3.HARDWARE SETUP

3.7Expansion Cards

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.

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 4.4.3 PCI Configuration)
7.Install the necessary software drivers for your expansion card.

3.7.2 Assigning IRQs for Expansion Cards

Some expansion cards need 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 additional IRQ will be used. If your moth- erboard also has MIDI enabled, another IRQ will be used, leaving 4 IRQs free.

IMPORTANT: 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.

Interrupt Request Table for this Motherboard

 

INT-A

INT-B

INT-C

INT-D

PCI slot 1

shared

—

—

—

PCI slot 2

—

shared

—

—

 

 

 

 

 

PCI slot 3

—

—

shared

—

 

 

 

 

 

PCI slot 4

—

—

—

shared

 

 

 

 

 

PCI slot 5

—

—

—

shared

 

 

 

 

 

PCI slot 6

—

—

shared

—

 

 

 

 

 

AGP slot

shared

shared

—

—

 

 

 

 

 

Onboard USB controller

—

—

—

shared

 

 

 

 

 

Expansion Cards
3. H/W SETUP

ASUS P3V4X User’s Manual

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