home
graphics version
e-mail
thinkquest
disclaimer
glossary
links
site map
credits
help
|
Sound cards are devices that process audio data and send it to one or more speakers.
Most sounds cards are also capable of processing audio input from a microphone for various purposes.
Sound cards can be used to listen to music, hear sound effects, and do a number of other audio-related tasks.
Most new computers come equipped with sounds cards, but these cards are often of poor quality.
Some computer manufacturers, such as Sony, incorporate sound cards into the motherboard to save money on production costs.
Either way, if you are unsatisfied with your current sound card or do not have one, you may want to consider this upgrade.
If you frequently run games or other multimedia applications on your computer, it is definitely worthwhile to invest in a good sound card.
Sound cards currently come in both PCI and ISA form.
While ISA sound cards are often cheaper, they are limited by the lower bandwidth of ISA expansion slots.
Because of this, they can play only one stream of audio at a time.
This means that if, for example, you were chatting on the Internet while listening to an audio CD, and you got an instant message (that triggered an audio alert of some sort), you would not be able to hear the alert.
One feature common to many sound cards is a wavetable.
Sound cards with wavetables contain pre-recorded instrument samples that are used to play MIDI music files.
While MIDI music is becoming less popular, some people enjoy composing their own MIDI music and would benefit from a high-quality wavetable.
Cheaper sound cards do not contain wavetables, but can still play MIDI music by electronically synthesizing the notes.
The latest trend in the sound card industry is 3d audio.
Sound cards that support this can use two or more speakers to simulate audio in three dimensions when they are used with certain games, such as Unreal.
Sound cards can be obtained with anywhere from $20 to $200, with ISA non-wavetable soundcards populating the bottom of the spectrum, and PCI wavetable soundcards with 3d audio support at the upper end.
Before purchasing a new sound card, make sure you have an unoccupied PCI or ISA slot, depending on which model you select.
If audio quality is important to you, be sure to have a good set of speakers to go with your sound card.
A Phillips screwdriver and about 20 minutes of time are required to install a sound card.
Click here for a list of links to sound card manufacturers.
the installation
- If you are replacing another sound card, click on the Start button, move the cursor to Settings, and click on Control Panel. Double click on the System icon. Click on the Device Manager tab, then expand the Sound, video and game controllers category. Click on the entry for your current sound card, then click on the Remove button.
- Make sure the computer is turned off.
- Carefully disconnect all of the cables from the back of your computer, place the computer on a stable working platform, and remove the outer case. Discharge any static electricity from your body by touching the computer's power supply.
- If you are replacing another sound card, remove all cables from the card and remove the screw holding the card in place. Carefully pull the card directly out of its slot with as little lateral movement as possible. Put the screw in a place where it will not get lost.
- Locate a free expansion slot that matches your new sound card's interface (PCI or ISA). If the slot you have selected was previously unused, you will need to remove the expansion slot cover (a metal strip blocking the opening next to the expansion slot) by removing the screw holding it in place. Remove your new sound card from its anti-static bag. Line up the edge of the card containing the metal contacts with the slot and push the card in firmly with its metal plate facing the back of the computer. If you find it too difficult to push the card in directly, insert one corner of the card into the expansion slot, then push the rest of the card into place. Secure the card with the previously removed screw.
- If you have a CD-ROM drive that you would like to use to play CD audio, use the four-pin audio cable (usually included with the sound card or CD-ROM drive) to connect the four-pin connector on the back of your CD-ROM drive with the CD input connector on your sound card.
- Replace the outer case and move the computer back to its original location. Reconnect all of the cables. Connect your speakers to the line out port on the new sound card. If you have a microphone and your sound card supports it, plug it into the line in port. Also, if you have a joystick and your sound card has a joystick port, plug the joystick cable into the sound card.
- Start up the computer. Windows should recognize the new sound card and attempt to install the drivers for it. It may prompt you to insert the Windows 9x CD or the CD or floppy disk that came with the sound card.
- Click on the Start button, move the cursor to Settings, and click on Control Panel. Double click on the System icon. Click on the Device Manager tab, then expand the Sound, video and game controllers category. There should now be an entry for your newly installed sound card. If there is no entry, or if the entry has a yellow circle with an exclamation mark next to it, your sound card is not configured properly or there is a hardware conflict of some sort. Consult the manual that came with your sound card and/or use the Windows Troubleshooting Guide to resolve the problem. To access the Troubleshooting Guide, click on the Start button, then click on Help. Troubleshooting should be listed in the table of contents.
- Install any software that came bundled with the sound card.
0 8 . 3 1 . 1 9 9 8
|