Hello. Just built my first system. Amd duron 750, Asus A7V133 kt133a Mobo, 256mb Crucial RAM cas2, IBM Deskstar 60 GXP 20 GB, Asus 7100 Pure/Pro Mx-400 AGP 4x video, Antec SX1030 case, NEC cd-rom Win98. No sound, no NIC, no other expansion cards other than the listed AGP video card. All PCI slots empty. My question is this: How come I dont have any free IRQ'S? Video card has IRQ 11 shared with ACPI holder for PCI steering ( i am assuming this is normal). Other than that, all IRQ'S taken. I still have my SB Live Value and NIC to install, but no free IRQ'S. Is this something normal for AMD systems (only had intel before)? Here is a list of my IRQ'S. Any help/suggestions would be appreciated:

IRQ Description
0: System timer
1: Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural Keyboard
2: Programmable interrupt controller
3: Communications Port (COM2)
4: Communications Port (COM1)
5: ACPI IRQ Holder for PCI IRQ Steering
5: VIA VT83C572/VT82C586 PCI to USB Universal Host Controller
5: VIA VT83C572/VT82C586 PCI to USB Universal Host Controller (YES 2 USB on this IRQ)
6: Standard Floppy Disk Controller
7: ECP Printer Port (LPT1)
8: System CMOS/real time clock
9: SCI IRQ used by ACPI bus
10: ACPI IRQ Holder for PCI IRQ Steering
10: Win 95-98 Promise Ultra 100 IDE Controller
11: ACPI IRQ Holder for PCI IRQ Steering
11: Asus V7100 Pro ver 11.01
12: PS/2 Compatible Mouse Port
13: Numeric data processor
14: Primary IDE controller (dual fifo)
14: VIA Bus Master PCI IDE Controller
15: Secondary IDE controller (dual fifo)
15: VIA Bus Master PCI IDE Controller

Have you actually tried fitting any cards because do not forget that IRQ's are shared.You usually only have problems when two devices are trying to use the bus at the same time.Hope this helps.

If you guys say it will handle it, I will take your word for it. what would be the recommended slots for my cards with regards to my current IRQ situation? ex. sound card on slot 1, NIC on slot 3. Thanks for all replies!

*update* com2 disabled in system bios. irq 5 free. would like to free up some more tho. any ideas?

Unless you have a dial-up modem, I'd disable both COM ports in the BIOS. Then I would install the sound card, and afterwards, set up the 16 Bit SoundBlaster Emulation to share an IRQ with the printer port (LPT1).

Don't let anything except the IRQ holder for PCI steering share an IRQ with your video card, even if the addresses get shifted around while you are installing the other PCI devices.

Toejam31


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Most devices will share IRQ's fine. But if your not going to use a modem, then I would disable both COM ports. Also, if you aren't going to use USB you can disable it as well to free up resources.

Check your Manual, but I believe slot 3 is a good choice for the soundcard because it is not shared w/ the AGP. Put your ethernet card in one of the other PCI slots that do not share w/ other PCI's (like the one sharing w/ the AMR slot).

Catheter and Caffeine IV are in place. Let's PLAY.