Warp schrieb:

>>>   I don't understand why linux would modify the frequency/timings of cpu and
>>> memory, and even if it did, why it would have to modify BIOS to do that.
>>> (What good would it do to modify BIOS anyways? It would have to re-boot in
>>> order for the changes to become effective. BIOS is not something which is
>>> constantly running in the background. It just sets up the hardware and starts
>>> the OS and that's it.)
> 
>> Well, /nowadays/ that's how it is. Used to be different in DOS times.
> 
>   DOS could change the CPU/memory frequency by modifying BIOS and without
> having to reboot?

No, but BIOS did more back then than just start the OS. For instance, 
hard disk access or keyboard input would be handled by the BIOS.

Back then, the role of the BIOS was still closer to its name ("Basic 
Input/Output System) than it is nowadays: It really did basic input and 
output handling even while the OS was running, and was far from evolving 
into a hardware configuration interface. (Remember how CPU and memory 
frequency would be configured via hardware jumpers or DIP switches, port 
I/O addresses would be jumpered on the /expansion card/ the ports were 
on, etc?)

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