DATE: June 27, 1996
FROM: IAS-O Intel Applications Support
SUBJECT: Standard Advanced/MA BIOS Release 7.0

About This Release

• BIOS 1.00.07.BU0 Standard Advanced/MA BIOS Release 7.0
• ATI 264-CT DUAL CAS 60 nSec DRAM 54 MHz Video BIOS Version 2.005/54M.
• Crystal CS-4232 ISA Plug and Play Resource Data Version 1.12.

Features/Errata Fixed In This Release

Release 7.0

• PCI Enumeration code added.
• Video Palette Snoop defaults to disabled; dual screen monitor card issue fixed.
• Updated ATA/ATAPI drive detection code.
• New code drop from Crystal CS4232. Required to remove requirement for *.sys driver file in the config.sys.
• Updated CPU speed detection code.
• Fixed PIIX errata which causes CD-ROM detection failure.
• Corrected an issue where the FLASH was being left write enabled when a valid copy of the ESCD was found going through post.
• Changed interfaces to CD-Boot support code. Added the support for release of IRQ 14/15 when respective IDE controller is disabled.
• Move POST scratch buffer above 1MB so add-in cards that search for free memory can find some.
• Fixed ACFGTEST XREF failures for PIIX multi-function devices.
• Fixed an issue where a PCI card without an ESCD entry was disabled if the previous card/function was disabled.
• Fixed an issue of disabled devices indicating they are still using resources when in fact, they are not. (ex. IRQ0 instead of No IRQ.)
• Allow for optional Video ROMs greater than 64K.
• Round up post BIOS size to 2K boundary. Some PCI LAN cards had post init size of 1Fh*512 bytes. This caused next optional ROM to be installed off a 2K boundary.
• Fixed DMA Channel 3 programming issue.
• Adjusted Static Get Node code to support SB/MPU IRQ sharing/disable and SB/WSS DMA sharing/disable without clearing CMOS for associated configurations.
• Fixed an issue where mouse device node always returned the disabled state.
• Added capability to preserve the state of the power supply.
• Fixed an issue with static version of mouse node. A NodeInit needed to be added to access chipset hooks used by some platforms.
• Fixed an issue where mouse node set to non-configurable.
• Fixed an issue with setup hanging when parallel port was set to port 278h, and ECP mode.
• Changed the parallel port scan order so if Auto uses 378h, 278h, 3BCh respectively is available.
• Rewrote the memory size routine to support the maximum size configured.
• Fixed an issue where some PCI video cards would not work behind a bridge. The fix also fixed video cards with built-in bridges.
  Note: This DOES NOT fix those video cards that use I/O addresses other than 3B0h-3BBh & 3C0h-3DFh and don't reserve those address in one of the base address registers. Those are the only addresses automatically forwarded over the bus for VGA.
• Provide a mechanism to prevent WIN95from enabling a disabled node.
• Fixed an issue with static version of memory node. Bug was zero bytes above 1MB.
• Fix an issue where dynamic disable left certain resources active.
• Added code to Clear system RAM just prior to boot.
• Fixed an issue in which ESCD ROM was written to without a valid signature.
• Fixed an issue where setup could disable primary or secondary IDE controllers, but resources were still allocated.

Release 6.0

• Fixed the issue in which the date cannot be set to February 29, 2000 in the Setup.
• Changed code to prevent incorrect operation of IRQs selected/deselected. Proper Operation: No more than one IRQ should be "not effective" (greyed out and unselectable) at any one time and that IRQ must be set to "available". If upon entering this screen, no IRQ is set to available, one IRQ will be changed from "Used by ISA" to "Available" and made not effective (greyed out). IRQ 12 is the exception. IRQ 12 can never be the only IRQ set to "Available".
• Corrected an error where last byte of logo block was overwritten with a zero whenever the jumper to clear CMOS (and ESCD) is set and ESCD has invalid header offset length. Symptom: Boot board with newly programmed flash and the jumper is set to clear CMOS (and ESCD), an FMUP verify operation will fail. To verify athe proper programming of the Flash BIOS area, do the “verify Flash area with file on disk” option on menu before doing Clear CMOS routine.
• Fixed an issue of fields being accessible when Admin password retrictions are in effect.
• Added Scan User Flash related translations.
• Added code to check for valid day. Added code to set time to 00:00:00 on date/time error.
• Fixed an issue where invalid device node data appeared when no mouse is installed.
• Changed POST string "CD-ROM Drive" to "ATAPI Device."
• Changed to stop using the battery bit in the RTC as an indication of CMOS validity.
• Added “Scan User Flash Area” option in Boot Option menu.
• Support the latest Crystal Plug and Play CS4232 Audio BIOS.
• Latest ATA/ATAPI drive detection code.
• Free IRQ15 when the Secondary PCI IDE channel is disabled via Setup.
• Fixed an issue with some Token rings remote boot.
• APM serial port mouse detection which allows mouse movement to wake up the system when in the APM mode.
• Fixed the issue where a security password is set and a system is in a power saving mode, a serial mouse can wake the system up bypassing the password.
• Support BIOS recovery via Misty card.

Release 5.0

• Replaced current video BIOS with ATI264-CT DUAL CAS 60Ns RAM 54 MHz Video BIOS version 1.073/54M.
• Fixed an issue where CPU Auto HALT features were incorrectly being disabled. The fix results in about 5 watts of additional power saved durring CPU inactivity, even when APM is disabled in setup (as long as a power driver is installed).

Release 4.0 - WANTED!

• Replaced current video BIOS with ATI264-CT DUAL CAS 60Ns RAM 56.5MHz Video BIOS version 1.072/7C. This video BIOS is needed to change the memory cycle length from six mem clock cycles to seven mem clock cycles in order to correct video DRAM timing issues when the internal device mem clock is set to 56.5Mhz. The video DRAM timing issues that occur when the Mach64 is used in high resolution mode (8x6x256 or greater) with either 60nS fast Page or EDO DRAM. In modes of 8x6x256 and greater the mem clock is set from 50Mhz to 56.5Mhz.

Release 3.0 - WANTED!

• Changed the minimum PCI bridge I/O resources from 0K back to 4K to correct an issue related to some dual PCI VGA controller cards which are not PCI compliant.

Release 2.0 - WANTED!

• Replaced current video BIOS with ATI264-CT DUAL CAS 60Ns RAM 56.5MHz Video BIOS version 1.071. This video BIOS corrects the INT10 routine to allow more time for Palette DAC accesses.
• Changed the CMOS default for the “Advanced Chipset Configuration” screen’s “Video Palette Snoop” field from Disabled to Enabled.
  

Release 1.0 - WANTED!