The best way to optimize I/O controllers and other expansion cards is to install them in the correct order. No harm is done to the PC if expansion cards are installed out of order, but there is some benefit to be if they are put in the proper sequence.

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On a Pentium system, try to use peripheral component interconnect (PCI) cards, and avoid Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) cards, if possible. Just about all I/O adapters, including video cards, sound cards, NICs, modems, and small computer system interface (SCSI) adapters, are available for the PCI expansion bus.

When installing the cards in a PC, put the video card in the first slot, followed by the NIC, modem, and sound card, in that order. If you are unsure as to which PCI slot is the first PCI slot, you should consult your motherboard's documentation or download a PCI numbering utility from the motherboard manufacturer. PCI 0, the first slot, is not necessarily the first one on the left or right on the motherboard, but it is the first one detected by the BIOS during the boot process