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shifty · 09-20-2003, 06:53 PM

I just finished installing winxp on a computer and everything went ok.I was just wondering why it piled everyting on one IRQ.I have the video,lan card,sound card card and modem all on IRQ 10.I tried moving the cards to different slots but it does no good.The system seems to be running fine but there are so many unused IRQs.I had win98 on it before I installed xp and everything was on it's own IRQ.It's an Abit KG7 Raid,Gforce4 440mx video,Creative sound card,WD hd,Linksys lan card.Should I be concerned about it?

andyms18a · 09-20-2003, 08:10 PM

xp uses vertual irqs and it dont nead all the hard ware on difrent ones like 98/me so just let it set up how it wants and you will be fine

TwoRails · 09-20-2003, 10:20 PM

Hi Shifty,

Did you enable APIC in the BIOS? That should make a difference.

TwoRails

shifty · 09-21-2003, 06:48 AM

Yes I do have it enabled.I didn't change it when I installed xp.If I disable now would it do any good?If disabled it would let the bios assign IRQs vs the OS assigning them if I understand it correctly.I think I would have to reinstall xp though.It's a fresh install so it wouldn't be a problem.

shifty · 09-21-2003, 07:05 AM

I went back and checked the bios and I don't see an option for APIC but in the Power Management menuI see ACPI.Time to read the manual.

TwoRails · 09-21-2003, 07:45 AM

Oh, and also set the choice for "PNP OS" to NO!! Not yes!

shifty · 09-21-2003, 08:13 AM

There is no option for PNP OS either.It does have an option for ESCD,manual or auto. all the IRQs are assigned to pci devices.Not sure about this.

TwoRails · 09-21-2003, 08:51 AM

Is this an older mobo? Have you looked for a newer manual online? I know Asus is pretty good about updating their manuals.. but don't know about Abit for sure but I'd imagine they are too.

lil Jimmie · 09-21-2003, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by andyms18a
xp uses vertual irqs and it dont nead all the hard ware on difrent ones like 98/me so just let it set up how it wants and you will be fine

I agree.

Cricket · 09-21-2003, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by shifty
Should I be concerned about it?

No, don't worry about it...that's how WinXP works. Your system is running fine, there's no need to "fix it".

Cricket

TwoRails · 09-21-2003, 10:29 AM

I must be confused... I've always heard that is one of the "selling points" of XP, that it will use a seperate IRQ for each device. Being a Win 98.2 holdout, I've only built 2 XP boxes (my 3rd one is in the works) but both have so far automatically assigned different IRQs to everything -- using 20 or more IRQs.

Maybe it's the difference with mobos (I use Asus) but it does seem strange in my small XP experience that shifty's build would use only one or two IRQs instead of 20 or more... ????

I'm clueless....

lil Jimmie · 09-21-2003, 10:55 AM

http://support.microsoft.com/default...;EN-US;q314068

TwoRails · 09-21-2003, 11:04 AM

Interesting reading, lil Jimmie !

Thanks!

At least I was right on setting PNP to Disabled in BIOS, but the article does yield a question that may be related:

I have ACPI Disabled on my personal box. The above article indicates that XP handles things (IRQs) differently in that case.

For curiosity, shifty: do you have ACPI (not APIC) enabled or disabled?

TwoRails

lil Jimmie · 09-21-2003, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by TwoRails
I have ACPI Disabled on my personal box.

TwoRails

Why???

I hope I'm not misunderstanding you here but are you saying you are using a Standard PC HAL or ACPI PC HAL

shifty · 09-21-2003, 11:18 AM

The board is an Abit KG7Raid.It's about two years old.Running an xp1600 and ddr pc2100.I see nothing about ACPI.I have seen it before on other boards.I've always left it enabled.http://www.abit-usa.com/products/mb/...ies=1&model=30 Here's the manual if you want to look.thanks

TwoRails · 09-21-2003, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by lil Jimmie
Why???

Not really sure, but probably an old Win 98 habit where it didn't alway play well... Part two is that while video encoding and the like, I would run into problems if the monitor or one of my HDs would shut down -- sometime requiring a reboot (reset) wasting all my efforts... Other than that, no real or good reason ---

TwoRails · 09-21-2003, 11:29 AM

Shifty: Can't get the manual to download... server not found... But I did notice that the last update was back in 1998! I can't remember dates right now, but your BIOS may just not have all features, like APIC.... I didn't look for any BIOS updates.

shifty · 09-21-2003, 11:36 AM

If I go into the device manager and click My computer it shows ACPI.So I guess it is using it wheather I wanted to or not.Looks like I can't disable it.

shifty · 09-21-2003, 11:38 AM

I couldn't download it either.Might be a problem with their server.The board came with drivers for win2k and I don't think ddr was out in 1998.I think it's an early 2001 board.

lil Jimmie · 09-21-2003, 11:42 AM

You can't disable it but you can change it to a Standard PC HAL, but if you are not having problems then leave it as is.

shifty · 09-21-2003, 12:44 PM

I have to leave for a few hours but I'll check back later.This is interesting.Thanks.

