Suppose there's less cpu load on a.......

[Blakhart]

external modem as opposed to the same modem in pci outline?
What about the port, does it run without using the irq or does it use one as the pci version would? Any thoughts appreciated.
Both are usr hard modems.

[HAL9000]

External modems use the COM Port IRQ which is generally 3 or 4. PCI modems will use whatever IRQ is available for it to use.

[Blakhart]

Ok but do you suppose there's any cpu diff?

[morriswindgate]

External modems have controllers (Brains) whereas a PCI modem is nothing more than a translator that does all of it's brainwork by using CPU time. An external Modem should get better and more constant connection speeds. (Serial port type, as I am not to sure about USB types)

[glc]

morris: PCI hardmodems (yes, there are a few of those) do not use the CPU like a USB or a software controlled modem does.

[Nuclear Krusader]

I'd go for an external modem since it will use the COM port IRQ and so I'll have less problems with the system because of less IRQ sharing.

Glc, what you said about hardware PCI modems is true, but I assume they still use an IRQ, like 9 or 11, thus having to share it if another device such a sound card or a vid card is already using it. Am I right?

[glc]

That is correct - a PCI modem has to get an IRQ out of the PCI/AGP/USB pool and it does use a virtual com port.

[Markoman01027]

Yup. The Internal modem will use any available IRQ it can get, and it will use one of the built in COM ports, while the External modem will just use set it self automaticly with the COM port, and I believe they will use their own specific IRQ.

-Matt

[Markoman01027]

Yeah, the external modem will use IRQ 11. I think most USB devices do use their specific IRQ, and I think that is like 11.

-Matt

[Nuclear Krusader]

Uh, don't get an USB external modem. Get a serial modem. It will use COM1 or COM2's IRQ, 4 or 3 respectively.

[glc]

Markoman - not exactly. An internal plug and play modem will take whatever IRQ it's assigned by the system, and it will use its own virtual com port (usually Com 3), not one of the built in ones. An external serial modem has to be connected to one of the built in com ports, which will use IRQ 3 or IRQ 4 as NK stated. A USB modem will use the USB IRQ and a virtual com port.

[Nuclear Krusader]

An USB and an internal modem are basically the same thing, right glc?

[glc]

No, a USB modem is an external that plugs into the USB, an internal plugs into an ISA or PCI slot. There are 2 basic types of internals (disregarding the ISA or PCI), a plug and play and a hardjumpered modem. Hardjumpered modems are always ISA and hardware based, plug and play can be anything - hard or soft, isa or pci. Hardjumpered modems take the place of a real com port, nothing virtual about it.

[imademyfirstcomputer]

im sooooo confused

[Blakhart]

Ok I have a usr external modem that is the same as my internal, a hard modem. The external gives one the ability to connect it via the comm port or the usb port. I use it comms port style as the usb style may take more cpu time to run just the active usb driver(s). So not all usb modems are software types.

[glc]

Right. However, the overhead required to run USB will make a hardware-based USB modem perform like a software modem. I pity the folks that use a software USB modem.

[Blakhart]

:D