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