Are BIOS ROM and CMOS Memory different chips?

[stanc]

It is my understanding that the motherboards of today use special EEPROM chips, referred to as "flash BIOS", to hold the BIOS instructions.

It is also my understanding that the real-time clock and the small memory bank used to hold the BIOS settings are collectively contained in a special NVSRAM chip that is powered by a small battery when the PC is turned off.

The question is: Is it true that the BIOS instructions are located in one chip, while the real-time clock and memory bank for the BIOS settings are located in a different chip ???

[ixl]

The BIOS is code, which is stored in a flash EEPROM. The BIOS <i>settings</i> are data that is stored in a battery-backed CMOS memory. The RTC is operated by the same battery.

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Charles M. Kozierok
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[lamier]

CMOS (Complimentary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor) is the actual chip. BIOS is the code that is in the chip, the term is normally interchangable. The Power that runs the CMOS is the same one that runs your clock. (You've probably seen it on your board) So, to anwser your question, there is only one chip.
I'm not entirely sure where the clock is, but it is run through the battery.