Performance Tuning Guide

Intel DX58SO2/DX58OG Desktop Board Performance Tuning Guide

3.4.1 Hardware Watchdog Timer

A hardware watchdog timer is included as part of the board circuitry and is enabled by

default in the BIOS. This timer will automatically enable the board to startup if

unstable system operation or a failure to boot is detected. If the watchdog timer

detects an issue, the screen shown in Figure 3.1 will be displayed. In addition, on

Intel Desktop Board DX58SO2/DX58OG, at the Diagnostic LED bank, the red

WD Fire/B2B LED will light when the Watchdog Timer is activated. The user can then

go into the BIOS screen and manually reset performance parameters or use the F9 key

to reset all BIOS defaults to restore system stability. This process can be repeated

over and over, so if the user’s parameter changes do not restore system stability, the

watchdog timer will again intervene and allow the user another opportunity to adjust

the BIOS settings. The watchdog timer works in many, but not all, cases. If the

watchdog timer did not detect an issue or was disabled by the user, then one of the

alternate recovery options described in Section 3.4.2, 3.4.3, or 3.4.4 can be used.

Figure 3.1. Screen Displayed When the Watchdog Timer

Detects an Issue