Desktop

Ask something
Discussion Locked

IRQ Conflict

0 helpful
11 replies

by kerryclark

Closed to new repliesThis discussion is closed. It stays readable, but it takes no new replies.
Is it possible for your soundcard and your modem to share the same IRQ ? My soundcard and my modem share IRQ 9 in addition to about 3 more things. I have Win2kPro if this is a problem how can I change it ?

11 replies

by saihib

Yes it is possible. Unless Win2K is giving you an error message or your having other sound or dial-up problems, I'd leave things alone.

by thechas

Windows uses dynamic IRQ sharing.

Windows even assigns IRQs that are different than the default slot assigned IRQs for your motherboard.

If everything is working fine, then you have nothing to worry about.

On my XP system, 8 devices share IRQ9, including the video card!

If you did need or want to change an IRQ assignment, you need to disable IRQ steering. This is not advised unless you are having SERIOUS device conflicts.

As background, the IRQ list and assignments date back to the original IBM PC.
There are now many more devices and services that need an IRQ.
It is VERY easy to have more devices than available IRQs.
Windows handles this conflict with IRQ steering. This allows multiple devices to share a single IRQ.

Chas

by yelhsa3840

they can share irq's but if they try and work at the same time the cpu sees it as one thing and they get confused

by yelhsa3840

they can share irq's but if they try and work at the same time the cpu sees it as one thing and they get confused

by csmith

There is not a problem here because Win2K uses IRQ steering for PCI devices.
Obviously these devices are all PCI.
This arrangement will not work under the old ISA system. When you troubleshoot older PCs with ISA, remember that.
But with the newerPCs it works.
With the MODEM and Sound cards, etc. , CPU response time is not a problem. (Esoteric, don't worry about it.)
Regards, Chris

This discussion is closed to new replies.