SYSTEM EXPANSION

Configuring the card

Part of the installation procedure for many expansion cards involves setting up or configuring the card so it works correctly in the system. To configure, you assign values to various settings on the card, which enable the card to communicate with the computer. The chosen settings MUST be registered in the BIOS see appendix C ‘System BIOS and set-up’and the section ‘ISA Legacy resources’.

Many cards require that you specify at least two of the following ;

∙Interrupt request level (IRQ)

∙Direct memory access (DMA) channel

∙Base input/output (I/O) port address

∙Base memory address

The important thing to understand is that the settings used by the card must be different to existing hardware in the computer. That is the settings must not conflict with other cards or a component on the motherboard.

Some settings are done by jumpers and/or switches on the card and are best done before installation, others are configured by running installation software after the card has been fitted inside the computer. Some cards use a mixture of both methods.

The documentation accompanying the card should tell you what is required. Remember to check any diskettes supplied with the card for README or other help files, before you start. If you are in any doubt consult the supplier or manufacturer.

Cards often come with pre-configured or default settings. It is best to rely on these settings as much as possible, and change them only if they conflict with other devices.

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