PCI Slot Configurations

  • Thread starter Thread starter AxeClinton
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AxeClinton

I am using a P4T-E mobo. Can somone suggest the best PCI/Card configurations?

I have the following cards.

1-Creative Soundblaster Audigy
2-Promise TX2 100 EIDE Controller
3-SMC Ethernet Card
4-Adaptec USB 2.0 Card
5-ASUS V7100 AGP Video Card

What are the best slots to use for these cards. I have been using the machine
for a couple of years now and have had some stability problems. I am NOT
overclocking. I recently removed the rounded ribbon cables I installed and shut
off USWC and set back to the default of UC in the 'Video Memory Cache Mode' and
things seem to have stabilized.

I have the latest BIOS and the lates Detonator Drivers from Nvidia.

I used to get lost of random reboots typical of video card driver problems. I
think the rounded drive cables were adding to the instability and perhaps the
Asus 7100 was not compatible with USWC mode.

Is there any way to optimize stability by changing what slots I have the cards
in?

Thanks.
 
I am using a P4T-E mobo. Can somone suggest the best PCI/Card configurations?

I have the following cards.

1-Creative Soundblaster Audigy
2-Promise TX2 100 EIDE Controller
3-SMC Ethernet Card
4-Adaptec USB 2.0 Card
5-ASUS V7100 AGP Video Card

What are the best slots to use for these cards. I have been using the
machine for a couple of years now and have had some stability problems.
I am NOT overclocking. I recently removed the rounded ribbon cables I
installed and shut off USWC and set back to the default of UC in the
'Video Memory Cache Mode' and things seem to have stabilized.

I have the latest BIOS and the lates Detonator Drivers from Nvidia.

I used to get lost of random reboots typical of video card driver
problems. I think the rounded drive cables were adding to the
instability and perhaps the Asus 7100 was not compatible with USWC mode.

Is there any way to optimize stability by changing what slots I have the
cards in?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

See the IRQ section of the manual, where there is a table.

AGP V7100 (no choice)
PCI 1 ----- (leave space for cooling)
PCI 2 Audigy (unique physical interrupt signal)
PCI 3 SMC Ethernet (arbitrary choice, shares with MB USB interrupt)
PCI 4 Adaptec USB 2.0 (arbitrary choice but happens to be a unique interrupt)
PCI 5 Promise TX2 (arbitrary choice, shares an interrupt ?)

Giving the Audigy a unique physical interrupt signal is the only
optimization I can see. Giving it a slot closer to the processor
sometimes gives a higher interrupt priority, which sound cards
appreciate. The other cards should be able to share interrupts
if needed, and shouldn't be a particular issue.

Note that these are performance optimizations, and don't necessarily
affect stability. The Audigy "unique physical interrupt" thing should
prevent the sound from breaking up, due to data underrun. The
Ethernet card does DMA transfer into a ring buffer in main memory,
so the Ethernet card doesn't need to be serviced right away. The
Adaptec USB presumably buffers at least one packet and maybe it uses
a ring buffer like the Ethernet card - I've never read anything about
how the data structures on a USB card work. The Promise TX2, of
course, can just stop if it is being ignored by the processor. If
the IDE cabling is tight, you could put the Promise in Slot 3 and
the Ethernet in Slot 5.

HTH,
Paul
 
Thanks so much Paul for all the good info. I think I will move cards around as
per your suggestions. It certainly can't hurt. It's great having knowledgeable
guys like you here.

--Nat
 
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