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Intel Desktop Board D945GPM Product Guide
18
Expandability
The desktop boards support the following:
• One PCI Express x16 add-in card
• One PCI Express x1 add-in card
• Two PCI add-in cards
Related Links:
For information about installing the PCI Express x16 card, see page
36 in Chapter 2.
BIOS
The BIOS provides the Power-On Self-Test (POST), the BIOS Setup program, the PCI/PCI
Express and IDE auto-configuration utilities, and the video BIOS. The BIOS is stored in the Serial
Peripheral Interface (SPI) Flash or Firmware Hub.
The BIOS can be updated by following the instructions on page
53 in Chapter 3.
Serial ATA and IDE Auto Configuration
If you install a Serial ATA or IDE device (such as a hard drive) in your computer, the auto-
configuration utility in the BIOS automatically detects and configures the device for your computer.
You do not need to run the BIOS Setup program after installing a Serial ATA or IDE device. You
can override the auto-configuration options by specifying manual configuration in the BIOS Setup
program.
PCI and PCI Express Auto Configuration
If you install a PCI/PCI Express add-in card in your computer, the PCI/PCI Express auto-
configuration utility in the BIOS automatically detects and configures the resources (IRQs, DMA
channels, and I/O space) for that add-in card. You do not need to run the BIOS Setup program after
you install a PCI/PCI Express add-in card.
Security Passwords
The BIOS includes security features that restrict whether the BIOS Setup program can be accessed
and who can boot the computer. A supervisor password and a user password can be set for the
BIOS Setup and for booting the computer, with the following restrictions:
• The supervisor password gives unrestricted access to view and change all Setup options. If
only the supervisor password is set, pressing <Enter> at the password prompt of Setup gives the
user restricted access to Setup.
• If both the supervisor and user passwords are set, you must enter either the supervisor password
or the user password to access Setup. Setup options are then available for viewing and
changing depending on whether the supervisor or user password was entered.
• Setting a user password restricts who can boot the computer. The password prompt is
displayed before the computer is booted. If only the supervisor password is set, the computer
boots without asking for a password. If both passwords are set, you can enter either password
to boot the computer.