MSI M-Flash boots second BIOS from USB drive

Posted on Thursday, October 30 2008 @ 15:03 CET by Thomas De Maesschalck
MSI has launched a new micro site to present all the new BIOS features of the P45 motherboards and two additional new features found on the upcoming MSI X58 Eclipse. The Eclipse will feature M-Flash and CPU Specification. The latter one will show the detailed specifications of your processor to aid in overclocking while M-Flash enables you to test drive a new BIOS without having to flash your BIOS.
MSI M-Flash
MSI offers different tools to update your BIOS. Users can either use a DOS Flash tool, in Windows Live Update 3, via internet Live Update Online and in the BIOS the new M-Flash. It is more than a flash utility; it has 4 different new functions:

1) Update: Easily browse your HDD or USB device, select a BIOS file and flash to latest current BIOS

2) Backup: Why throw away a good working BIOS? This function allows users to make backups of their current BIOS.

3) Recovery: Failed flash? Dead mainboard? No worries, with the M-Flash recovery mode users have 98% more chance to recover the BIOS of their dead board. Use a memory USB stick with the BIOS on it, after booting the system will go into recovery mode. It functions just like a dual backup bios, but offers more flexibility.

4) TestDrive: Want to test a beta BIOS without having to flash your BIOS? Want to know the impact of a new BIOS on the benchmarks? TestDrive allows users to boot a 2nd BIOS from USB without having to flash it, your onboard BIOS stays untouched!


MSI CPU Specification
There are many different CPU types on the market with sometimes confusing names. In order to achieve the highest overclock, it is important to know the detailed specifications of your CPU. Normally, this requires booting to Windows where a software application will show all CPU details. With MSI Eclipse users can simply select the option CPU Specification in the BIOS, where you find a detailed overview of CPU specifications like CPUID, CPU stepping, CPU clock, L3/L2/L1 cache, Core VID, the number of cores and the supported instruction sets. This function is similar to Memory-Z, but for the CPU.

Innovative BIOS features introduced on P45
Successful BIOS features that MSI has implemented on MSI P45 mainboard series and most of them will be available as well on MSI Eclipse mainboard:

  • Memory-Z
    MSI is the first to include detailed memory information in the BIOS itself

  • Multi-step OC Booster
    This enables overclocking only after you have exit the BIOS and boot the OS

  • Extreme voltages
    Due to the balanced 2-phase memory chipset power design, you can tune your system to extreme voltages

  • Extended Help function
    MSI includes detailed help instructions in their BIOS, no need for manuals anymore

  • ClockGen Tuner
    With this function die-hard overclockers also can tune the clockgen chip

  • Advanced Memory timings
    MSI X58 users can control all advanced memory timings

  • EFI Click BIOS
    World’s first EFI BIOS on a desktop mainboard. Everything is controlled by mouse in a graphical environment, which supports 22 languages. EFI release schedule for X58 is pending.


  • About the Author

    Thomas De Maesschalck

    Thomas has been messing with computer since early childhood and firmly believes the Internet is the best thing since sliced bread. Enjoys playing with new tech, is fascinated by science, and passionate about financial markets. When not behind a computer, he can be found with running shoes on or lifting heavy weights in the weight room.



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