A7N8X-X (Possibly IRQ Problems)

[kag]

Hi,

I had my system up and running for three months when I decided to add a second cheapo PCI video card so I could dual monitor. This is where my problems started.

I have a GF3 in the AGP slot, and a SBLive Value in the bottom PCI slot (which I believe is shared with PCI #1 right under the AGP).

So I added the ATI card (according to the stickers, it's a MACH64 GT) and Windows recognized it as a "ATI 3D Rage PCI". It installed the drivers but "This device cannot start. (Code 10)".

So I played around with it, and at one point, I removed my SBLive from my system, leaving only both video cards, and I couldn't get Windows to start the PCI one in any of the bottom 4 slots. I tried to play with the jumpers on the PCI card (2 jumpers, 4 possible combinations) while it was in slot #3 but I didn't get it work either.

So right now I have removed it from my system and added back the SBLive Value in the bottom slot. So I have my AGP at the top and SBLive at the bottom. When I go in Windows, the SBLive now has the same Code 10 problem as the PCI video card had.

I noticed that in the boot-up screens, where it shows your devices and their IRQ settings, the MULTIMEDIA DEVICE has an IRQ set to NA, so I guess this is where it comes from. I updated my BIOS to 1007 from 1006 and cleared the CMOS settings (from the Asus Windows Update Utility). Still not working.

So at this point, I'd like to be able to get my SBLive to work back, since I know this configuration worked before. Once it starts working again, I'll play to get the PCI video card to work too, but that will be later.

Regarding the PCI video card, I noticed that if I turned the "primary display" to PCI in the BIOS, plugging my monitor in the AGP card wouldn't do anything but plugging it in the PCI card would show the regular booting stuff, so I know it is working. When it gets in Windows, the PCI video card will output nothing, no matter if the primary display is PCI or AGP.

I have disabled pretty much everything that is not used.

I'm going to the cinema to watch the Matrix Revolutions so I'll check my thread later. Thank you!

 

[SilverBack]

Aren't IRQ's a pain in the @#$??
Put your live card in the 3rd PCI slot from the AGP card.
If your last PCI truely shares with the 1st, then you are also sharing with the video card and that will screw everything up.
Usually the 3rd slot doesn't share with anything in most systems. That's the best place for a Live card to inhabit.

Does your GF3 have a DVI out? If it does it would be a lot easier to use that for your second monitor.
I have an LCD on my DVI and a CRT on the VGA. You can't play games on both screens, but thats not what I want to do. Games on the crt, everything else on the LCD.
Adapters for a VGA fitting to DVI are pretty easy to get.

 

[jiffylube1024]

Originally posted by: SilverBack
Aren't IRQ's a pain in the @#$??
Put your live card in the 3rd PCI slot from the AGP card.
If your last PCI truely shares with the 1st, then you are also sharing with the video card and that will screw everything up.
Usually the 3rd slot doesn't share with anything in most systems. That's the best place for a Live card to inhabit.

Does your GF3 have a DVI out? If it does it would be a lot easier to use that for your second monitor.
I have an LCD on my DVI and a CRT on the VGA. You can't play games on both screens, but thats not what I want to do. Games on the crt, everything else on the LCD.
Adapters for a VGA fitting to DVI are pretty easy to get.

GeForce 3 cards have only one RAMDAC. It's VGA or DVI or TV-out only. One at a time, unfortunately .

 

[kag]

Thanks SilverBack. I knew slot 1 was shared with the agp slot, but i never made the connection that if slot 1 and 5 are shared, it would mean that slot 5 is also shared with the agp. it works now, though i dont understand why it was working before with the live in the bottom pci slot.

ok well this problem is solved - the live is in the fourth slot (i just like to have my sound card at the bottom... old habit from isa cards), and i added my secondary pci video card to the third slot. i double checked in my manual and both of these slots are not shared.

the pci video card uses irq 10 and it doesnt want to start in windows, im not sure what it conflicts with. irq's are really my flaw in computers any help?

jiffylube1024.. i think i can use both the vga and dvi out at the same time, but my desktop is gonna be mirrored (not extended).

 

[kag]

I know have "INPUT DEVICE" as IRQ: NA in the boot-up screens where it lists your devices......... but it doesnt seem to important, everything except my second video card shows up just right in computer management

 

[SilverBack]

Kag,
I'm not really sure if an ATI card and a Nvidia can operate together because of the drivers sets.
I haven't ever tried it.
As many problems people have had going from one card (ATI to Nvidia, Nvidia to ATI) to the other in thier systems, this really could be the problem.

I would try one last thing.
Go to your BIOS and look for the PCI section. If you are like me you don't use serial ports or a parallel port. Turn those off. Serials use IRQ's 3 and 4, the parallel uses IRQ7, these will now be freed and can be used for other things.
Go to the PCI slot for the secondary video card and assign one of these IRQ's to it. Try the IRQ 4 first.
In most systems Windows WANTS a hard set IRQ for video.

I wish you luck, I think this combo may be difficult.
SB

 

[SilverBack]

I know have "INPUT DEVICE" as IRQ: NA

That is probably a USB mouse or wireless keyboard. ( Or something similar)

 

[kag]

Mmm, well I already disabled everything that I don't use... like USB keyboard and mouse support (maybe this is why it shows up as NA), parallel, serial, blah blah.

I tried to hard set the IRQ number to a PCI slot, but my BIOS doesn't allow me to do that. I guess I'm out of luck.

On the PCI card (AT MACH64 GT), I have two jumpers... they don't have a legend, but the first one can be set to SPAR or BLK and the other one to ENA or DIS. I tried to play around with them but do you have any idea what they could mean?