How can I find out my sound card installed in my computer?

A modern computer can not be imagined without a sound card. Although this device does not participate in the mathematical calculations performed by the central processor, it is nevertheless installed in any computer technology that involves interactivity and multimedia. This is the reason that recently the question of how to recognize your sound card has become of interest not only to computer gurus, but also to ordinary users.

In addition, the variety of the installed sound card (audio adapter) directly affects the sound quality: it is useless to connect an expensive speaker system to a budget card, because the sound, however, will be very mediocre. Obviously, every computer owner who appreciates a good sound should know how to determine his sound card. This will help you choose the most appropriate model.

There are several ways to find out your sound card. All of them are effective and mutually complementary. The optimal solution is to use the most affordable.

The easiest way how to find out your sound card is to specify its full name from the consultant at the time of purchase of the computer. And it is desirable to record the answer, because unfamiliar technical terms are quickly forgotten.

But, usually, the need to understand the question of how to recognize your sound card does not arise immediately. In this case, you should read the warranty sheet: sometimes it lists the components. The matter is that some shops at sale of the computer give the uniform guarantee, on all system block, and others - for each device (as the warranty period at them different). And if the audio adapter is listed in the list, then the question can be considered solved.

The most cardinal way is to open the case and inspect the sound card "live". There are undoubtedly many drawbacks to this approach, but there is one advantage, which often outweighs all of them. This is a 100% accuracy of the definition, which can not boast of software or any other methods. Of course, if the user does not know that, generally you need to look for and how the sound card looks (especially in the case of AC97 or HDA codecs), then this method can be forgotten. A little help: the wire from the speakers (amplifier) is connected to the outputs of the audio adapter. The card can be a separate component that plugs into the computer bus connector. In this case, you need to carefully inspect it: there is a sticker with a name on the PCB. For example, Audigy 4. If it's a codec chip, which has recently become a very popular solution, you'll have to turn to a specialist for help.

But let's leave for now such extreme measures, because there is a software way to learn your sound card Windows 7, because this is the system installed by the majority. The simplest way to take advantage of the operating system. To do this, right-click the properties of the volume control icon that is next to the clock from the taskbar. We go to "Playback Devices" and select "Properties" from "Dynamics". On the "General" tab there is a window "Controller", where the name of the audio adapter is indicated.

Sometimes there is a speaker icon in the taskbar. Clicking on it, get into the driver settings. One of the tabs is information about the device.

One of no less convenient ways is to use special programs: AIDA64 or SiSoft Sandra. In AIDA, you need to go to "Multimedia" and select "PCI / PnP Audio". All audio devices and, importantly, their exact type (code) will be displayed. The fact is that sometimes cards with the same name have different characteristics. To distinguish and serve as a code mark.

Well, finally, you can open the manual to the computer's motherboard and read about the installed audio adapter (suitable for embedded solutions).

Experts can determine the type of card using the code "Run - dxdiag - Sound".