rtirq (set priorities on kernel IRQ threads) The rtirq script is a bash script written by Rui Nuno Capela which works in conjunction with the IRQ threading facility of the Linux kernel. The script takes advantage of the fact that the kernel can use threads for IRQs management, and as such these threads (like any other thread running on your system) can be given maximum priority in an effort to minimize the latency of audio peripherals. Modern kernels (3.0 and newer) incorporate IRQ threads, so there's no need for a patched kernel on Slackware 14.0 or newer. Older systems would need the realtime kernel patch. The script is installed as /etc/rc.d/rc.rtirq. To actually run it at boot time, add code like this to /etc/rc.d/rc.local: if [ -x /etc/rc.d/rc.rtirq ]; then /etc/rc.d/rc.rtirq start fi The script can be disabled with "chmod -x /etc/rc.d/rc.rtirq". To enable IRQ threads, the option 'append="threadirqs"' needs to be added to the kernel section in /etc/lilo.conf. Example: # Linux bootable partition config begins image = /boot/vmlinuz-huge-3.10.17 root = /dev/sda1 label = Linux append = "threadirqs" read-only # Linux bootable partition config ends If there's already an 'append', add a space and 'threadirqs', like so: append = "noapic acpi=off threadirqs" Don't forget to run lilo after editing lilo.conf. The threadirqs option will take effect on the next reboot.