GA-X58A-UD5 - can't assign dedicated IRQ to PCI-slot sound card

[UserIT]

Hello,

Recently I put together a new PC DAW system with i7 950 @ 3.07GHz and GA-X58A-UD5 as a base. I must admit that I was surprised when I realized that changing IRQ in WIN 7 isn't so easy (if at all) as in my previous Win XP system.

Now to the description of the problem.

Win 7 have assigned VGA and my sound card to same 16 IRQ number (worst scenario). On top of that, a buch of PCI and USB controllers has been assigned to same IRQ 16. Clearly, that activities is causing much clicks and pops in Cubase 5/6. I had same problem before in old DAW:s. But then, assigned sound card to different, dedicated IRQ - solves the problem on the spot.

I was able to disable some USB controller from that shared IRQ with noticeable better results in audio performance, but unfortunately the side effect was blue screen every time I turned off or restarted PC. Maybe I haven't done it proper way?

Now I think that I have following options and I need help to realize some of them:


1. Assign dedicated IRQ number to PCI-slot sound card; BEST SOLUTION

2. Make as much as possible space on that IRQ so that PCI-slot sound card can work frealy;

3. Assign a dedicated IRQ to VGA card;

4. Re-alocate PCI-slot sound card into PCIEX1_1 slot with this adapter: http://www.virtuavia.eu/shop/pci-express-to-pci-adapter-p29855.html  (Will Win 7 assign different IRQ then??)

5. Replace my current GA-X58A-UD5 MOBO with some from GA-P55 line as they have 3 x PCI slots.


Just to be clear, yes I have done all necessary tweaks and optimized Win 7 for professional audio work.

I would really appreciate your help as I have a tight dead line and need to get this solved. In Win 7 system this shows:



During Win boot this shows in "PCI device listing"

USB 1.1 Host Cntrlr   10
USB 1.1 Host Cntrlr   4
USB 1.1 Host Cntrlr   3
USB 2.0 Host Cntrlr   3
Multimedia Device     5
USB 1.1 Host Cntrlr   7
USB 1.1 Host Cntrlr   11
USB 1.1 Host Cntrlr   3
USB 1.1 Host Cntrlr   7
IDE Cntrlr                14
SMSBus Cntrlr          3
Native IDE Cntrlr      11
Native IDE Cntrlr      10
USB 3.0 Host Cntrlr  10
Display Cntrlr           10
Native IDE Cntrlr      12
Native IDE Cntrlr      11
Multimedia Device     10
ACPI Controller         9

Thanks in advance!

[Dark Mantis]

Hi

It isn't so easy any more to assign IRQs specifically. I thought I knew a way round it but on checking it seems that even this has gone. It used to be possible to tell the BIOS not to configure everything and leave it to Windows Plug and Play but that option seems to have disappeared. By letting the OS have responsibility it gave more power to the user.

[UserIT]

Hi

It isn't so easy any more to assign IRQs specifically. I thought I knew a way round it but on checking it seems that even this has gone. It used to be possible to tell the BIOS not to configure everything and leave it to Windows Plug and Play but that option seems to have disappeared. By letting the OS have responsibility it gave more power to the user.

Thanks for answering!

OK, so any concrete solution you can suggest in regards to my problem? maybe I shall just switch MOBO then??

Or I will appreciate some help with disabling stuff in correct way, to free that IRQ channel.

I BIOS tried to find function that was present on older MOBO cards by pressing Ctrl + F1. The panel is there but unfortunately IRQ management has gone...

If I reinstall Win 7 with this audio card present during installation in PCI-slot - any chance that Win 7 will assign it to another IRQ? Do I need to load default BIOS setting before that? 

Regards.

[Dark Mantis]

You could try clearing the CMOS and loading the Optimised BIOS Defaults.

Remove the power cable from the mains supply and then press the power switch on the case for a few seconds just to drain any residual energy in the PSU capacitors.

Once done remove the motherboard battery for at least ten minutes before replacing it.
 
Next plug back into the mains supply and boot.
 
You will now need to enter the BIOS by pressing DEL and load Opimised BIOS Defaults.

Make any other changes to the BIOS settings to suit your self and then press F10 to save and exit.

If that doesn't do the trick then I suppose it would be worth trying a clean install although I am not sure that would help as the BIOS has already configured the IRQs by the time Windows loads.

