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