Can I use UEFI mode?

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renmb

renmb

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I never used Windows 8 and 8.1, and I'm going to zero fill my HD that have Windows 7 because I bought a new motherboard. So I was wondering if I can format in UEFI mode with my GPU or not. If not can I use the Fast Boot option that ASRock 990FX Extreme3 have? (the MB have UEFI and Fast Boot option). And last but not least can I use Secure Boot without UEFI and with this card?
Thanks!

PC Config: Corsair TX750V2, ASRock 990FX Extreme3, AMD FX-6300, R7 260x 2GB Sapphire OC Edition, 2x4 GB RAM Corsair Low Profile 1866 Mhz.
 
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You can use a pure UEFI boot chain on all versions of Windows starting with Windows Vista. If your firmware supports fast boot (most should) and/or secure boot and you have Windows 8 or newer installed then you...
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mouse24

mouse24

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UEFI is an alternative to the traditional mobo BIOS. It adds some enhanced features like GPT support to support drives above 2TB. It doesn't matter what GPU you use or what HDD you use. (technically I think it might matter if you had an IDE drive but thats not an issue you see often)

You also don't need to zero out the drive you can just do a basic reformat with windows 8s installer. Zero byteing a drive does take quite some time. (took about half a day with my 1tb drive.)

Edit: Ultra Fast Boot requires a compatible GPU firmware, I was wrong.
 
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renmb

renmb

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I'm already doing it with Seagate Tools. I'm using a Seagate 2TB Barracuda and it's at 74%, started 18:02.12 and now is 00:36:26, 3 less than 3 hours left maybe. Everytime I change the OS I do that, it feels faster for me.
But back in the topic, in ASRock website says that is UEFI compatible but depends of the GPU.
 
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mouse24

mouse24

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I can't find where it says that it depends on the GPU for UEFI. Anyhow it won't matter for your setup, you should be able to use any features you want in the UEFI bios without causing trouble.

Edit: This advice is wrong, woops.
 
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renmb

renmb

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I can't find it anymore too, and the mobile phone that I'm using is very bad for a deep search. Maybe I misread or changed things. I'll try it and if I succed I'll back here. Thanks.
 
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Pinhedd

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You can use a pure UEFI boot chain on all versions of Windows starting with Windows Vista. If your firmware supports fast boot (most should) and/or secure boot and you have Windows 8 or newer installed then you can also use those.

What you may wish to test though is whether or not you can disable the Compatibility Support Module (that's what Asus calls it, ASRock may have a different name). If you are using just the onboard storage controller and do not have any add-in cards which you may wish to boot from, then the only possible inhibitor is your GPU. Most new GPUs should ship with both a BIOS compatible VGA ROM and a UEFI compatible VGA ROM. If the CSM is enabled, the BIOS ROM will be used, but if the CSM is disabled, the UEFI ROM will be used. If a UEFI ROM is not present, then the CSM must be enabled. Most new cards should have the UEFI ROM present, but some manufacturers are lazy and/or incompetent in this regard (I'm looking at you Gigabyte). Having the CSM enabled does have a minor impact on boot time, but does not inhibit fast boot or secure boot. Disabling the CSM entirely will mean that you are running an entirely UEFI system with no legacy support, this should allow you to smile smugly and make you feel warm and fuzzy inside.
 
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renmb

renmb

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Have been saving money for a new VGA, now I will save more because it isnt compatible with UEFI GOP (why not sapphire, I bought it this month). So I enabled Fast Boot, but the difference is null. By the way, It's well configured? (Secure Mode enabled)
Thanks! You explained me almost everything I wanted to know.
 
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Pinhedd

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That's what I figured. The R7 260X is just a rebranded 7790 so the vendor may not have updated the firmware (lazy vendor). You can still enable Fast Boot though, and it will work. Disabling the CSM will make it even faster though.
 
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mouse24

mouse24

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Call me crazy but couldn't you just flash the R7s firmware with a different vendors firmware? If it worked going from a slightly different card (6950 to 6970 I think it was, don't quote me) then surely this wouldn't be an issue?

Also I have edited my posts above saying my advice was wrong, because it was, and I shall go reread up on ultra fast boot. Sorry about the misinformation OP.
 
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Pinhedd

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All vendor VGA firmware is derived from a reference firmware image provided by AMD/NVidia. The differences are in how it controls cooling, power regulation, temperature monitoring, clock derivation, etc... Little things like that. Some vendors have published updated firmware images that include the UEFI GOP support, but many have not. Some have even published updated firmware images that claim to include UEFI GOP support but have done so in a completely inoperative fashion (I'm looking at you Gigabyte). You may even be able to find a modded firmware image on some forums, but I would advise against using these as they are published by modders, not engineers who have access to the appropriate technical documents. Overwriting the firmware image with one from another vendor may work, or it may cause it to malfunction (wonky fan speed for example), or it may brick it completely.

I would advise against updating the VGA ROM with anything but a newer image from the appropriate vendor.
 
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mouse24

mouse24

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Ahh, that does make sense. I agree with you, I definitely wouldn't trust any 3rd party bios, just sounds like your asking for a bad time.

@op, my idea wasn't a very good one and I don't recommend it.
 
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