Windows 98 has "IRQ steering", if I'm not mistaken. I wouldn't worry about it.

Totempole wrote:

I haven't noticed any issues yet, but when I installed the drivers for the
Ethernet Card the PC froze (mouse included) for about 30 seconds
before the installation completed.

That's not unusual for driver installations, I think.

Another interesting thing to note is that when the Ethernet card is in the
machine, it takes about 20 seconds longer to boot into windows 98.

If I'm not mistaken, it's looking for a network connection and then timing out. If you plug your Ethernet card into a live network, the delay should go away. (I'm not sure if there's a better way of doing it short of disabling the card entirely – but if you're not connecting it to a network, why bother keeping it active?)

It's mostly caused by DHCP. It has a long timeout for the response. Using a static IP and DNS is another way to get around this

Although I believe there is also a small delay as Windows 98 initializes the NIC.

WinME improves on this AFAIK.

@Jorpho, removing the card also solves the problem, but put it there for a
reason: I'm planning on building a second, similar machine (actually it's
already built, just not set up yet), and I want to connect them by Ethernet,
and LPT1 Laplink as well for games that won't link through Ethernet.

As long as there's nothing to worry about, I can deal with the slower boot
time. +- 1 Minute 30 Seconds isn't unacceptable. Hopefully it'll be quicker
when I link the two machines.

Thanks. 😀

Totempole wrote:

@Jorpho, removing the card also solves the problem

I didn't mean remove the card; I meant that you can disable it in Device Manager until you're ready to use it.

I understood what you said.

All I was saying is that as long as my PC won't "crash & burn" as a result of IRQ sharing, I'm OK with leaving it the way it is. 😀

As long as the devices have properly written drivers it should work fine

I just wonder what NIC Model and Make is it

1Is it a problem that the Ethernet card and Graphics Card are sharing one IRQ? 

That a common problem If PCI card is install next to AGP slot and some time with Last PCI Slot use motherboard with 5/6 PCI Slot with a Video card that also installed they sharing the same with ACPI mode on or if PnP OS is ON in the Bios.