{"id":3762,"date":"2022-12-20T17:25:59","date_gmt":"2022-12-20T11:55:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/?p=3762"},"modified":"2022-12-20T18:23:08","modified_gmt":"2022-12-20T12:53:08","slug":"csm-vs-uefi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/resources\/csm-vs-uefi\/","title":{"rendered":"CSM Vs UEFI: Differences and Which One Should You Use?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>When it comes to booting options, UEFI is the preferred firmware for modern computers with large drives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>UEFI comes with an integrated feature called CSM mode which offers legacy BIOS compatibility for older operating systems. However, there's a catch as to whether you should use it or not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Recently, my cousin was having trouble booting into Windows on his PC. When I checked, he had a non-UEFI capable operating system. All we had to do was enable CSM and his computer started booting like normal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Don't worry if it's getting too confusing right now!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I'll explain everything in this article, including the difference between CSM Boot Mode vs. UEFI Boot Mode, and the exact scenarios you should be using them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Keep reading!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_64 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-white ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6610d2a7d4c5a\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6610d2a7d4c5a\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/resources\/csm-vs-uefi\/#CSM_VS_UEFI_At_A_Glance\" title=\"CSM VS UEFI: At A Glance\">CSM VS UEFI: At A Glance<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/resources\/csm-vs-uefi\/#UEFI_and_Legacy_BIOS_Mode_Explained\" title=\"UEFI and Legacy BIOS Mode Explained\">UEFI and Legacy BIOS Mode Explained<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/resources\/csm-vs-uefi\/#What_Is_CSM\" title=\"What Is CSM?\">What Is CSM?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/resources\/csm-vs-uefi\/#CSM_VS_UEFI_Hardware_and_OS_Compatibility\" title=\"CSM VS UEFI: Hardware and OS Compatibility\">CSM VS UEFI: Hardware and OS Compatibility<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/resources\/csm-vs-uefi\/#CSM_VS_UEFI_Which_Has_The_Better_User_Interface\" title=\"CSM VS UEFI: Which Has The Better User Interface?\">CSM VS UEFI: Which Has The Better User Interface?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/resources\/csm-vs-uefi\/#CSM_VS_UEFI_Disk_Partition_Format\" title=\"CSM VS UEFI: Disk Partition Format\">CSM VS UEFI: Disk Partition Format<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/resources\/csm-vs-uefi\/#CSM_VS_UEFI_Speed_and_Power_Management\" title=\"CSM VS UEFI: Speed and Power Management\">CSM VS UEFI: Speed and Power Management<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/resources\/csm-vs-uefi\/#CSM_or_UEFI_Which_Has_Better_Security_System\" title=\"CSM or UEFI: Which Has Better Security System?\">CSM or UEFI: Which Has Better Security System?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/resources\/csm-vs-uefi\/#Verdict_Which_One_Is_Better_For_You\" title=\"Verdict: Which One Is Better For You?\">Verdict: Which One Is Better For You?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/resources\/csm-vs-uefi\/#How_to_Enable_or_Disable_CSM_in_UEFI_BIOS_Mode\" title=\"How to Enable or Disable CSM in UEFI BIOS Mode?\">How to Enable or Disable CSM in UEFI BIOS Mode?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/resources\/csm-vs-uefi\/#How_to_Know_Whether_Your_PC_Is_Using_CSM_Or_UEFI_Mode\" title=\"How to Know Whether Your PC Is Using CSM Or UEFI Mode?\">How to Know Whether Your PC Is Using CSM Or UEFI Mode?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/resources\/csm-vs-uefi\/#FAQs\" title=\"FAQs\">FAQs<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/resources\/csm-vs-uefi\/#Should_I_Enable_or_Disable_CSM_in_UEFI_BIOS\" title=\"Should I Enable or Disable CSM in UEFI BIOS?\">Should I Enable or Disable CSM in UEFI BIOS?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/resources\/csm-vs-uefi\/#Does_CSM_Mode_Affect_Performance\" title=\"Does CSM Mode Affect Performance?\">Does CSM Mode Affect Performance?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/resources\/csm-vs-uefi\/#Does_Windows_11_Need_CSM_or_UEFI\" title=\"Does Windows 11 Need CSM or UEFI?\">Does Windows 11 Need CSM or UEFI?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/resources\/csm-vs-uefi\/#Is_CSM_Secure_Boot\" title=\"Is CSM Secure Boot?\">Is CSM Secure Boot?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/resources\/csm-vs-uefi\/#Conclusion\" title=\"Conclusion\">Conclusion<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"CSM_VS_UEFI_At_A_Glance\"><\/span>CSM VS UEFI: At A Glance<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Check out this side-by-side comparison table to know the key differences between CSM and UEFI BIOS modes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div><table id=\"nichetablewpwp-bb466f2a-2975-409c-90d3-77644611b406\" class=\"niche_table ms_enable  text_left border-all\" width=\"100%\">\n<tr class=\"thead th-text-white\" style=\"background-color:#3f84e5!important;color:#ffffff\">\n<th><strong>Attribute<\/strong><\/th>\n\n\n\n<th><strong><strong>CSM<\/strong><\/strong><\/th>\n\n\n\n<th><strong><strong>UEFI<\/strong><\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n\n\n\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Maximum Disk Capacity<\/strong><\/td>\n\n\n\n<td>2.2 terabytes (TB)<\/td>\n\n\n\n<td>9.4 zettabytes (ZB)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\n\n<tr>\n<td><strong>OS Configuration<\/strong><\/td>\n\n\n\n<td>32-bi<\/td>\n\n\n\n<td>64-bit<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\n\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Secure