Sound card for your computer: the best internal and external models, specifications

I like to listen to music and watch movies on your computer? Then, without a sound card can not do

Sound Card - What Is It

According to the definition which is given in on computer literacy books for dummies or computer science textbooks, under the sound card for the laptop or desktop PC means a special device that can be integrated on the motherboard or external, is used for reproducing and processing the incoming audio signal. Through sound, you can listen to music, to engage in a full-fledged movies or enjoy the gameplay. Through special programs can be made to process the sound, or to create music.

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processing audio on a computer involves editing entries, elimination of noise, digitization of analogue compositions for their preservation in modern types of media, mixing music or embedding frequency range.

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Most modern sound cards equipped with a variety of outputs, which include a connector for speakers, microphone or headphone.

This device may have various names:

• input / output sound;
• sound card;
• audio card;
• audio device.

The card itself may be represented by a separate expansion card that is placed in the appropriate slot "motherboard" or appear as an integrated chip, unsoldered on the motherboard. It all depends on the model and manufacturer.

The sound card is the center of a multimedia environment

Why do we need a sound card in your computer

Some people wonder why we need a sound card for your computer. It is a necessary part, which is in every PC or laptop. Her destination is the processing of incoming audio signal and its playback.

Even the sounds are built into the system and alerts you of events on the computer may not be reproduced without the presence of the part. Also buy a sound card on your computer require users who are professionally do music, because it allows you to handle sound and engage in writing their own works. Gamers installed on their laptops external sound card for better sound and more immersive gameplay. The presence in audikarte connectors for external speakers or headphones makes it possible to watch movies, listen to music or to conduct online conversations with friends and family using Skype or other similar programs.

The simplest sound card is a card with a chipset and the need to go

What is the sound card for the PC

To understand, it looks like a sound card in your computer, you can view photos. As a way to determine where it hides in the PC audio device will depend on the type and the type of computer (desktop or notebook). How to identify the sound card in a desktop computer? This can be done by parsing the body. On the motherboard you need to find a small chip (chip), which will be applied the name of the manufacturer. This method is determined by the sound card is soldered on the motherboard.

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if it is built, but it is connected as a separate device, then place it will find the appropriate slot. Typically, this PCI-Express. In this case, the indicator of the sound card on the computer will have different outputs on the rear wall of the chassis.

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Disassemble the laptop difficult, therefore, to determine where exactly will be the sound card can be for external connectors. Usually portable PC models have only two choices - for microphone and headphones or speakers.

On the motherboard sound card is represented by a small chip with an indication of the manufacturer

The main types of sound cards for the PC

There are only two basic types of audio devices to a PC - is an external sound card for the computer and the internal or built-in. They differ in their views and feature set. Also slightly vary the intended use of these devices in the system.

External Sound USB-card

This device, which is a separate unit, inside which is a chipset responsible for the conversion and reproduction of sound equipment connected to a computer through a USB port. Application of the external device is an opportunity to significantly improve the sound quality. Most often, these systems are used for laptops, because digital audio chip can not give quality audio even in expensive models. The need to purchase external sound card may be caused by two reasons:

• the desire to get high-quality sound on a portable PC;
• if the basic sound card is broken beyond repair, or replacement procedure is more expensive than buying a new one.

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Connection columns is not a solution to the problem of low-quality sound. It will only lead to an increase in volume, at which all the flaws and shortcomings of the built-in audio chip be powerful.

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Most often, low-cost model of external sound cards do not exceed the size of a regular flash drive. More expensive and quality may seem like a hard drive. The most expensive model, the price of which can reach 10 000, its dimensions are close to the dimensions of the computer itself.

External sound cards are different mobility in the presence of all the required connectors

All external audio devices have common features:

• amplification of the audio stream, as compared with the standard computer hardware;
• the ability to connect external speakers, microphone and headphones.

Expensive models can be equipped with various sensors, indicators, regulators. Top models additionally have coaxial output and analog channels.

The advantages of the external sound card for your computer are:

The internal sound card for your computer

As the name implies, this kind of apparatus for reproducing and processing the audio stream represents computer harvested in the housing system. There is a division of Interior audikart into two categories:

integrated. This is a chip that is soldered directly onto the motherboard. Such a solution is the most budget option. Do not expect from such a high-quality sound system, though high-quality chips can be installed on more expensive motherboards. The advantage of this type is to reduce the total cost of the computer. But shortcomings similar audio device is much more:

Integrated cards are soldered to the board and are made at the rear wall of the PC connectors for connecting devices

discrete. This species is a separate fee, which is installed in a PCI slot. Digital maps are considered the older versions. There are many manufacturers who are specialized in the production of digital options.

Discrete sound card - a single card installed in a PCI-Express slot

The use of this type has a number of advantages:

The main technical characteristics of sound cards and connectors are available

The main parameter that determines the efficiency of the sound card is a high-quality audio playback without unnecessary noise and distortion. Most devices have digital and analog inputs.

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In practice it appears, that the analog input / output allows noise in sound reproduction. But professional musicians believe that analog sound has "warmth", which can not give "figure".

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signal conditioner

Since the computer - it is a digital device, and sound - an analog physical phenomenon, requires the use of special tools for the transformation. The sound card is responsible for this separate chip called a DAC or digital to analog converter. The conversion process takes place in two stages:

• first a selection of the readout signal data stream, which coincide with the sampling frequency;
• Further by interpolation or smoothing is formed into a continuous time analog signal.

