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3. HARDWARE SETUP
3.7 Expansion 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 PNP and PCI Setup under IV. BIOS SETUP)
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 exclu-
sively 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 sup-
port "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
PCI slot 1
PCI slot 2
PCI slot 3
PCI slot 4
PCI slot 5
AGP Pro slot
Onboard USB controller
Onboard audio/AMR
Onboard LAN (optional)
Onboard SCSI (optional)
38
ASUS P3C-L / P3C-S / P3C-LS User's Manual
INT-A
INT-B
shared
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shared
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shared
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shared
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INT-C
INT-D
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shared
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shared
shared
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shared
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shared
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shared
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