Cricket · 09-21-2003, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by lil Jimmie
if you are not having problems then leave it as is.

I agree with lil Jimmie...if the computer is running well, there's really no need to fix it.

Cricket

TwoRails · 09-21-2003, 01:49 PM

I agree, also. But I still have curiousity on the "why" part...

- good thing I'm not a cat, eh? LOL

crjdriver · 09-21-2003, 03:08 PM

Abit boards from that era do not have the option to disable acpi [without modding the bios file]. The option is there it is just hidden. I have modded a few bios files for people that were having irq conflicts, however if it works just leave it alone. You can run into more problems disabling acpi.

shifty · 09-21-2003, 04:44 PM

I'll leave it alone.It's playing games fineeven though the video card is on the same IRQ as three other cards.Well I learned something else.ThanksTwoRails,jimmie,cricket,crjdriver,andyms.

Blakhart · 09-22-2003, 12:25 AM

Acpi will help your system run cooler, and it will bench faster.
As to apic, if you see all your irqs as one number, no matter. They aren't really all on the same irq, that's just a placeholder number to show you. The apic controller gives out an irq to a device as it has the irq to give and the device has priority to do so at the time. The apic controller holds the irqs in a "pool" and lets a device have one when required. That is how you can get more than 16 irqs, wich x86 architecture is stuck with.
Some thoughts for ya.

shifty · 09-22-2003, 05:32 PM

Thanks Blakhart.You explained that well.I'm beginning to understand what's going on here.

09-20-2003, 06:53 PM	#1
shifty Member (10 bit) Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Ct. Posts: 741	xp and IRQs I just finished installing winxp on a computer and everything went ok.I was just wondering why it piled everyting on one IRQ.I have the video,lan card,sound card card and modem all on IRQ 10.I tried moving the cards to different slots but it does no good.The system seems to be running fine but there are so many unused IRQs.I had win98 on it before I installed xp and everything was on it's own IRQ.It's an Abit KG7 Raid,Gforce4 440mx video,Creative sound card,WD hd,Linksys lan card.Should I be concerned about it? Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

09-20-2003, 08:10 PM	#2
andyms18a Member (12 bit) Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: essex Posts: 2,252	xp uses vertual irqs and it dont nead all the hard ware on difrent ones like 98/me so just let it set up how it wants and you will be fine Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter __________________ Join the PcMech.com Folding@Home Team and Help Save Lives! Click Here! Life only looks greener on the other side of the fence

09-20-2003, 10:20 PM	#3
TwoRails Member (14 bit) Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: The Great NorthWest Posts: 12,594	Hi Shifty, Did you enable APIC in the BIOS? That should make a difference. TwoRails Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

09-21-2003, 06:48 AM	#4
shifty Member (10 bit) Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Ct. Posts: 741	hi Yes I do have it enabled.I didn't change it when I installed xp.If I disable now would it do any good?If disabled it would let the bios assign IRQs vs the OS assigning them if I understand it correctly.I think I would have to reinstall xp though.It's a fresh install so it wouldn't be a problem. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter Last edited by shifty; 09-21-2003 at 06:53 AM.

09-21-2003, 07:05 AM	#5
shifty Member (10 bit) Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Ct. Posts: 741	I went back and checked the bios and I don't see an option for APIC but in the Power Management menuI see ACPI.Time to read the manual. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

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09-21-2003, 07:45 AM	#6
TwoRails Member (14 bit) Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: The Great NorthWest Posts: 12,594	Oh, and also set the choice for "PNP OS" to NO!! Not yes! Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

09-21-2003, 08:13 AM	#7
shifty Member (10 bit) Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Ct. Posts: 741	There is no option for PNP OS either.It does have an option for ESCD,manual or auto. all the IRQs are assigned to pci devices.Not sure about this. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

09-21-2003, 08:51 AM	#8
TwoRails Member (14 bit) Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: The Great NorthWest Posts: 12,594	Is this an older mobo? Have you looked for a newer manual online? I know Asus is pretty good about updating their manuals.. but don't know about Abit for sure but I'd imagine they are too. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