Boot Support<\/strong><\/td>\n\n\n\n<td>No<\/td>\n\n\n\n<td>Yes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\n\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Disk Partition Type<\/strong><\/td>\n\n\n\n<td>Master Boot Record (MBR)<\/td>\n\n\n\n<td>GUID Partition Table (GPT)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\n\n<tr>\n<td><strong>TPM Compatibility<\/strong><\/td>\n\n\n\n<td>No<\/td>\n\n\n\n<td>Yes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\n\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Multi-Boot Support<\/strong><\/td>\n\n\n\n<td>No<\/td>\n\n\n\n<td>Yes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table><style> @media only screen and (max-width: 768px){ #nichetablewpwp-bb466f2a-2975-409c-90d3-77644611b406 td:nth-of-type(1):before{ content: 'Attribute'; } #nichetablewpwp-bb466f2a-2975-409c-90d3-77644611b406 td:nth-of-type(2):before{ content: 'CSM'; } #nichetablewpwp-bb466f2a-2975-409c-90d3-77644611b406 td:nth-of-type(3):before{ content: 'UEFI'; } #nichetablewpwp-bb466f2a-2975-409c-90d3-77644611b406 td:nth-of-type(4):before{ content: ''; } #nichetablewpwp-bb466f2a-2975-409c-90d3-77644611b406 td:nth-of-type(5):before{ content: ''; } #nichetablewpwp-bb466f2a-2975-409c-90d3-77644611b406 td:nth-of-type(6):before{ content: ''; } #nichetablewpwp-bb466f2a-2975-409c-90d3-77644611b406 td:nth-of-type(7):before{ content: ''; } #nichetablewpwp-bb466f2a-2975-409c-90d3-77644611b406 td:nth-of-type(8):before{ content: ''; } #nichetablewpwp-bb466f2a-2975-409c-90d3-77644611b406 td:nth-of-type(9):before{ content: ''; } #nichetablewpwp-bb466f2a-2975-409c-90d3-77644611b406 td:nth-of-type(9):before{ content: ''; } #nichetablewpwp-bb466f2a-2975-409c-90d3-77644611b406 td:nth-of-type(9):before{ content: ''; } #nichetablewpwp-bb466f2a-2975-409c-90d3-77644611b406 td:nth-of-type(9):before{ content: ''; } } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px){ .niche_table, .niche_table th, .niche_table td, .niche_table tr{ border-color: #f0ecec !important; } .niche_table tr:nth-child(odd){background-color:undefined !important;} } <\/style><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"UEFI_and_Legacy_BIOS_Mode_Explained\"><\/span>UEFI and Legacy BIOS Mode Explained<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Before we dive into UEFI and CSM boot mode, let's briefly discuss the fundamentals of BIOS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The traditional <strong>BIOS (Basic Input\/Output System)<\/strong> can be seen as the \"firmware\" of your PC. It's the first piece of code that runs on the computer when it's powered on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What it does is execute the OS boot loader, which then starts all the operating system's programs and processes. The BIOS initializes all the hardware components in your PC, such as microchips and peripherals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now, <strong>UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface)<\/strong> is nothing but a modern replacement for the legacy BIOS system. It began to replace BIOS around 2007 due to its severe limitations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, legacy BIOS works on a system called <strong>MBR (Master Boot Record) <\/strong>which can only handle partitions up to 2TB. Nowadays, most modern computers use UEFI boot mode rather than legacy BIOS mode.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Along with this transition, a new component called \"<strong>CSM (Compatibility Support Module)\"<\/strong> was introduced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Is_CSM\"><\/span>What Is CSM?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>CSM stands for <strong>Compatibility Support Module<\/strong>. It's a utility included with the UEFI firmware that offers backward compatibility for modern computers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Using CSM boot, you can perform legacy BIOS style booting on a modern UEFI-based system. This can come in handy if you're using an older operating system or want to boot from an old storage drive that doesn't support UEFI BIOS mode.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Remember, BIOS and UEFI are two types of computer firmware. However, CSM is just a feature provided in the UEFI setup menu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you're using a new computer with a recent version of the Windows operating system, it likely has CSM disabled by default.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now let's look at the significant differences between CSM and UEFI, and understand which one is the right choice for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"500\" height=\"350\" src=\"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Person-Typing-on-Computer-Keyboard.jpg\" alt=\"Person Typing on Computer Keyboard\" class=\"wp-image-3780\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Person-Typing-on-Computer-Keyboard.jpg 500w, https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Person-Typing-on-Computer-Keyboard-300x210.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"CSM_VS_UEFI_Hardware_and_OS_Compatibility\"><\/span>CSM VS UEFI: Hardware and OS Compatibility<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>CSM is compatible with legacy hardware and software since it's based on the old-school BIOS. If you have a PC with very old components, you probably need to use legacy BIOS booting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On the other hand, UEFI is a modern standard designed to take advantage of newer computer hardware. To use it, your motherboard needs to be compatible with UEFI mode.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Also, the <strong>UEFI BIOS usually runs on 64-bit systems<\/strong>, so you'll need CSM BIOS mode to boot 32-bit systems. For instance, Windows versions older than Vista SP1 (Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows 95, etc.) don't work with UEFI mode.