UEFI, BIOS replacement candidate

Last time for BIOS is near, and will be replaced by newcomer "UEFI". Your computer will be faster, safer, and stronger. let's see the reasons.

Bios menu's (basic input / output system) that are blue and less structure, has come since 30 years ago, the BIOS will detect the hardware and prepare the necessary interface Interface for Windows or Linux boot process. In fact, Bios developed for PCs since the 80s and remained unchanged until today.

In the 2000s, Intel developed a new interface, called firmware EFI (Extensible Firmware Interface). since 2005, Unified EFI Forum, which consists of large companies such as Intel, AMD, Apple, Dell and Microsoft has reviewed the UEFI specification (unfied EFI). UEFI has evolved into an interface that is easy to operate, faster, stable, lightweight and safer. indeed until now there is no UEFI-based systems. but let us see what is offered by this new BIOS. and how the computer will boot.

Bios boot process can be seen that the PC is turned on in seconds until the windows screen appears. This is a process called POST (Power On Self Test). In the classic PC BIOS, this process will initialize all the hardware contained on the motherboard. Starting from the CPU and then examine some of its functions. Bios works as an abstraction so that the operating system doesn't have to activate the other PC components directly. drivers should be loaded at the operating system is active. Typically, the BIOS will seek Bootloader on the first 512 bytes of all drives. On Bios-based Computer, Bootloader usually located in the MBR (Master Boot Record). MBR create a partition on your hard drive, when the bootloader has been active, the operating system will run. However, PC-BIOS shows two basic weaknesses.

• First, the Bios based on byte code assembler 16, so it can't directly initialize the new 64-byte.
• Second, don't have the same specifications. each manufacturer makes their own variants.

With UEFI, forun participants wanted to create uniformity. each process will be defined in detail. UEFI boot process on Board (Platform Initialization (PI)). This can be interpreted as follows. after the computer is turned on, will take place Pre-EFI Initialization (PEI), which is activated in the CPU, memory, and chipset. subsequently, the process of switching to the Driver Execution Environment (DXE). at this stage, other hardware will be activated and even it done only in one step. at this stage it is definitely an advantage in terms of speed can already be felt. UEFI integrate a variety of drivers, so no need to load operating systems run on time. because these drivers don't depend anymore on the system, and we only need to program a variant only. therefore at the initial boot, NetworkCard and other functions such as: network boot or Remote Maintenance already can be activated, in addition, active grafihics card will display the simple menu interface.

Booting will be faster because they do not need anymore melaukan pengrcekan bootleader on all drives available. Boot drive has been determined since the operating system installation. So that becomes the standard boot process. But this is not the only advantage gained if we use the UEFI. On the other EFI partition, such as hard drives, a variety of applications can be stored, so that when the new operating system is running, you can run diagnostic applications, such as sytem tool, etc.

HDD 3 require UEFI
Currently, 3 TB hard drives have a lot in the market, such as: Barracuda XT 3000Gb. But until now UEFI isn't ready to use. whereas for use of this giant hard disk required special software or drive.

BIOS-PC can only access 2³² sectors, 512 bytes in size through the conventional master boot record. This means that the maximum hard disk capacity is 2 TB. Seagate uses a slightly larger sector to at least be used in windows, but this makes the problem, the BIOS can't boot from this disk.
Conversely, UEFI based on GUID Partition Table (GPT) can process up to 2⁶⁴ sectors, so this is equivalent to 9 Zettabyte (1ZettaByte = 1 billion TB). Although GPT hard disks can be used on windows Vista. But boot only works with UEFI motherboards. As Intel DQ57 SPI TM and vista 64 Byte. Reportedly this year, Intel and other vendors will offer more UEFI motherboard than the Bios.