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BIOS allows interfacing with a computer’s hardware without an operating system. Video BIOS is unique to video cards and provides basic instructions and functions for software interaction. Video BIOS has been included in video cards since the 1980s. BIOS can be accessed early in the boot cycle to change settings, but incorrect settings can damage a video card. BIOS updates can potentially improve performance or add features, but can also damage a video card if done incorrectly.
Basic input/output (BIOS) is a type of firmware that allows interfacing to the hardware of a personal computer in the absence of any other operating system or software. Whereas the system BIOS performs this function for most of the hardware in a computer, the video BIOS is unique to video cards. Everything displayed on a computer monitor before the operating system boots is created by the BIOS, with the video BIOS providing a way to interact with the video card at that early stage. The video BIOS also includes a set of basic instructions and functions that allow the software to interact with the video card at all times.
Video BIOS has been commonly included in video cards since the early 1980s, when Enhanced Graphics Adapter (EGA) video cards were first introduced. Before that, all video BIOS functions were performed by the system BIOS. The previous system BIOS was unable to activate EGA and later chipsets, requiring its own BIOS. Video cards were subsequently managed by their own video BIOS, while all other hardware continued to be interfaced via the system BIOS. This included the later Video Graphics Array (VGA) and subsequent video cards.
The BIOS can usually be accessed early in the boot cycle, after the computer is turned on but before the operating system loads. This is typically accomplished by pressing a key or a combination of keys and will often present users with a semi-graphical interface. This interface can be used to change certain settings, such as boot order, automatic hardware detection, and shared random access memory (RAM) allocation. Changing certain settings should be done carefully, as it may be possible to damage a video card with incorrect BIOS settings.
It is sometimes possible to perform a BIOS update, although this process can also damage a video card if done incorrectly. The BIOS is firmware contained in the video card, so the process involves flashing the new BIOS onto the card. If a video card manufacturer releases an updated BIOS for a particular card, the BIOS should be available directly from that manufacturer. Similarly, some video cards are able to use the BIOS released for a more expensive card from the same product line. This type of BIOS update can potentially improve the performance of a video card or, in some cases, even add more features than the card provides.
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