Windows XP: why it's sucks! (I hate to use the word Suck).

[OracleMan]

I do understand that Windows XP does take advantage of ACPI. With this feature, Windows XP command all assigning IRQs, it doesn't matter you overwrite it in the BIOS or not. If Windows XP is taking advantage of the ACPI, why doesn't Microsoft make its Windows XP smarter? Why doesn't Windows XP assigns device to a free IRQ first instead of sharing all PCI devices to just 1 or 2 IRQs? Why leave all other IRQ unused/free for? I mean not all IRQs 1-15 are being used (I do understand legacy devices have priority for those IRQs, but why not allow PCI device to use it when they are not being used?). Even the virtual IRQs from 16-21, not all of it being used, why share instead assigning to the one that is free?

I do know that all PCI devices are manufactured to allow sharing IRQ. Video card, LAN, Sound card, modem etc works fine with sharing IRQ. However, when it comes to video editing PCI card, this card requires exclusive IRQ. Otherwise there will be frame drop or system crash.

 

[Nothinman]

However, when it comes to video editing PCI card, this card requires exclusive IRQ. Otherwise there will be frame drop or system crash.

Sounds like your card or it's drivers sucks, not the OS. The delays for IRQ sharing are in the microseconds, you shouldn't drop any frames from that alone.

 

[cleverhandle]

As for XP leaving some IRQ's free, my understanding is that most cards only work on a certain selection of IRQ's. They're not all interchangeable. Whether that's a real hardware limitation or just a legacy convention, I don't know. But, as Nothinman said, poor IRQ sharing is the fault of sloppy driver design, not the OS's ACPI implementation. Try the card in different PCI slots - a lot of the time that will force it to a different, hopefully free, IRQ.

 

[Macro2]

XP sucks for a lot of reasons...not to mention bloat and the "big brother" attitude. This OS could have been sooooo good and so streamlined...
but noooooooo...the had to crap it up...no so much the product activation but the feeling you get when you know they spy on your computer. Who knows what they are looking at. Who knows what they are collecting from you or who is using the information.

 

[Doomer]

<< the feeling you get when you know they spy on your computer. Who knows what they are looking at. Who knows what they are collecting from you or who is using the information >>



Amen to that !!!

I've been trying to make the same point since XP came out and nobody seems to care.

Someday they will wish they did.

 

[CloroxCowboy]

It seems to be an easy problem to fix. Use Windows 2000, Linux, BSD of choice, or some other fav. You do not have to use XP.

The best way to change something is by not using it. However if you continue to use products that do not meet your standards you will just add to what you do not want.

Windows 2000 is XP with eye candy really. So even Win users don't have much to bitch about IMHO.

Of course I have been wrong before so take it for what it is worth.