The legacy IRQ enables the card to "emulate" a sound blaster card, so DOS
programs can access the card.  If you remove the device, DOS programs (games)
will no longer be able to access the sound card.  I'm not sure of the technical
reason that DOS programs can't access the PCI sound card, but they cannot
directly, the second device allows the card to emulate an ISA card that DOS
programs can recognize

Dan Shaughnessy

> The post about Ensoniq AudioPCI cards reminded me of a question I wanted to
> ask.  I have one of the cards.   It works fine by the way with with DirectX
> 5.  The install of the card took two IRQ's in my system.  The normal one on
> IRQ 9 and something called "Ensoniq Audio PCI legacy device" on IRQ 5.  Can
> some one tell what this might be for?  Can it be removed or can the IRQ be
> used?  IRQ's are in short enough supply without having a card take two.
>