2.5.3 Configuring an expansion card

After installing the expansion card, configure the it by adjusting the software settings.

1.Turn on the system and change the necessary BIOS settings, if any. See Chapter 5 for information on BIOS setup.

2.Assign an IRQ to the card. Refer to the following tables.

3.Install the software drivers for the expansion card.

Standard interrupt assignments

 

IRQ

Priority

Standard Function

 

0

1

System Timer

 

1

2

Keyboard Controller

 

2

N/A

Programmable Interrupt

 

3*

11

Communications Port (COM2)

 

4*

12

Communications Port (COM1)

 

5*

13

Sound Card (sometimes LPT2)

 

6

14

Floppy Disk Controller

 

7*

15

Printer Port (LPT1)

 

8

3

System CMOS/Real Time Clock

 

9*

4

ACPI Mode when used

 

10*

5

IRQ Holder for PCI Steering

 

11*

6

IRQ Holder for PCI Steering

 

12*

7

PS/2 Compatible Mouse Port

 

13

8

Numeric Data Processor

 

14*

9

Primary IDE Channel

 

15*

10

Secondary IDE Channel

 

 

 

 

*These IRQs are usually available for ISA or PCI devices.

IRQ assignments for this motherboard

 

 

INTA#

INTB#

INTC#

INTD#

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PCIX slot 1

1

12

13

14

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PCIX slot 2

4

15

16

17

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PCIX slot 3

16

17

4

15

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PCIX slot 4

17

4

15

16

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Onboard LAN1 controller (Intel 82544GC)

2

—

—

—

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Onboard LAN2 controller (Intel 82540EM)

3

—

—

—

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Onboard SCSI controller (LSI 53C1030)

6

7

—

—

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Onboard VGA controller (ATI RAGE-XL)

30

—

—

—

 

 

 

 

 

 

When using PCI cards on shared slots, ensure that the drivers support “Share IRQ” or that the cards do not need IRQ assignments. Otherwise, conflicts will arise between the two PCI groups, making the system unstable and the card inoperable.

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Chapter 2: Hardware setup