What Is ACPI in BIOS?

A motherboard BIOS governs all input and output signals in a computer.

Installed on every computer's motherboard is a chip containing a BIOS (Basic Input/Output System). This system controls the way the motherboard operates. ACPI (Advanced Configuration and Power Interface) is the leading standard for power management operations in the BIOS.

History

In 1999 a group of electronics manufacturers consisting of Hewlett-Packard, Intel, Microsoft, Phoenix and Toshiba created the ACPI standard as a way of unifying existing BIOS code that previously had been handled by multiple processes.

Features

The ACPI standard gives a computer operating system control of the power settings. This makes possible features such as "Plug and Play" and sleep mode. ACPI also allows a computer to provide individual components with less power when they are not in use.

Updates

The ACPI 4.0 specifications released in 2009 added several major features. These included support for USB 3.0, which allows data transfer at up to 5 gigabits per second, and logical processor idling, for increased power savings.

References

• ACPI: Advanced Configuration & Power Interface
• Microsoft TechNet: Understanding the ACPI BIOS for an x86-based Computer
• Intel: Shutting Down With ACPI Power Management
• ACPI: Advanced Configuration and Power Interface Specification, Revision 4.0a
• USB 3.0: The New Speed Limit

Resources

• Intel: Advanced Configuration & Power Interface (ACPI)