Firmware is the read-only
memory (ROM) chips which function as useful tools storing permanent
instructions. It plays an extremely vital role in the operation of the computer
because it is the key that boots up the computerized or digital device. On the
other hand, it is so powerful in that it does not require a power source to
hold its contents for the ROM chips are non-volatile. This characteristic
distinguishes it from random access memory (RAM) as the RAM will lose the
stored data at shutdown. Generally speaking, people have not much knowledge
about firmware. It is possible that the basic input-output system (BIOS) chip
is the most well-known fro common users. The BIOS chip on a computer
motherboard stores instructions that boot up the hardware when booting up the
computer and make sure that the components are working and roll out the
operating system to take over eventually.
Users were not able to rewrite
the firmware chips in the past. Therefore, people had no choice but to buy a
new motherboard as long as the former BIOS was outmoded. With the rapid
development of science and technology, this problem has been successfully
solved. The new chips are capable of understanding the latest hardware so that
users are able to get rid of the limitations of the older drives and other
legacy technologies when confronted with unavoidable upgrades.
There is no denying that it
would bring about a great deal of benefits if the firmware can be upgraded.
With the emergence of the flash memory chips, this is realizable. The BIOS is
written to the flash memory chip, which enables the user to connect to the
manufacturer’s website. Under such conditions, users are free to download an
upgrade and flash the BIOS chip during boot-up to install a new set of
instructions. Therefore, all quality motherboards today feature a flash BIOS.