09-21-2003, 10:29 AM	#11
TwoRails Member (14 bit) Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: The Great NorthWest Posts: 12,594	I must be confused... I've always heard that is one of the "selling points" of XP, that it will use a seperate IRQ for each device. Being a Win 98.2 holdout, I've only built 2 XP boxes (my 3rd one is in the works) but both have so far automatically assigned different IRQs to everything -- using 20 or more IRQs. Maybe it's the difference with mobos (I use Asus) but it does seem strange in my small XP experience that shifty's build would use only one or two IRQs instead of 20 or more... ???? I'm clueless.... Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

09-21-2003, 10:55 AM	#12
lil Jimmie HOT ROD Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: On the Edge Posts: 4,565	http://support.microsoft.com/default...;EN-US;q314068 Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

09-21-2003, 11:04 AM	#13
TwoRails Member (14 bit) Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: The Great NorthWest Posts: 12,594	Interesting reading, lil Jimmie ! Thanks! At least I was right on setting PNP to Disabled in BIOS, but the article does yield a question that may be related: I have ACPI *Disabled* on my personal box. The above article indicates that XP handles things (IRQs) differently in that case. For curiosity, shifty: do you have ACPI (not APIC) enabled or disabled? TwoRails Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

09-21-2003, 11:18 AM	#15
shifty Member (10 bit) Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Ct. Posts: 741	The board is an Abit KG7Raid.It's about two years old.Running an xp1600 and ddr pc2100.I see nothing about ACPI.I have seen it before on other boards.I've always left it enabled.http://www.abit-usa.com/products/mb/...ies=1&model=30 Here's the manual if you want to look.thanks Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter Last edited by shifty; 09-21-2003 at 11:22 AM.

09-21-2003, 11:29 AM	#17
TwoRails Member (14 bit) Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: The Great NorthWest Posts: 12,594	Shifty: Can't get the manual to download... server not found... But I did notice that the last update was back in 1998! I can't remember dates right now, but your BIOS may just not have all features, like APIC.... I didn't look for any BIOS updates. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

09-21-2003, 11:36 AM	#18
shifty Member (10 bit) Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Ct. Posts: 741	If I go into the device manager and click My computer it shows ACPI.So I guess it is using it wheather I wanted to or not.Looks like I can't disable it. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

09-21-2003, 11:38 AM	#19
shifty Member (10 bit) Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Ct. Posts: 741	I couldn't download it either.Might be a problem with their server.The board came with drivers for win2k and I don't think ddr was out in 1998.I think it's an early 2001 board. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter Last edited by shifty; 09-21-2003 at 11:41 AM.

09-21-2003, 11:42 AM	#20
lil Jimmie HOT ROD Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: On the Edge Posts: 4,565	You can't disable it but you can change it to a Standard PC HAL, but if you are not having problems then leave it as is. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

09-21-2003, 12:44 PM	#21
shifty Member (10 bit) Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Ct. Posts: 741	I have to leave for a few hours but I'll check back later.This is interesting.Thanks. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

09-21-2003, 01:49 PM	#23
TwoRails Member (14 bit) Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: The Great NorthWest Posts: 12,594	I agree, also. But I still have curiousity on the "why" part... - good thing I'm not a cat, eh? LOL Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

09-21-2003, 03:08 PM	#24
crjdriver Member (10 bit) Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 684	Abit boards from that era do not have the option to disable acpi [without modding the bios file]. The option is there it is just hidden. I have modded a few bios files for people that were having irq conflicts, however if it works just leave it alone. You can run into more problems disabling acpi. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

09-21-2003, 04:44 PM	#25
shifty Member (10 bit) Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Ct. Posts: 741	I'll leave it alone.It's playing games fineeven though the video card is on the same IRQ as three other cards.Well I learned something else.ThanksTwoRails,jimmie,cricket,crjdriver,andyms. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

09-22-2003, 12:25 AM	#26
Blakhart Banned Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: in harms way Posts: 2,768	Acpi will help your system run cooler, and it will bench faster. As to apic, if you see all your irqs as one number, no matter. They aren't really all on the same irq, that's just a placeholder number to show you. The apic controller gives out an irq to a device as it has the irq to give and the device has priority to do so at the time. The apic controller holds the irqs in a "pool" and lets a device have one when required. That is how you can get more than 16 irqs, wich x86 architecture is stuck with. Some thoughts for ya. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

09-22-2003, 05:32 PM	#27
shifty Member (10 bit) Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Ct. Posts: 741	ok Thanks Blakhart.You explained that well.I'm beginning to understand what's going on here. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

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