Auto vs. Normal settings in BIOS

[grishkafool]

I have tried to search this here at Tweak and not found any on point topics.

Could someone please explain the Functional Difference between Auto and Normal when it comes to BIOS settings?

[Psycho101]

Re: Auto vs. Normal settings in BIOS

In the case of a voltage where no scaling is involved, Normal will keep the voltage at a constant stock level. Eg if you set normal for a CPU with a VID of 1.25V, then no matter what you do to FSB etc, it will remain at 1.25V.

I'm uncertain of how this effects scaling voltages such as reference volts which is why I avoid putting them (or anything actually) on normal. It may well be that because "normal" behaviour for a reference is to scale with its linked voltage, Normal will let it do this. It may also mean that Normal stops it scalin propperly.

To test this, put CPU and/or MCH ref on normal, and change VTT. Look at the values in ET6. If the references aren't allowed to scale, then each VTT level would mean a different % of VTT, so 0.760 will only be shown in ET6 for 1.2VTT. If with refs on normal they show 0.760 regardless of VTT value it's safe to say that Normal works the same as Auto for references.

In either case, it sounds like Normal isn't the best thing to use. Just my opinion.

[grishkafool]

Re: Auto vs. Normal settings in BIOS

In the case of a voltage where no scaling is involved, Normal will keep the voltage at a constant stock level. Eg if you set normal for a CPU with a VID of 1.25V, then no matter what you do to FSB etc, it will remain at 1.25V.

I'm uncertain of how this effects scaling voltages such as reference volts which is why I avoid putting them (or anything actually) on normal. It may well be that because "normal" behaviour for a reference is to scale with its linked voltage, Normal will let it do this. It may also mean that Normal stops it scalin propperly.

To test this, put CPU and/or MCH ref on normal, and change VTT. Look at the values in ET6. If the references aren't allowed to scale, then each VTT level would mean a different % of VTT, so 0.760 will only be shown in ET6 for 1.2VTT. If with refs on normal they show 0.760 regardless of VTT value it's safe to say that Normal works the same as Auto for references.

In either case, it sounds like Normal isn't the best thing to use. Just my opinion.

Thanks Psycho, that is kind of what I suspected, but needed a simple clear explanation of it.

A buddy of mine has a q9650 and he is ends up having to use Normal settings to find stability over 3.8GHz.. I asked him what it does and he wasn't sure. Now I have an inkling.

[Conners]

Re: Auto vs. Normal settings in BIOS

I know I read somewhere where lsdmeasap was explaining to someone the diffrence between them. But I see where psycho101 has answered your queston. G/L

[DankBuddha]

Re: Auto vs. Normal settings in BIOS

Always put as little in the bios programmers hands and set and change the voltages yourself and you'll always be better off in the end.

[grishkafool]

Re: Auto vs. Normal settings in BIOS

Always put as little in the bios programmers hands and set and change the voltages yourself and you'll always be better off in the end.

I tend to set most every value manually... I was just curious what the Functional difference was between Normal and Auto. As a side note, I am curious why they would include a Normal setting if it locks the value at VID levels.

[Psycho101]

Re: Auto vs. Normal settings in BIOS

Normal , unlike auto for Vcore will allow EIST to lower core voltage. A normal setting is advantagious in that it will not let Vcore be changed above VID levels, unlike auto, where it will scale with what ever the board thinks (and it's not good at thinking, which is why you should set manual settings really).

The only use for a normal Vcore I can see is where not overclocking at all or lightly overclocking with something like CIA2 (which I'd never recommend). You can then guarantee that vcore won't rise to silly levels when dynamically overclocked.