Enjoy a 3-4 Second Boot with Asrock's New Instant Boot Feature
Posted 11/14/08 at 01:20:56 PM | by Paul Lilly
Power users have long dreamed of the day when hitting their PC's power button would result in an instantaneous boot. Technologies like SplashTop's Instant-On Linux-based OS have brought this concept closer to reality, but unlike the Instant-On OS, which works on a flash chip embedded on select motherboards giving users quick access to basic online tasks, Asrock's new Instant Boot feature promises super speedy boot times into Windows to the tune of just 3-4 seconds and has posted a video to prove it.
Impossible? Well, yes, but Asrock's creative approach puts a unique spin on shutting down and turning on your system. After installing the Instant Boot application on a compatible Asrock motherboard, shutting down your PC triggers a shutdown and reboot process that ultimately puts your system in a Hibernate or Standby state. The next time you hit the power button, you'll be up and running in as little as 3 seconds.
The obvious question is why not just put your system in Standby or Hibernate in the first place, and according to Asrock, Instant Boot's advantages include a less cluttered OS from a clean boot with no "accumulated garbage data," nor will you lose any data during a power outage. Whether or not Instant Boot becomes an instant hit is yet to be determined, but kudos to Asrock for thinking outside of the box.
Hit the jump and tell us what you think of this new technology.
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Always innovative
Submitted by Shalbatana on Mon, 2008-11-17 09:08
asrock has never been the top of the line... but that's not what their company's business structure is tailored for. They leave that to their sister company (did you know they're an offshoot of ASUS?)
While they are never top in performance, they have been consistentantly been known for out of the ordinary, with their hybrid core boards, upgrade boards, AGP/PCI combos and now this.
I can say from personal experience that they make a solid board at a rock bottom price, incorporating features you never thought you wanted, but will most likely find a use for. My board (was my first build) has been solid for 5 years now, and instructions were better than most. I have a board where you add a daughter card and can upgrade the socket type. The only downside I found is that you should buy the add-on board very close to when you buy the mobo, as they tend to get sparse after a while.
This instant on concept has an appeal, I can see how this "modified hibernate" mode would be uselful over standard hibernate (which until my latest laptop has always made the computer wonky when coming alive again). I like the idea of a clean boot, and still having hibernate speed. If they say it is different than normal hibernate, I believe them.
If you want a killer rig, or even the budget badass, they may not be the first choice. But if you want something out of the ordinary, or special, or an uber-cheap rig that will be stable and do a good job, ASROCK is an under-recognised company that deserves a look.
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Submitted by winmaster on Sun, 2008-11-16 18:54
Instant Boot makes the virtual post-it notes in Window 7 look exciting.
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The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.
Quick boot up? why is that the rage?
Submitted by zeringue on Sat, 2008-11-15 11:47
I dont quite understand the importance of 3-4 sec boot up times. I leave mine on all of the time, and reboot it once a month for updates. but I guess we all have our pet peeves.
Neat idea though.
Submitted by Morpheous416 on Sat, 2008-11-15 09:54
Wow... I'm glad Asrock has finally caught up to the past!!
Been using the S3 state on our computers for the past three years. Simple... set your BIOS for S3, set your power options.
End of story.
Best to install your OS after setting the BIOS.. but works either way.
Submitted by knexkid on Fri, 2008-11-14 15:39
That youtube video makes me LOL OUT LOUD!!!!!!!!!
Submitted by hades_2100 on Sat, 2008-11-15 13:18
So you Laughed Out Loud OUT LOUD?
Submitted by knexkid on Sat, 2008-11-15 15:40
Yes, I have somewhat of a little philosophy. How many times on the internet when somebody says "lol" do they actually laugh out loud? I would be willing to bet it is actually rather small percentage. Therefore, when you actually do laugh out loud while sitting at your computer, it is a lol out loud.....don't ask.
Submitted by Pyrophorics on Fri, 2008-11-14 15:30
The article summed it up. The system is basically just put in standby mode ... so this is something you can already do. It's not truly shutting the system completely down and back on in 3-4 seconds.
Dont get what all the hype is anyways.
Either I:
A: Just leave my rig on.
B: Put it in sleep or hibernation
C: If completely shut down, I just turn it on and walk away.
Great feature AsRock, i'll
Submitted by forumdude123 on Fri, 2008-11-14 15:11
Great feature AsRock, i'll consider you in my next motherboard purchase. what model is this motherboard?
Submitted by jrocknyc on Fri, 2008-11-14 12:58
"4 Secs" might be teh greatest subliminal tag line ever...
Submitted by Danielw719 on Fri, 2008-11-14 12:54
If this technology was proven to work without any serious drawbacks (accumulation of said "garbage") it would get me to buy an ASRock Motherboard.
For now though, I'll stick with my new i7 based system (parts arriving Monday!)
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