ABIT BH6 ...2 Network cards...serious mess

[Euthorus]

My system config is a s follows:

PII 400, 192 MB PC-100 RAM
41 GB HD
Abit BH6 Mobo, latest bios installed
_______________________________________

In my slots are:
AGP - GeForce 256
1st PCI(from CPU side down) - Hollywood plus decoder
2nd PCI - SB Live
3rd PCI - SSIG ATA 66 Controller
4th PCI - STM 10/100 T NIC
5th PCI - Intel 2100 DSL Modem
1st ISA - Free
2nd ISA - Creative Modem Blaster 56K

Aparently PCI 4 & 5 share an IRQ, which in my case is a no go. The DSL modem is treated as a network card and neither it nor STM Nic will release the IRQ or allow to be manually changed =( I absolutely need the STM NIC and I also need my DSL modem. Are there any clever ways of getting around the shared IRQ dilemma?

Please, I am loosing sleep over this any and all input are most welcome and much appreciated.

Thank you.

[LJE2]

I know very little about networks, but I believe the Intel card you have in your 5th PCI slot (you call it an Intel 2100 DSL Modem) is a network card, you might be able to do away with your other network card, Just run the cable that is now attached to the Intel card to a networking Hub, and from this Hub connect to your Intel card and your network (other computer, hub, ect.)and reconfigure your network.

[tlwhite76]

From ABITs FAQ for the BH6:

How can I use 5 PCI slots properly?
We suggest that you insert cards which need to use IRQs into PCI slots 2 and 3 such as SCSI, Sound and LAN cards. Other cards that do not need IRQs such as VGA or 3D acceleration cards, like voodoo, voodoo II and some kinds of PCI VGA cards, can be inserted into PCI slots 1,4,5. Whether or not a device can share IRQs depends on your Interface card and its driver as to whether or not it follows the PCI V2.1 specification.

Bottom Line: Network cards should be placed in PCI slot 2 and 3. Before I picked up a LINKSYS Cable Modem/DSL Router, I had 2 NICs in a BH6. Good Luck.

[Euthorus]

Thank you for your help.

I am getting an ISa Network card tonight =)