How to Clear CMOS Gigabyte Aorus: Boost Your PC Performance Today!

Are you experiencing issues with your Gigabyte Aorus motherboard, such as boot errors, incorrect BIOS settings, or an inability to recognize new hardware? Clearing the CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor) might be the solution you need. This process essentially resets your motherboard’s settings back to their factory defaults, which can resolve a wide range of problems.
This guide will walk you through the process of clearing CMOS on your Gigabyte Aorus motherboard, providing clear instructions and addressing common concerns. Whether you’re a seasoned PC builder or a first-time user, this guide has you covered.

Understanding CMOS and Why Clearing It Matters

CMOS is a small chip on your motherboard that stores essential system settings, including:

• Boot order: The sequence in which your computer checks for bootable devices (hard drive, USB drive, etc.)
• Date and time: The system clock and calendar settings.
• Overclocking settings: If you’ve manually adjusted clock speeds or voltages.
• Hardware configurations: Recognition of installed components like RAM, hard drives, and graphics cards.

When your CMOS settings become corrupted or outdated, it can lead to various issues, including:

• Boot errors: The system fails to boot properly, displaying error messages.
• Incorrect BIOS settings: Your system might not recognize new hardware or operate at optimal performance.
• Overclocking instability: Manually adjusted settings might cause system instability or crashes.

Clearing the CMOS essentially resets these settings to their factory defaults, which can help resolve these issues.

Method 1: Clearing CMOS Using the Jumper

Most Gigabyte Aorus motherboards have a dedicated CMOS jumper, a small physical switch that allows you to clear the CMOS. Here’s how to do it:
1. Power down your computer: Ensure the power switch is in the off position and unplug the power cord from the outlet.
2. Open your PC case: Remove the side panel of your computer case.
3. Locate the CMOS jumper: Refer to your motherboard manual to identify the CMOS jumper. It’s usually labeled “CLR CMOS” or “JCMOS” and consists of three pins.
4. Short the jumper: Using a small screwdriver or tweezers, carefully move the jumper from pins 1 and 2 to pins 2 and 3 for a few seconds. This action clears the CMOS.
5. Return the jumper to its original position: Move the jumper back to pins 1 and 2.
6. Reconnect power and boot: Plug the power cord back in and turn on your computer.

Method 2: Clearing CMOS Through the BIOS

Some Gigabyte Aorus motherboards allow you to clear CMOS directly from the BIOS interface. This method is usually simpler and doesn’t require opening the computer case.
1. Boot into the BIOS: Restart your computer and press the designated key (usually Del or F2) during the boot process to enter the BIOS setup.
2. Navigate to the “Advanced” or “Security” menu: The specific menu might vary depending on your motherboard model.
3. Locate the “Load Optimized Defaults” or “Clear CMOS” option: Select this option to reset the BIOS settings to factory defaults.
4. Save and exit: After clearing CMOS, save the changes and exit the BIOS. Your computer will restart with the default settings.

Method 3: Using the CMOS Battery

The CMOS battery is a small, coin-shaped battery that powers the CMOS chip. Removing the battery for a few minutes can also clear the CMOS settings.
1. Power down your computer: Ensure the power switch is in the off position and unplug the power cord from the outlet.
2. Open your PC case: Remove the side panel of your computer case.
3. Locate the CMOS battery: The battery is usually located near the motherboard’s edge, often close to the real-time clock (RTC).
4. Remove the battery: Use a small screwdriver or tweezers to carefully remove the CMOS battery.
5. Wait for a few minutes: Let the motherboard sit for at least 5 minutes without the battery. This ensures the CMOS chip loses all power.
6. Reinstall the battery: Carefully insert the CMOS battery back into its holder, ensuring it is securely in place.
7. Reconnect power and boot: Plug the power cord back in and turn on your computer.

When to Clear CMOS

While clearing CMOS can resolve various issues, it’s not a solution for every problem. Here are some scenarios where clearing CMOS might be beneficial:

• Boot errors: If your computer fails to boot properly, displaying error messages related to the BIOS or boot order.
• Incorrect BIOS settings: If your system doesn’t recognize new hardware or is not operating at optimal performance due to incorrect settings.
• Overclocking instability: If you’ve manually adjusted clock speeds or voltages and are experiencing system instability or crashes.
• Hardware conflicts: If you’ve installed new hardware and are experiencing conflicts with existing components.
• Password reset: If you’ve forgotten your BIOS password, clearing CMOS can reset it.

Precautions and Considerations

• Data loss: Clearing CMOS will reset your BIOS settings to factory defaults, but it will not erase any data stored on your hard drives.
• Power supply: Ensure you unplug the power cord from your computer before opening the case to avoid electrical shocks.
• Static electricity: Ground yourself by touching a metal object before handling any components inside your computer to avoid static discharge.
• Motherboard manual: Always refer to your motherboard manual for specific instructions and locations of the CMOS jumper, battery, and other components.

Time to Reset and Reboot

Clearing CMOS on your Gigabyte Aorus motherboard is a straightforward process that can resolve a range of issues. By following the steps outlined above, you can reset your BIOS settings and potentially resolve boot errors, incorrect configurations, or overclocking problems. Remember to always exercise caution when working inside your computer and refer to your motherboard manual for specific instructions.

Questions We Hear a Lot

Q: Will clearing CMOS erase my data?
A: No, clearing CMOS will only reset your BIOS settings to factory defaults. It will not erase any data stored on your hard drives.
Q: Can I clear CMOS without opening my computer case?
A: Some Gigabyte Aorus motherboards allow you to clear CMOS directly from the BIOS interface, which doesn’t require opening the case.
Q: How often should I clear CMOS?
A: Clearing CMOS is not something you need to do regularly. It’s usually only necessary if you’re experiencing issues related to BIOS settings or hardware conflicts.
Q: What if I can’t find the CMOS jumper on my motherboard?
A: If you can’t locate the CMOS jumper, consult your motherboard manual or contact Gigabyte support for assistance.
Q: What if clearing CMOS doesn’t fix my problem?
A: If clearing CMOS doesn’t resolve your issue, there might be another underlying problem with your system. Consider checking for faulty hardware, updating drivers, or seeking further technical support.