Asus P3P-1394, User Manual

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ASUS P3B-1394 User’s Manual 27
3. HARDWARE SETUP
CPU
3. H/W SETUP
3.7 Expansion Cards
3.7.1 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.
3.7.2 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.
To see a map of your used and free IRQs in Windows 98, the Control Panel icon in
My Computer, contains a System icon, which gives you a Device Manager tab.
Double-clicking on a specific hardware device gives you the Resources tab, which
shows the Interrupt number and address. Make sure that no two devices use the
same IRQ or your computer will experience problems when those two devices are in
use at the same time.
IMPORTANT:
Interrupt requests are shared as shown by the following table:
INT-A INT-B INT-C INT-D
PCI slot 1 -- not shared -- --
PCI slot 2 -- -- shared --
PCI slot 3 -- -- -- shared
Audio -- -- -- shared
1394 -- -- shared --
AGP slot not shared -- -- --
If using PCI cards on shared slots, make sure that the drivers support “Share IRQ” or
that the cards do not need IRQ assignments. Conflicts will arise between the two
PCI groups that will make the system unstable or cards inoperable.
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.