[UserIT]

You could try clearing the CMOS and loading the Optimised BIOS Defaults.

Remove the power cable from the mains supply and then press the power switch on the case for a few seconds just to drain any residual energy in the PSU capacitors.

Once done remove the motherboard battery for at least ten minutes before replacing it.
 
Next plug back into the mains supply and boot.
 
You will now need to enter the BIOS by pressing DEL and load Opimised BIOS Defaults.

Make any other changes to the BIOS settings to suit your self and then press F10 to save and exit.

If that doesn't do the trick then I suppose it would be worth trying a clean install although I am not sure that would help as the BIOS has already configured the IRQs by the time Windows loads.

Thanks for helping me. Did that per your instructions, but it is the same. I had even reinstalled Win 7 also, but no luck.

Can you recommend some Gigabyte LGA 1366 MOBO with at least 2 PCI-slots which architecture allow different IRQ assignment to its PCI slots? At least different from that one assigned to VGA.

Any info regarding architecture at GA-EX58-UD4 and GA-EX58-UD5?

Regards.

[Dark Mantis]

I'm sorry that didn't work but to be fair I can't really say I expected it to but it was worth a try.

Trouble is most motherboards now are going to have the same sort of BIOS and so I think your best option might be to contact GGTS and see if they can alter a BIOS especially for you to let you have control over the IRQ.

I wouldn't expect a quick reply though as they have only just come back of holiday and are no doubt catching up.

Just enter your email address and click on the language of choice.
GGTS   http://ggts.gigabyte.com/

[forumjoe]

With it being one of eight things sharing that IRQ, I'm not surprised you're having trouble! I'm having a similar problem on a P55 mobo, under WinXP, though only with four devices at a time.

This is, as you say, down in part to lack of choice in deciding which one allocates the resources - the BIOS or Windows. In my case, the problem is with IRQ19; the soundcard simply doesn't work properly and its operation clashes with other things going on, on the PCI bus. It was perfectly fine when I used it in an older (non-Gigabyte) PC of mine, using exactly the same operating system.

This is almost certainly a BIOS problem. But getting GGTS to admit that their BIOSs aren't up to the job is virtually impossible. I've been trying for weeks to get them to take a detailed look at the BIOS used on my mobo.

In your case, would adding more memory help? You could try shifting the soundcard to a different slot, if there's an alternative available. That sometimes causes the BIOS to rearrange the IRQ allocations.

The impression I get is that Gigabyte are pretty awful at designing BIOSs (taking the original Award core BIOS and adapting it), no matter for which type of mobo.

[Dark Mantis]

The impression I get is that Gigabyte are pretty awful at designing BIOSs (taking the original Award core BIOS and adapting it), no matter for which type of mobo.

I would have to agree that they seem to have a weakspot in certain areas of BIOS design. The same problems seem to recurr across the range of motherboards.

[UserIT]

In your case, would adding more memory help? You could try shifting the soundcard to a different slot, if there's an alternative available. That sometimes causes the BIOS to rearrange the IRQ allocations.

Believe me, I have tried 101 different ways, no change, it is just giving sound card and VGA same - b**** IRQ 16.

I have ordered another Gigabyte card with 3 PCI slots, so I will check if there will be any difference. I just need dedicated IRQ for sound card, otherwise finding a peace of mind is utopia.

[Dark Mantis]

Have you taken out a ticket with GGTS as I suggested? At least then they can be looking at the problem while you are trying different things.

[UserIT]

Have you taken out a ticket with GGTS as I suggested? At least then they can be looking at the problem while you are trying different things.

Yes, I did, and they was very helpful. I got an BIOS file that have option of manually setting IRQ for PCI1. Still no luck though, but I think we are going into right direction.
Thanks.

[Dark Mantis]

Well please keep us informed of any new results you get along the way as I am sure there are other people who are also confronted by this issue.

[UserIT]

Well please keep us informed of any new results you get along the way as I am sure there are other people who are also confronted by this issue.

I did it 

I changed mobo to GA-EX58-UD4 and got 3 different IRQ assignment's depending in which PCI-slot I put the sound card! Awesome. I guess the schematics of that motherboard is more flexible than my previous.

Thanks for your support people!

[Dark Mantis]

Well at least you managed to find a way around your dilemma then. Happy to have been of help.