Release Note
                      ====================

                Venturis FX-2 Series System BIOS

  Version    :  V1.08

  Date       :  SEPT 30 1997

 
                BIOS.ROM     - 256K BIOS image file for system rom
                               flashed.
                PHLASH.EXE   - flash rom utility,
                PLATFORM.BIN - flash rom utility. (used under DOS to flash)
 
               note: This PLATFORM.BIN file is only used under DOS to flash
                      the system BIOS. It is different from the PLATFORM.BIN
                      included in Crisis Recovery Disk which is used under 
                      "RECOVERY MODE".

  Signon     :  Digital PC3100 XYYY Z Version 1.08
                Note:  X   = 5 ---> INTEL or AMD K5
                           = 6 ---> AMD K6
                       YYY = 90/100/120/133/150/166/180/200/233/266/300.
                       Z   = M ---> P55c
                           = K ---> AMD

BIOS function specification

   - Memory auto sizing support to 256MB.
   - Cache 256/512K memory auto sizing.
   - AMD 2Mbit flashable BIOS support.
   - 2 CH. BMIDE/(ULTRA DMA/33) support.
   - 1 serial ports FIFO 16550 compatible.
   - ECP/EPP support.
   - 6 lines by 50 chars softbanner support.
   - Quiet boot support.
   - APM1.2 support.
   - System power management support.
   - Floppy h/w write protection.
   - Diskette A: B: exchange support.
   - CD-ROM boot support.
   - PnP CDR V4.1 support.
   - Two level passowrd support.
   - Win 95 ordered shutdown support.
   - DMI 2.0 support.
   - Two USB port support.
   - Security Bios
   - DC on/off
   - Acpi 4 sec off


Changes to BIOS V1.07 to generate BIOS V1.08

o Modify the DMI L2 cache "Maximun Size" information from "Static 256K" to the
  size of dynamic sizing.

o Fixed the bug that when POWER.EXE is installed under DOS and then Windows
  3.11 is started, the "POWER" icon will disappear and APM functions are lost.

o Change the VGA BIOS signon message

  from: Venturis S3 .......
  to  : DIGITAL PC 3100 S3 ............


Multi-Boot II Supporting description...

        In a MultiBoot system, the first boot device is selectable. It does
    not default to the Floppy device A: or IDE primary-Master. Any bootable
    device can be specified as a Master Boot device on the MultiBoot Menu 
    of Setup.

        This allows you to select the order that boot devices are attempted.
    This feature is called the "Boot Priority" and is always present.

        If you select the [Hard Disk] item in the Boot Priority section of Setup 
    and then press the <Enter> key, the Boot Connection Device menu appears. The 
    Boot Connection Device menu allows you to specify the order in which hard
    drives are installed into the system during ROM scan (POST code 98h).

    BOOT MENU:

          Some CD-ROM drives do not auto-type correctly. This will be apparent
    during POST when the "CD-ROM identified" message is not displayed.
    In this case, go into Setup and select the hard disk type for the
    CD-ROM manually, instead of auto-typing it in Setup.

        Many advanced operating systems such as Windows 95, Windows NT,
    OS/2 Warp, Unix, and others, modify the boot sectors of any hard drives
    that are installed in the system while the OS is being installed.
    This can cause normally bootable hard drives to be rendered non-bootable,
    even though the user did not want this behavior.

       In systems where there are two or more bootable hard drives, it is
   recommended that all bootable hard drives other than the target of the
   new OS be removed from the system prior to installing the new OS.

       Once installation of the new OS is complete, the other bootable drives
   can then be added back to the system. This simple procedure prevents the
   advanced Operating Systems from modifying the boot sectors of other bootable
   drives, thus preserving the MultiBoot II capability of choosing among several
   hard drives to boot from.

Known Limitations:

Support for 64Mbit DRAM technology:

Memory SLOT 3 (J5) can not support a 64Mbyte DIMM using 64 Mbit DRAMs.
       
1. If any DIMM is installed in SLOT 3 (J5) then any 64Mbyte
   DIMM used in SLOT 1 (J7) or SLOT 2 (J6) will be identified as 16 Mbyte.

2. If slot 3 is empty then SLOT 1 and SLOT 2 can support 64 Mbyte DIMM using 64Mbit DRAMs.