What's The Difference Between The BE3011 and SmartROM? BE3011 - BIOS TABLE EXPANDER TABLE The BE3011 (also known as BE, BTE, and BETTY) is basically just what it is called; a BIOS Table Expander. The BE3011 is a ROM that has a table of drive geometry entries ranging in capacity of 80MB to 1G and is used to compliment the drive geometry entries that already exist in the BIOS Table on the motherboard. Most motherboard BIOS's, however, only have drive geometry support in the standard range for up to a 140MB disk drive. This standard range is commonly known as "Drive Types 1-46". Some BIOS's do offer an expanded table beyond Type 46 and, in some cases, a User Definable Disk Drive Type (or UDP, for User Definable Parameters). However, because the DPT controller emulates the WD1003 disk controller, it cannot utilize "standard" Drive Types that exceed number 46 because this secondary drive table is stored in different areas of system ROM on every machine depending on the BIOS manufacturer. The Drive Type range of 1-46 is standardized on every machine, however, and can be found at system ROM address F000:E679. The UDP type can be used with the DPT controller even though it does not appear in the standard Type 1-46 range. Refer to UDP.TXT or read Bulletin 7 on the Technical Support BBS for details on installing with UDP's. As the inability to have support for large capacity disk drives in the standard Type 1-46 range became more apparent, DPT developed the BE3011 BIOS Table Expander. The BE3011 sets the motherboard CMOS to Type 1 (typically a 10MB drive entry) and sets up a software vector (INT41) so that whenever the operating system makes a disk call to Type 1, it will skip over the 10MB entry listed and follow the vector to the BE3011 address (typically C800) where the DPT drive table is stored. The installation of the BE3011 table into system memory is accomplished by running DPTFMT on the disk drive to be used. WHEN TO USE THE BE3011 The BE3011 is only needed when using an operating system that is BIOS dependant, and you are using a DPT controller in emulation mode, and the hard disk you want to install is not supported by your motherboard BIOS. Although the BE3011 is compatible with all DPT controllers, it is usually only used on the PM3011 and PM2001 controllers. The BE3011 comes standard on the PM3011 controller and is available as on option on the PM2001. PM2011 and PM2012 controllers usually take advantage of DPT SmartDrivers or SmartROM thus eliminating the need for the BE3011. The following chart shows which operating systems need the BE3011 and which do not: Operating System Needs BIOS Expansion ------------------------------------------------- Interactive YES MS/PC DOS YES Novell 2.1x, 2.2x, 3.x YES OS/2 YES PCMOS YES Concurrent DOS YES PICK YES Microport UNIX NO SCO UNIX NO Xenix NO QNX NO THEOS NO Novell 2.0x * * Novell 2.0x will not operate with the BE3011. The DUB14 from Golden Bow Systems is recommended and like the BE3011, will socket directly onto the PM3011 or PM2001 controller. BR401x - SmartROM The SmartROM (also known as SR and DPT BIOS) is slightly more than just a table entry as it has intelligence. Instead of having a table of drive geometries, SmartROM instead formulates it's own drive geometry based on the capacity of the drive installed. SmartROM uses a 64 head 32 sector 1 cylinder = 1MB algorithm (example: 350MB drive would have a SmartROM geometry of 350 cylinders, 64 heads, and 32 sectors). SmartROM is used primarily for DOS, and because SmartROM sets the system CMOS to NO DRIVES INSTALLED, SmartROM is not limited to the 528MB DOS limitation we've all come to know and hate. WHEN TO USE SMARTROM SmartROM is used primarily for DOS, and is poses no benefits for any other operating system besides DOS. SmartROM is compatible with MS/PC DOS versions 3.3 through 5.0 on the PM2012, PM2011, PM2001, and PM3011E/75 controllers. Benefits include: PM2012 - SmartROM provides DOS EISA enhanced mode, Bus Mastering, support for hard disks over 528MB, support for tape drives, support for CDROM drives, and support for multiple 2012 controllers. Download SUPDEV.TXT for details on supported devices. PM2011 - SmartROM provides DOS support for hard disks over 528MB, support for tape drives, support for CDROM drives, and support for multiple 2011 controllers. Download SUPDEV.TXT for details on supported devices. PM2001 - SmartROM provides DOS support for hard disks over 528MB, support for tape drives, support for CDROM drives, and support for multiple 2001 controllers. Download SUPDEV.TXT for details on supported devices. PM3011E/75 - SmartROM provides DOS support for hard disks over 528MB. For operating systems other than DOS, the above benefits may be achieved with the installation of a DPT SmartDriver. Download UDP.TXT from the Technical Support BBS for details on SmartDriver benefits.