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>UEFI mode also supports native multi-boot, so you can install more than one operating system on a single hard drive. You can then choose which one to boot from within the UEFI boot menu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"CSM_VS_UEFI_Which_Has_The_Better_User_Interface\"><\/span>CSM VS UEFI: Which Has The Better User Interface?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>UEFI clearly wins when it comes to interface and overall user experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is because CSM is a <strong>Character User Interface (CUI)<\/strong>, meaning it works only with keyboard input. It's also not as intuitive and feature-rich as a UEFI interface.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>UEFI, on the other hand, is a <strong>Graphical User Interface system (GUI) <\/strong>that looks more refined and is simpler to use. It adds support for mouse input, shortcut keys, scrollbars, icons, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"CSM_VS_UEFI_Disk_Partition_Format\"><\/span>CSM VS UEFI: Disk Partition Format<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The CSM BIOS Mode uses <strong>MBR (Master Boot Record)<\/strong> disk partition table format, while the UEFI BIOS mode uses <strong>GPT (GUID Partition Table).<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The difference between these disk partition formats is that MBR only allows 4 primary partitions on your hard disk and supports drives up to 2TB. In contrast, GPT format paired with UEFI BIOS supports 128 partitions and drives going up to 9ZB.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Also note that some operating systems like Windows require you to boot MBR disks exclusively with legacy\/CSM BIOS mode and GPT disks with UEFI BIOS boot mode.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This isn't an issue with Linux systems with GRUB bootloader, where you can boot MBR disks in UEFI mode and GPT disks in legacy mode.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"CSM_VS_UEFI_Speed_and_Power_Management\"><\/span>CSM VS UEFI: Speed and Power Management<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>UEFI boot mode can be almost twice as fast as Legacy CSM boot mode because of <strong>\"Fast Boot\"<\/strong> support. It minimizes the number of devices required to begin the boot process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition to that, UEFI boots almost instantly from power-saving modes like sleep, reboot, and hibernation. It contains features that bypass the power-on self-test (POST) process, which slows down a CSM boot system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Not that these speed differences only apply to the boot time and not the general OS performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"500\" height=\"350\" src=\"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Workspace-and-blank-screen-desktop-computer.jpg\" alt=\"blank screen desktop computer\" class=\"wp-image-3782\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Workspace-and-blank-screen-desktop-computer.jpg 500w, https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Workspace-and-blank-screen-desktop-computer-300x210.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"CSM_or_UEFI_Which_Has_Better_Security_System\"><\/span>CSM or UEFI: Which Has Better Security System?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>CSM is based on the traditional BIOS mode, which means it loses out on some of the security features of the updated UEFI mode.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On the other hand, UEFI offers all the modern security features, such as secure boot modes and disk encryption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Depending on your needs, you may or may not want to use secure boot. However, having an additional security check at the firmware level can be beneficial against rootkits and ransomware.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The only scenario where UEFI BIOS can have bugs and flaws is when the operating system tries to load a wrong driver or remove the firmware configuration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Verdict_Which_One_Is_Better_For_You\"><\/span>Verdict: Which One Is Better For You?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There's no definite answer to this question. Both CSM and UEFI have their place depending on your needs and requirements. But here's the take:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Use CSM BIOS booting mode if you:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Want to install older operating systems (32-bit ones).<\/li><li>Frequently use hard drives that don't support UEFI booting.<\/li><li>Think your PC's firmware has bugs or glitches.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Use UEFI BIOS mode if you:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Are running a modern computer with a 64-bit OS.<\/li><li>Need increased security against ransomware and rootkits.<\/li><li>Won't be using legacy hardware or software on your computer.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>CSM boot mode is being slowly phased out and replaced by UEFI BIOS mode due to the latter's enhanced security and better compatibility with newer machines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As mentioned above, only use CSM BIOS mode if you want to use old legacy software or hardware that isn't compatible with UEFI mode. For most users today, you want to stick to UEFI as your default firmware.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_Enable_or_Disable_CSM_in_UEFI_BIOS_Mode\"><\/span>How to Enable or Disable CSM in UEFI BIOS Mode?