![[H]ardOCP](/images/blank.gif){kind=small}
- Date:
- Wednesday, August 08, 2007
- Author:
- Morry Teitelman
- Editor:
- Kyle Bennett
- Google +1
ASUS Blitz Extreme
The Blitz Extreme represents a culmination of design and raw processing power for ASUS. The motherboard is a feature rich solution, with many cutting edge technologies including a hybrid water-capable heat-pipe cooling system.
BIOS
The Blitz Extreme’s BIOS is based on an AMIBIOS design. The BIOS version shown below is version 0601.
The SATA Configuration submenu, accessible using the SATA Configuration link from within the Main screen, contains all configuration options for the ICH9R controlled ports. The Configure SATA as determines the port operational mode, activating the AHCI and RAID functionality of the chipset. Note that the ICH9R RAID boot BIOS will only show with drives connected to the onboard ICH9R’s SATA 2 ports. The System Information submenu contains read-only settings detailing the current CPU and memory speed and type.
The Advanced menu contains a series of submenus containing configuration options controlling the onboard devices.
The USB Configuration submenu contains all USB port related configuration options, with a separate submenu for configuring the individual USB device emulation options. Note that this submenu only displays with a USB device attached and properly detected at system initialization time. The USB Mass Storage Device Configuration submenu is used for configuring these emulation options. Note that this submenu only displays with a USB device attached and properly detected at system initialization time. The Emulation Type option within this submenu allows for configuring device specific emulation modes for the system detected USB devices.
The CPU Configuration submenu contains configurable options for controlling various internal CPU related functions, such as: CPU multiplier ratio, C1E support, CPUID value limit, Vanderpool virtualization technology, CPU Trusted Module function support, Execute Disable Bit, PECI, and the Intel SpeedStep technology.
The Onboard Devices Configuration submenu, opened via the Onboard Devices Configuration link within the Advanced screen, contains settings for configuring the integrated system devices, including the JMicron RAID controller, all LAN controllers, the IEEE 1394 ports, and the HD audio device. With the JMicron eSATA/PATA Controller setting enabled, the Controller Mode option becomes user accessible. This setting controls the operation mode for the JMicron controlled e-SATA ports, allowing for IDE, RAID, or AHCI based operation. Note that any devices connected to the JMicron controlled IDE port are not for use in RAID or AHCI type arrays.
The Hardware Monitor submenu can be accessed via the Hardware Monitor link from within the main Power menu. The submenu contains up to the second statistics on all system monitored temperatures, voltages, and fan speeds, as well as options and submenus for controlling automated fan configuration capabilities. The Northbridge, Southbridge, and OPT_TEMP1 Overheat Protection options can be used to set a system monitored threshold temperature for the monitored item, above which the system initiates an automated system shutdown. The Southbridge Sensor Select option configures the monitoring mechanism for system determination of the Southbridge chipset’s temperature, with the OPT_TEMP2 setting measuring temperature from a device attached to the motherboard’s OPT_TEMP2 header.
The CPU Fan and Chassis Fan and OPT Fan and Power Fan submenus contain configuration options for controlling the fans attached to the onboard fan headers. The fan speeds can be controlled via a variety of methods, depending on the specific fan header in question. The CPU fan speed is controlled via pre-set profiles within the CPU FAN Profile option, while the chassis designated fans are controlled via a selected fan speed ratio and temperature threshold. The fans attached to the OPT_FAN headers can be configured for operation at a static speed, or variable speed operation based on a selected temperature threshold. This operation mode is configured via the OPT_Fan Q-Fan Control option.
The Hard Disk Drives submenu, accessed via the Hard Disk Drives link in the upper level Boot screen, controls the access order of viable hard disk type boot devices. A USB device will show as viable when properly connected and detected at system start time.
The Tools menu contains options and submenus related to BIOS save and load type operations. The ASUS EZ Flash 2 submenu runs the proprietary ASUS EZFlash2 BIOS update applet. This application allows for flashing the board from BIOS update files from any connected system device, including properly detected USB 2.0 devices. The ASUS O.C. Profile submenu configures settings for generation and loading of up to 2 profiles. The Start O.C. Profile option allows for saving or loading customized BIOS profiles from or to a file. The interface is very similar in design to the EZ Flash 2 interface, with access to all attached system storage devices for save and load operations, including attached USB 2.0 devices.