Asus P2Z-VM, User Manual

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ASUS P2Z-VM User’s Manual 25
III. HARDWARE SETUP
Expansion Cards
III. H/W SETUP
4. Expansion Cards
Expansion Card Installation Procedure
1. Read the documentation for your expansion card and make any necessary hard-
ware or software settings for your expansion card, such as jumpers.
2. Remove your computer system’s cover and the bracket plate on the slot you
intend to use. Keep the bracket for possible future use.
3. Carefully align the card’s connectors and press firmly.
4. Secure the card on the slot with the screw you removed above.
5. Replace the computer system’s cover.
6. Set up the BIOS if necessary
(such as IRQ xx Used By ISA: Yes in PNP AND PCI SETUP)
7. Install the necessary software drivers for your expansion card.
Assigning IRQs for Expansion Cards
Some expansion cards need to use an IRQ to operate. Generally, an IRQ must be
exclusively assigned to one use. In a standard design, there are 16 IRQs available
but most of them are already in use, leaving 6 IRQs free for expansion cards. If your
motherboard has PCI audio onboard, an extra IRQ will be used, leaving 5 IRQs
free. If your motherboard has ISA audio onboard, an extra 3 IRQs will be used,
leaving 3 IRQs free.
Both ISA and PCI expansion cards may require the use IRQs. System IRQs are
available to cards installed in the ISA expansion bus first, then any remaining IRQs
are available to PCI cards. Currently, there are two types of ISA cards. The original
ISA expansion card design, now referred to as legacy ISA cards, requires that you
configure the card’s jumpers manually and then install it in any available slot on the
ISA bus. You may use the Microsoft Diagnostics (MSD.EXE) utility located in the
Windows directory to see a map of your used and free IRQs. If you use Windows 95,
the Resources tab under Device Manager displays the resource settings being used
by a particular device (to gain access, double-click the System icon under the Con-
trol Panel program). Ensure that no two devices share the same IRQs or your com-
puter will experience problems when those two devices are in use at the same time.
WARNING! Unplug your power supply when adding or removing expansion
cards or other system components. Failure to do so may cause severe damage to
both your motherboard and expansion cards.