BIOS Features
The ECS A785GM-M motherboard uses American Megatrends BIOS Version 09/07/17, which the first release BIOS version for this motherboard.
The Advanced Setup menu is where users can configure the boot priorities as well as configure AMD C8Q, Enhanced Halt, Quick Power on Selt Test, Boot Up Numlock Status, and APIC Mode. Users can also enable or disable ECS’s eJiffy function in this menu.
Under the Advanced Chipset Setup, users can modify the Internal Graphics Mode as well as manually set the graphics card clock speed via the GFX Clock Override sub menu. HDMI audio can also be enabled or disabled in this section.
The HD 4200 integrated graphics clock speed can be increased or decreased in 1MHz increments.
The Share Memory Size can be set to Auto, 32MB, 64MB, 128MB, 256MB, and 512MB respectively.
The Integrated Peripherals menu takes care of the on board IDE, SATA, USB, audio, and LAN functions. It also is where users can configure the JMB362 controller that controls eSATA functionality.
The Power Management Setup menu has the usual suspects for modifying available power options on this motherboard. Pretty standard stuff if you work in the BIOS a lot.
The PCI/PnP Setup menu is where users can configure devices installed on the PCI bus as well as those using the system’s plug and play capability.
The PC Health Status menu is also pretty standard, but still has good info on CPU temps, system temps, fans speeds, and CPU voltage information.
Here’s where most motherboard BIOS setups differ — the overclocking section. ECS dubbed their OC section M.I.B. II, which stands for MB Intelligent BIOS II. By enabling CPU Frequency Control, users can see all the options above for modifying CPU frequency, CPU voltage, and Northbridge frequency.
CPU Frequency can be configured from x8.0 to x15 and higher depending on if the CPU multiplier is unlocked on your AM3 processor. Ours was unlocked because we are using an AMD Phenom II X3 720 Black Edition for testing.
The Memory Configuration menu gives users full access to adjusting a variety of memory options, including DRAM Frequency, DRAM Timing Mode, Bank Interleaving, and Channel Interleaving.
CPU Frequency can be configured from x8.0 to x15 and higher depending on if the CPU multiplier is unlocked on your AM3 processor. Ours was unlocked because we are using an AMD Phenom II X3 720 Black Edition for testing.
CPU Voltage can be adjusted in .025v increments all the way up to 1.550v.
The HT Frequency can be set between 200MHz and 2.0GHz.
CPU, DIMM, NB, and SB voltages can all be adjusted under the Voltage Function sub menu. Each section can increase or decrease voltage to those components in very small increments to fine tune them for better performance.
CPU voltages can be adjusted up to 11 levels or +165mV.
DIMM voltages can be adjusted up to 63 levels or +630mV.
The Smart Fan Function menu is where users can manually configure each system fan to perform according to their individual requirements. Users can also enable and disable the power and system fan controls.
The final menu items include loading default settings, supervisor/user passwords, and saving your settings. ECS didn’t include a menu for setting up overclocking profiles, which are pretty handy when trying to adjust voltage and CPU speed settings. Overall, the BIOS is pretty clean and uses plain English for almost all of their menus and sub menu options. Users won’t need a PHD in electrical engineering to decipher the available overclocking functions either.
