Gigabyte has been slow in hopping on the UEFI bandwagon, but the company is now gearing up to launch a revamped "3D BIOS" that it hopes will lure future customers.
The new-look interface, pictured below, is a far cry from BIOS screens of old and is designed to make it easier to find the system settings you're looking for.
There's no need for stereoscopic glasses (we're not talking that kind of 3D), but by displaying a picture of a slightly-rotated motherboard, Gigabyte has a created a three-dimensional effect that's attractive and easy to navigate.
For example, if you're looking to configure a RAID array, simply click on the motherboard's SATA ports and a relevant pop-up will appear. There are various clickable points on the image of the motherboard, and it's a good way to educate the user - if you're unsure about the purpose of a specific part, click on it and you'll most likely find the answer.
Not a bad idea for inexperienced BIOS users, but Gigabyte hasn't neglected BIOS regulars, either. Clicking the shortcuts across the bottom of the screen reverts the to a more traditional BIOS layout, with long lists of features that are best navigated by keyboard.
Gigabyte's approach is certainly interesting, and it'll first appear on X79 motherboards launched alongside Intel's upcoming Sandy Bridge Extreme processors. Check out the video below to see the 3D BIOS in action.