm...... this thread makes me want to reflash it:D

EDIT:

mikek75The memory divider that I normally use was missing

Which memory divider isn't there. I didn't notice any missing:confused:

#15

mikek75

James1991EDIT: Which memory divider isn't there. I didn't notice any missing:confused:

The 1:1.25 wasn't there. Annoying cos I run my q6700 @3.2ghz, and that divider runs my PC6400 at stock 800mhz.

I would have played with it more but it kept stopping at the splash screen, could still ctrl alt del to restart but it would do the same thing over and over.

#16

James1991

mikek75The 1:1.25 wasn't there. Annoying cos I run my q6700 @3.2ghz, and that divider runs my PC6400 at stock 800mhz.

I would have played with it more but it kept stopping at the splash screen, could still ctrl alt del to restart but it would do the same thing over and over.

it takes a litle while to get it to go. there are a few options that you dont want to change(like disabling a piece of onboard hardware) or it does make it freeze. i thought 1:1.25 was there:confused:. i am going to reflash it now so i can overclock higher(it sounds wierd but it's true). i will have a look in my v1.0B:D

#17

mikek75

Ah, yes I did disable the extra stuff I never use such as onboard audio, firewire, esata. Thanks for the tip!

Nope, definately wasn't there for me. I had 1:1.20 and 1:1.33, but my RAM is fussy and this wasn't good enough.

V1.0b? Is there another version then?

I did find it really slow to boot too..

#18

James1991

mikek75Ah, yes I did disable the extra stuff I never use such as onboard audio, firewire, esata. Thanks for the tip!

Nope, definately wasn't there for me. I had 1:1.20 and 1:1.33, but my RAM is fussy and this wasn't good enough.

V1.0b? Is there another version then?

I did find it really slow to boot too..

hmmmmm..........1:1.25 isn't in it. i thought it was:ohwell:

Yes, it's fairly slow to boot. if i disable anything including the floppy disk controller it freezes(it looks better so it's worth the wait).

v1.0b is a newer version that i got from MSI Support because i was having problems with 1.07:D. v1.0b is dated 28th of october 2008. it is a 1.08 BETA or something(i think)

After you flashed it were you able to boot with more than 1 stick of RAM in the first time?

#19

mikek75

Aye, both sticks were in. Mmm, I might have to give MSI a shout and see if I can get that. I like the theory, they just need to work on the execution, LOL. Preferably before they release it!

I really thought I'd borked my board, gave me a right scare. Fortunately clearing the CMOS allowed me to get to the bios flash utilty and I was able to get the normal 1.4 bios back. Nice having that utility built in, just as well as when I tried to flash from my usb stick it said the bios was write protected, and I couldn't find that setting in the menus.

#20

James1991

mikek75Aye, both sticks were in. Mmm, I might have to give MSI a shout and see if I can get that. I like the theory, they just need to work on the execution, LOL. Preferably before they release it!

I really thought I'd borked my board, gave me a right scare. Fortunately clearing the CMOS allowed me to get to the bios flash utilty and I was able to get the normal 1.4 bios back. Nice having that utility built in, just as well as when I tried to flash from my usb stick it said the bios was write protected, and I couldn't find that setting in the menus.

mine will not boot with more than one stick in the first after clearing the CMOS:wtf:

ocss.msi.com.tw/
that is the site i used to contact them. if you want to you can PM me with an email address and i can just send it to you:)(you will be waiting for a while to hear from MSI and they dont really like giving people access to their FTP server)

write protected:confused:. there isn't an option in there so dont look too hard;). i flashed mine back with a usb stick and it didn't say it was write protected:cool:.

#21

Formula350

hmmm 30mb BIOS, I don't think my board has that much room :P At most I'm sure I only have 8mb (4mb main, 4mb backup). So I guess that rules EFI out for my dinosaur board!

EDIT: Damn, I hate being right heh. "2 X 4M bit flash ROM, Award BIOS"

#22

thebeephaha

EFI is pretty neat. Thats what the new Intel Macs use. You can mod those for cool bootloaders and stuff. I can see EFI taking off pretty soon, will be nice to see them get modded too.

#23

James1991

thebeephahaEFI is pretty neat. Thats what the new Intel Macs use. You can mod those for cool bootloaders and stuff. I can see EFI taking off pretty soon, will be nice to see them get modded too.

apperently it is designed so that it is easy to make your own BIOS(i cant remember where i read it). that would be sweet having a fully customized BIOS that is exactly how you want it:rockout:

Edit:

i was just looking at the other thread that has been closed and saw a few questions so i will answer them here.

the EFI BIOS that MSI is using IS an AMI BIOS

if you have the standard BIOS and flash to the EFI BIOS you you do not have to reinstall the operating system. After flashing the EFI, when you boot into windows(i am using vista x64) the only thing i noticed was it installed drivers for 6 PCI Express Root Ports, restart your computer and it works fine:)

#24

mikek75

One thing I've found is that it won't let me into my XP HDD! I selected it as the first boot drive (as it has the XP and Vista bootloader), but every time it would ignore it and boot from the Vista 64 HDD! Back to the old BIOS for me...

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MSI's First EFI BIOS, More Now Available

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