There is also an inverse transform technique, when the input is an analog stream, which is required to make clear the computer, which means that the signal presentation in the set of numbers.

Scheme of the DAC and ADC

Bit DAC

Another characteristic that is closely associated with the transformation is bit digital-to-analog converter. Counts - is the number of bits of the input code or minimum amounts of digital information units or bits. Typically used representation of a binary number, the bit which is greater than 16.

Increase of the indicator is required to expand the dynamic range.

It requires the use of a DAC with a maximum number of bits to produce a sound with minimal distortion. Higher transformation parameters corresponding to the 24 or 32 bits are used during the processing of the audio signal. To play back the bit is usually sufficient in 16 bits.

The sampling rate implies alignment transformed signal by reducing the time intervals of individual counts

Sampling frequency

Since the conversion signal is fixed at a certain number of counts, it is possible to speak of time sampling. A situation may arise that these segments will face each other on a large range, which will lead to data loss and distortion of sound. Therefore, to correct audiopreobrazovaniya required to take readings at the maximum rate.

DAC limit is speed of operation. Also, the greater the number of fixed segments pass through the processor, the greater the amount of memory required to allocate storage. A signal which has the form of discrete sampling can be converted into an endless only when limit interval half the period of the highest oscillation signal in the spectrum. That is why the filters are applied, limiting the maximum sampling frequency of the sound card standard.

Traditionally, all the connectors are color-division

interfaces

Virtually every sound card for a computer equipped with a certain set of ports or jacks are used to connect the microphones, headphones, external speakers and other devices. The most common I / O connectors are the following, which differ in color:

• pink - Microphone;
• blue - a linear output;
• green - connector for speakers or headphones;
• the black - for surround sound system;
• Gray - If you are using 7.1, when you want to connect the surround speakers;
• Orange - for connecting the central channel or subwoofer.

In addition, more advanced models may have an optical output or the SPDIF, Coaxial connector, which allows us to achieve the best sound.

Selecting the sound card should be determined primarily by its designation

How to choose the sound card for the computer

When choosing the optimum sound card for the PC, you must pay attention not only to the listed characteristics, but also be the purpose for which it will be applied, and a closer look at some additional parameters:

• EAX technology support. This is analogous to a three-dimensional sound DirectSound3D, which is used for sound cards. The use of such equipment is important in computer games, because it allows you to achieve the effect of presence. Also, this method is used for reflection and reverberation;
• the presence of ASIO. A protocol that is used to transmit the audio signal with minimum delay, which is important when using editors to record audio. This technology is also implemented at the level of the "iron";
• Midi. The presence of "midi" interfaces are required for the musicians, who are going to use the computer to create your own arrangements. These connectors are required for connecting synthesizers and musical keyboards.

Also, when choosing the best card you should not succumb to marketing ploys, because very often these figures are exaggerated. It is worth paying attention to the DAC producer. The best companies are considered to be Ti-Burr Brown, Wolfson. Another indication of quality is the serial number of the transmitter. The higher the number, the more modern model.

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better to choose a card on which all the chips are made by the same manufacturer, in order to avoid conflicts at the level of the "iron".

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Asus Strix Raid DLX - the best value for money among the sound cards, in the opinion of users

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Sound cards ASUS

One of the market leaders in this product is a Taiwanese company ASUS, which is known for a wide range of users for its mobile products - laptops and phones. Audio line producer presented as budget models (Xonar DG, cost - 2200 rubles), as well as products premium, which, in the opinion of users, give virtually perfect sound (Strix Raid DLX, cost - 15 000 rubles).

Sound cards Creative

The next in the ranking of the best producers should be the company Creative Labs, which specializes in "iron" and software. One of the most popular models is the Sound Blaster, which is already experiencing a rebirth 6. Top model line is the Sound Blaster ZX, which has the original look and feel, and a remote unit for connecting peripherals and control of sound parameters. The cost of the card starts from 9000 rubles.

Sound Blaster ZX - the sixth reincarnation of the sound card from Creative Labs

Other companies

Asus and Creative companies are the undisputed leaders. Also on the sound card market there are companies such as LynxStudio, which produces mid-range audio device, C-Media, M-Audio. A distinctive feature of the audio device is the latest brand products focus on the audio recording in the home. This is reflected in the equipment card line input for guitar or microphone.

Since you can not only see which card is installed via Device Manager, but also to update the driver

How to check the sound card on your computer and find out what it is worth

The easiest way how to find out your sound card on your computer, is to use "Task Manager» Windows. In "Sound, video and game controllers" will show all the audio devices that are installed on a particular computer.

The driver for the sound card

Also through the Device Manager, you can try to update the sound card driver in the event of problems with the sound. This will be useful for low-end models, which have included a special disc containing the installation software.

The sound card is installed in one of the connectors PCI-Express, which are located on the motherboard

How to connect your sound card to a computer

Following the acquisition of a brand new sound might ask, how to install a sound card on your computer. If an external device is only required to plug the connector into the USB port, and then install the correct driver for the correct functioning. If you use a discrete card, then you need to remove the side cover of the system unit and carefully place the card into its slot. To fix the latch is used. After the physical installation, you must turn on your PC and install the driver. Quite possibly, the system will detect the new device and will install automatically.