| Have you seen or even heard of a new computer | | | | |
| without a sound card today?Yet many pc | | | | Once inside the BIOS,look for references such |
| users,even owners of new systems upgrade | | | | as "Onboard" or "Integrated" devices.Click |
| their sound card. | | | | this reference and find the "Sound |
| | | | Device.Next change the settings to off or |
| Why you ask? Many new computers come with an | | | | disabled.The Integrated sound chip is now |
| integrated sound card.This means that the | | | | off. |
| sound card is really a chip mounted right | | | | |
| onto the motherboard.This type of sound card | | | | To remove any software and device drivers |
| is of poor quality and sound. | | | | related to the old card,Click on |
| | | | Start,Control Panel,and click the System |
| Installing a new dedicated sound card in an | | | | Icon.Then click the Hardware tab of the |
| empty expansion bay will greatly improve the | | | | System properties windows. |
| quality and sound of anything you listen to | | | | |
| on your computer,especially those awesome in | | | | Now click on the Device Manager button and |
| depth games you play. | | | | click the plus sign next to Sound,Video,and |
| | | | Game Controllers.Now you will need to |
| Before deciding to upgrade your sound card, | | | | Right-click on the entry for your sound card |
| you should know the type of sound card you | | | | or chip. |
| have and its capability. You should know if | | | | |
| your current sound card is integrated or if | | | | Choose Uninstall from the drop-down menu to |
| its inserted into a adapter slot in the | | | | complete the software removal task.This |
| system unit. | | | | procedure must not be overlooked since the |
| | | | computer uses device drivers to talk to the |
| Its rather easy to find this information from | | | | components inside the pc. |
| your PC by clicking on Start,Control | | | | |
| Panel,click on Sounds, Speech, and Audio | | | | Now you are ready to remove the old card if |
| Devices. Now Click on Sounds and Audio | | | | it is in a expansion slot and install the new |
| Devices and click on the Hardware | | | | card.Turn off the PC and unplug it.Remove |
| Tab.Whew,that's a lot of clicking isn't it. | | | | static charge from yourself by touching a |
| | | | doorknob or using a wrist strap. |
| But you can find this information without | | | | |
| going through the hassle of opening your | | | | Open the case and locate the sound card in |
| computer or its owner's manual.If you see a | | | | one of the adapter slots.Remove the retaining |
| device with the phrase "Integrated Digital | | | | screw and carefully pull the old card |
| Audio" then you have an integrated sound chip | | | | out.Take note of the cable coming from the |
| on your motherboard. | | | | cdrom and dvd drive. |
| | | | |
| Games are no doubt the first reason for sound | | | | Disconnect this cable,remove the old card and |
| card upgrades.Nearly all games support 3D | | | | push the new card in its place.Re-connect the |
| audio APIs or Application Program | | | | dvd drive cable and secure the card to the |
| Interface.This technology use surround sound | | | | system unit using the old retaining screw. |
| through your sound card. | | | | |
| | | | Now you can replace the system unit |
| Two of the most popular APIs are Microsoft's | | | | cover,plug all the peripherals into the |
| DirectX and Creative Lab's EAX.When upgrading | | | | computer and plug the PC back into its power |
| don't overlook the type of speakers you | | | | source.Plug the speakers into the line level |
| have.You will cripple that awesome new sound | | | | output of the sound card. |
| card if your speakers are the pits. | | | | |
| | | | Start the computer and when Windows detect |
| The Second thing you need to do in upgrading | | | | the new card,follow the instructions to |
| is to remove any and all software concerning | | | | install the manufacturer supplied software |
| your current card. And you need to disable | | | | with the device drivers. |
| your old card if it is intgrated onto the | | | | |
| motherboard. | | | | Even though the sound card is new,visit the |
| | | | card's support web site and check to be |
| To perform this task,boot up your computer | | | | certain you have the most recent device |
| and as it goes through the POST or Power On | | | | drivers.If not,you can easily download and |
| Self Test,press the key combination that will | | | | install them from the support site. |
| allow you to access your BIOS. | | | | |
| | | | And there you have it.Its that simple to |
| Your BIOS is your Basic Input Output System | | | | upgrade your crappy old sound card to a |
| which tells the computer to check itself for | | | | powerful high quality sound card capable of |
| operation.There are various key combinations | | | | producing bone shaddering noises in |
| and sometimes just one key such as F1 to | | | | conjunction with the awesome graphics in your |
| access the BIOS.Check your owner's manual to | | | | favorite game. |
| be sure of the right key. | | | | |