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The exact method to enable CSM mode is different for different motherboard brands. Generally, you'll find the setting by accessing the BIOS settings while booting up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In most cases, you'll see an option called <strong>\"Launch CSM\" <\/strong>or <strong>\"CSM Support\"<\/strong> under the <strong>\"Boot\" tab<\/strong>. All you need to do is enable or disable the CSM boot system, then save and exit the UEFI booting screen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once enabled, your PC will automatically reboot with the desired legacy mode. If you can't find the setting, your motherboard likely doesn't support CSM.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_Know_Whether_Your_PC_Is_Using_CSM_Or_UEFI_Mode\"><\/span>How to Know Whether Your PC Is Using CSM Or UEFI Mode?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Here's how to check which of the two boot modes your PC is booting through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Tap on the <strong>Windows Search<\/strong> icon on your computer (or press the <strong>Windows key <\/strong>on your keyboard). Now type <strong>\"System Information\" <\/strong>and hit enter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Find the entry that says <strong>BIOS Mode<\/strong> and check the value mentioned next to it. It will either say UEFI or Legacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol><li>If it says <strong>UEFI<\/strong>, then you're usingthe UEFI BIOS mode and the \"Boot with CSM\" option is disabled in the UEFI features menu.<\/li><li>If it says <strong>Legacy<\/strong>, then either you're using the older BIOS boot process, or have the CSM mode enabled.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"500\" height=\"350\" src=\"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Woman-Working-with-Desktop-Computer-at-Home.jpg\" alt=\"Woman Working with Desktop Computer at Home\" class=\"wp-image-3784\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Woman-Working-with-Desktop-Computer-at-Home.jpg 500w, https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Woman-Working-with-Desktop-Computer-at-Home-300x210.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FAQs\"><\/span>FAQs<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Should_I_Enable_or_Disable_CSM_in_UEFI_BIOS\"><\/span>Should I Enable or Disable CSM in UEFI BIOS?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Use CSM mode only if you want to boot an old 32-bit operating system on a 64-bit machine, or if you're booting from an old hard disk with MBR disk partitioning. Other than that, it's recommended to keep CSM legacy boot disabled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Does_CSM_Mode_Affect_Performance\"><\/span>Does CSM Mode Affect Performance?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Enabling CSM mode won't affect the general performance of your operating system. However, it might slightly increase the boot time because of the POST process and lack of Fast boot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hence, unless you really care about a few extra seconds spent during the boot process, it hardly makes any difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Does_Windows_11_Need_CSM_or_UEFI\"><\/span>Does Windows 11 Need CSM or UEFI?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Windows 11 won't work with CSM enabled. Your computer should support secure boot to install Windows 11 which means it'll run only on UEFI BIOS mode.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, you can still use Windows 11 with Secure Boot disabled, however, Microsoft doesn't recommend it since it can cause stability issues and lack of Windows updates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_CSM_Secure_Boot\"><\/span>Is CSM Secure Boot?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>No. Secure Boot is a feature available in the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface, or UEFI mode. However, it doesn't work with CSM enabled, or any legacy BIOS environment in general.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Since newer Windows OSes like Windows 8, 10 and 11 require you to have Secure Boot available, you can't use them with CSM or Legacy BIOS systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/resources\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Read more resources<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion\"><\/span>Conclusion<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>I hope you've learned everything there is to know about the CSM and UEFI system and the difference between the two boot modes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To reiterate, CSM is nothing but a UEFI configuration that emulates legacy BIOS systems and offers backward compatibility. It's useful if you want to run old operating systems or storage devices that don't work on the UEFI system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For most newer operating systems and computers, UEFI mode is the way to go. It's generally faster, more functional, and offers better security.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When it comes to booting options, UEFI is the preferred firmware for modern computers with large drives. UEFI comes with an integrated feature called CSM mode which offers legacy BIOS compatibility for older operating systems. However, there's a catch as to whether you should use it or not. Recently, my cousin was having trouble booting [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":3786,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[24],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3762"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3762"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3762\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3792,"href":"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3762\/revisions\/3792"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3786"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3762"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3762"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3762"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}