I was just curious. I'm not exactly sure what an IRQ is...an explanation/definition would be helpful...but I noticed that both my video and sound cards are listed in the same IRQ, IRQ11. Is this ok? Just curious, thanks, Red.

G'day, Well, are they causing any problem?? Generally speaking, you shouldn't have two or more devices on the same IRQ. An IRQ (Interrupt Request) is a signal to the CPU from a peripheral device (printer, comms, etc)that tells it that the device needs servicing.The CPU does not poll around the devices to see if they need attention: that is very inefficient of CPU usage. Instead, a number of lines are available for external devices-like your sound card- to signal the CPU. It would be advisable to move it. regards, Elric

Yep, thats ok here's a list of my IRQ's IRQ 0 System timer OK IRQ 1 Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural Keyboard OK IRQ 2 Programmable interrupt controller OK IRQ 3 Communications Port (COM2) OK IRQ 4 Communications Port (COM1) OK IRQ 5 IRQ Holder for PCI Steering OK IRQ 5 ESS Solo1 PCI AudioDrive (WDM) OK IRQ 6 Standard Floppy Disk Controller OK IRQ 7 ECP Printer Port (LPT1) OK IRQ 8 System CMOS/real time clock OK IRQ 9 IRQ Holder for PCI Steering OK IRQ 9 SiS 7001 PCI to USB Open Host Controller OK IRQ 10 IRQ Holder for PCI Steering OK IRQ 10 Realtek RTL8139(A) PCI Fast Ethernet Adapter OK IRQ 11 Communications Port (COM3) OK IRQ 12 PS/2 Compatible Mouse Port OK IRQ 13 Numeric data processor OK IRQ 14 SiS 5513 Dual PCI IDE Controller OK IRQ 14 Primary IDE controller (dual fifo) OK IRQ 15 SiS 5513 Dual PCI IDE Controller OK IRQ 15 Secondary IDE controller (dual fifo) OK I have an lot of shared IRQ's as you can see. Amd they all werk right

Thank you for the information. So, how would I go about assigning a new IRQ to either my video or sound card? Would it be a good idea to assign new IRQ's to all things listed that are sharing the same #? Here is my list. I would appreciate any opinions, or advice, on what specific actions I should, or could, take to assign new #'s. Thanks much, Matt. IRQ 0 System timer OK IRQ 1 Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural Keyboard OK IRQ 2 Programmable interrupt controller OK IRQ 3 Communications Port (COM2) OK IRQ 4 Communications Port (COM1) OK IRQ 5 PCI OHCI Compliant IEEE 1394 Host Controller OK IRQ 5 Texas Instruments OHCI Compliant IEEE 1394 Host Controller OK IRQ 5 Realtek RTL8139(A)-based PCI Fast Ethernet Adapter OK IRQ 5 ACPI IRQ Holder for PCI IRQ Steering OK IRQ 6 Standard Floppy Disk Controller OK IRQ 7 Printer Port (LPT1) OK IRQ 8 System CMOS/real time clock OK IRQ 9 SCI IRQ used by ACPI bus OK IRQ 9 VIA Tech 3038 PCI to USB Universal Host Controller OK IRQ 9 VIA Tech 3038 PCI to USB Universal Host Controller OK IRQ 9 ACPI IRQ Holder for PCI IRQ Steering OK IRQ 10 Zoom V.92 PCI Modem Enumerator OK IRQ 10 ACPI IRQ Holder for PCI IRQ Steering OK IRQ 11 RADEON 9700 Series OK IRQ 11 Creative SB Audigy OK IRQ 11 ACPI IRQ Holder for PCI IRQ Steering OK IRQ 12 Motherboard resources OK IRQ 13 Numeric data processor OK IRQ 14 VIA Bus Master PCI IDE Controller OK IRQ 14 Primary IDE controller (dual fifo) OK IRQ 15 VIA Bus Master PCI IDE Controller OK IRQ 15 Secondary IDE controller (dual fifo) OK -If it is even remotely desireable to assign new IRQ's to any or all of these, I would like to do so. Unless, of course, it is TOTALLY unnecessary, I would like to do so, I should say. Detailed instructions would be greatly appreciated, unless it is a lot of work, I wouldn't knowingly ask too much of anyone...I simply don't know how much, or not, work this is. Thanks again, Matt.

Oh, sorry...I forgot to answer an important question. I am not noticing any specific problems, but... -when I go into dxdiag, I get this error: DxDiag has detected that there may have been a problem accessing Direct3D the last time this program was used. Would you like to bypass Direct3D this time? ..then it says, yes/no. Upon selecting yes, it allows me into dxdiag, but won't allow any d3d testing, clicking no, causes an error : dxdiag has caused an error in "unknown". I am sure this may be unrelated, and I haven't noticed any MAJOR problems whlie playing games, etc., but I just have a feeling that it could be performing better. I had something fishy going on with my sound card too... but I can't recall what it was, at the moment. They are both working adequately, but not great, I guess I should say. Thanks again, Matt.

G'day, If you are not experiencing any problems, you can probably leave well alone. There does,however, appear to be some conflicts in your system (IRQ11,IRQ5 and possibly IRQ9).Having said that, it appears that the PCI bus has its own interrupt system and I/O cards can share the same interrupt (although it is still not recommended:either the software has to detect it or both devices cannot be used at the same time...), but these are intermal to the PCI bus. The "holder for PCI steering..." entry apparently is a feature of WIN95 "plug'n'pray" as is not considered a conflict ;you will notice in Derk's set-up that this is indeed the case. You, however, appear to have different devices on the same interrupt on the above mentioned IRQs.Whether they are all PCI cards and are therefore able to share I couldn't say. So, here are a few links that I recommend that you read and which will help you make up your mind. www.pcguide.com/ts/x/comp/mbsys_ResourceConflict(s?).htm www.pcguide.com/ref/mbsys/buses/types/pci_interrupts.htm www.pcguide.com/res/irq/func.htm www.pcguide.com/ref/mbsys/res/irq/num.htm Hope that hasn't confused you too much!! regards, Elric

Ah, thank you Elric. I haven't yet read the links you provided, I am about to after I type here, so I may be able to answer these queries on my own. The reason I am concerned about this is that I am using a somewhat expensive audio recording/sequencing program (expensive for me. called SONAR XL) that requests, in the instructions, the systems's sound card be the only item in the IRQ that it uses, so...alone in an IRQ. My sound card is a PCI, and my video card is in an AGP slot, yet they are both listed in the same... I read somewhere that PCI slots 1 and 4 use the same IRQ...? Can't figure this out, but I'll read the links you gave, I appreciate the effort put in to help solve my problem. Thanks again, Matt.