The Gigabyte GA-8IDX3 uses two interfaces to connect expansion cards to the computer: peripheral component interconnect and accelerated graphics port. The onboard expansion slots are used to add additional features or functions to the computer; the AGP port, for example, is required for the motherboard to output video on a monitor. If the expansions slots are faulty, the motherboard may be reduced to nothing more than a paperweight. Sometimes, however, what seems like hardware failure is actually the result of another -- sometimes fixable -- problem.
IRQ Conflicts
Hardware devices use interrupt request channels to send signals to the processor. These signals communicate to the processor that the associated device has a task to perform. Most hardware devices require a unique IRQ, but PCI cards can share the same IRQ without conflict. However, if a PCI card is using a nonshared IRQ -- in other words, if the card uses the same IRQ as a non-PCI device -- the card won't work as long as the other device is active. Change the IRQ assignments in the system setup program to "Auto" to reconfigure the IRQ channels.
AGP Slot
The Gigabyte GA-8IDX3 requires that the AGP card be AGP 2.0, also known as AGP 4x. Some motherboards are backwards-compatible and can use AGP 1.0, or AGP 2x, cards, but the Intel 845 chipset that the GA-8IDX3 uses does not recognize AGP 2x. Installing an AGP 2x card to the AGP slot can cause permanent damage to the motherboard and the expansion slot.
Onboard Devices
The basic input/output system, or system setup program, contains settings to enable or disable the integrated devices on the Gigabyte GA-8IDX3. Integrated, or onboard, devices are those that are built into the motherboard. The GA-8IDX3 features an integrated audio card and an integrated modem. If you install a dedicated audio card or modem to one of the expansion slots on the motherboard, the GA-8IDX3 won't give priority to the dedicated cards, but to the onboard devices instead. Disable the onboard audio card or modem on the Integrated Peripherals screen to use a dedicated device.
Replacement
If a PCI slot fails to work even after troubleshooting, you must use a different expansion slot. If all of the PCI slots fail to work, then the PCI bus itself is damaged. In the tech world, motherboards are referred to as field replaceable units, meaning that the motherboard can't be repaired and instead must be replaced if some central component fails. In other words, if the onboard expansion slots don't function at all, your only recourse is to swap out the Gigabyte GA-8IDX3 with a new board.
Tags: Gigabyte GA-8IDX3, audio card, expansion slots, audio card modem, card modem