What is UEFI

acercon · August 4, 2014

so i have the gigabyte 990fx motherboard and on the box it said (Duel UEFI BIOS) i dont know what that is so i look around and i still dont really understand it could someone explain it to me? from what i read it said it is a different version of the BIOS? and it could improve boot up speed and such. is UEFI something i need to enable or is it pre installed?

thank you for your time

Volbet · August 4, 2014

UEFI is just the newest standard for how the OS communicate with the firmware and hardware.

Writting "UEFI BIOS" is technically wrong, since the UEFI is replacing the BIOS on modern motherboards. However, most people, myself included, still referes to the UEFI as the BIOS.

It is pre-installed, and it should work 100% out of the box.

GoodBytes · August 4, 2014

UEFI is a desperately needed, firmware layer that configures your hardware inside the system based on its specifications. In addition, it look for the boot sector, and start the operating system, else your computer can't be operated in any way of fashion, and as useful as a heater (no power saving features enabled at this stage, you need an OS to manage this) or a doorstop.

In summation, here is how both works:
BIOS: "Ok, everything is on... ok... let see how much RAM you have... ok: 1MB, ok, can you do 2MB? How about 3?... And how about 16GB... how about 16.001GB? No.. ok do you have 16GB! Wonderful. Now that is done, let’s see what you CPU can do. Let me scan that... now lets see about this GPU you have... ah fascinating... ok the basics are done, now let’s see if you have any IDE or SATA controllers... fascinating as well... ok let’s detects each drive one by one... Ok while they spin up, let me take a break here... ok done, now how about that boot sector... Oooh Windows, nice... let’s start it". And then, Windows starts, and because it has NO IDEA what the BIOS just detected, it detects everything again. Wonderful. Ok, important note: I am exaggerating. New version of BIOS and technologies has come to improve the BIOS up. Now, it does not need to scan how much RAM you have, it can get that info. Moreover, with XMP feature, it can get the memory manufacture configuration for its timing and such, and does not need to rely on the user (you) to insert that information in the BIOS setup screen. But, it still remains that it is slow, and detects everything one by one, and gives no information about what it detected to the OS, no matter what OS you use.

UEFI goes: "Ok everyone, all together, give me your specs... Ok, very nice, boot sector found, start OS. Oh Windows 8! Ah, Mr. Windows 8, you just told me you fully support UEFI, ok, so here is everything I detected. Enjoy!"

This is why Windows 8 can start super-fast. And, with a fast SSD and the new partial hibernation system implemented in Windows 8 startup. If all you hardware are fully UEFI ready, you can start Windows from the power button "click" sound, to desktop, fully loaded, in 6 sec or even less.

LogicalDrm · August 4, 2014

Google has the answers you need, there wasn't really a need to make a thread honestly.

There is even less need for posts like that. I was interested about this too.

Tea1337 · August 4, 2014

There is even less need for posts like that. I was interested about this too.

I'm sorry, that was sort of primitive on my part, tired, and I was about to get ready for school. I felt a little irritable and make the reply without thinking.

I dont/now have a clear idea of what a UEFI 'BIOS' really is.