diff --git a/src/northbridge/via/vt8601/raminitspd.inc b/src/northbridge/via/vt8601/raminitspd.inc
index 53e51f3d31..f4b41d5b4c 100644
--- a/src/northbridge/via/vt8601/raminitspd.inc
+++ b/src/northbridge/via/vt8601/raminitspd.inc
@@ -18,7 +18,18 @@ register_table:
 	.byte 0x64, 0xe4 /* slowest ram setting. banks 0, 1 */
 	.byte 0x65, 0xe4 /* banks 2, 3*/
 	.byte 0x66, 0xe4 /* banks 4, 5 */
+/* we tried increasing the drive, but that did not help  or hurt. 
+ * We will leave it at low drive for now, however. 
+ */
+#if 1
+/* the standard BIOS goes for 0x5f here, which is very high drive. 
+ * Try it out. RGM 1/26/1 */
+/* LOW DRIVE */
 	.byte 0x6d, 0x5 /* 0x4 = 24 ma on ma[2:13],we#, 24ma on ras# */
+#else
+ /* HIGH DRIVE */
+	.byte 0x6d, 0x5f /* 0x4 = 24 ma on ma[2:13],we#, 24ma on ras# */
+#endif
 	.byte 0x60, 0xff /* sdram in ALL banks. It's all we do. */
 /* set these to 0xee (128 MB VC SDRAM).  In our working code we set to 
  * 0x88, but VIA code recommends 0xee. Since we are SPD, in the end, 
diff --git a/util/config/via.config b/util/config/via.config
index bc64e26212..eeec45cdcc 100644
--- a/util/config/via.config
+++ b/util/config/via.config
@@ -8,7 +8,12 @@ mainboard via/vt5292
 # Enable Serial Console for debugging
 option SERIAL_CONSOLE
 
-linux /usr/src/linux
+# Enable MicroCode update and L2 Cache init for PII and PIII
+option UPDATE_MICROCODE
+option CONFIGURE_L2_CACHE
 
-option CMD_LINE='"root=/dev/hda1"'
+# Path to your kernel (vmlinux)
+linux ~/src/bios/linux-2.4.0-via
+
+option CMD_LINE='"root=/dev/hda1 single"'