HDAudio, wake up your ears.

But those who play computer for some time friends, I am afraid have experienced the integrated sound card (mainly refers to the onboard AC ' 97 sound card) from the resistance, are regarded as the letter will be mentioned, and then to half-hearted finally accepted the process of calm? Despite several developments, AC ' 97 is still synonymous with low quality for those who choose other users. As Intel began using the Hdaudio standard on its i915/925 series chipsets at the end of 2004, the days of the integrated sound-card tipping-by-side battles finally came.

What is Hdaudio

HDAudio (full name High Definition Audio, high-fidelity Audio) is not Intel's first, the sound card "big guy" innovation Company is its own clan, but Intel will apply it to the i915/925 chipset, Mark HDAudio from now on the large-scale popularization, Once the high-end technology also flew into ordinary people's home overnight. Compared with the original AC ' 97 standard, Hdaudio has a great breakthrough in performance:

Azalia Link Technology: Hdaudio use of Azalia link technology bandwidth of 24Mbps, greatly exceeding the AC ' 97 sound card Ac-link 11.5Mbps standard, which provides a good basis for the transmission of high-quality multi-channel signals.

Index elevation: Limited by the bandwidth factor, fully compliant with the AC ' 97 standard sound card basically does not have one that can support more than 48khz/16bit indicators. Hdaudio supports 32bit, 192kHz of 8-channel output, which undoubtedly makes it easy to use in complex audio applications such as Dolby Digital and Dolby THX ex.

Multiple logical devices: This is a new feature not available in AC ' 97, which turns a sound card into multiple sound cards, outputs a set of signals, and then sets a different set of stereo signals.

Bandwidth allocation: Hdaudio supports the automatic allocation of bandwidth, so that the total system bandwidth can be optimized for use, this new feature greatly reduces the audio device to the system speed drag.

Support for external devices true Plug and Play: Hdaudio introduces a plug-and-play feature similar to USB, allowing the sound card output terminal to automatically identify the inserted device, whether the device is a microphone or a speaker (this feature requires input or playback end of the manufacturer's support).

Unified bus Driver (UAA): Still in order to confuse the sound card model does not install the correct driver to bother? Hdaudio for you. Hdaudio is stripped of the drive development to a two-tier, bus-driven Driver and feature-driven (function Drivers). Intel Joint operating system designers do the bus drive, the bottom of the driver, to ensure that the sound card can achieve the most basic functions and the best stability. sound card manufacturers to complete the function drive, maximize the ability to enrich the sound card.

Higher-quality surround sound systems: Hdaudio also incorporates Dolby Surround sound technology, where the highest level of Dolby Master Studio standards can provide 7.1-channel support for multiple audiences.

Support for more channel input: AC ' 97 only supports dual-channel microphone input, while Hdaudio supports up to 16 channels of microphone input, which means that the Hdaudio sound card can achieve multiple-track recording, which originally only some high-end professional sound card.

What are the common Hdaudio chips

Currently on the market the most popular Hdaudio technology products are divided into onboard chips (that is, generally speaking, integrated sound card) and independent board (that is, usually said independent sound card) two categories. The former typical representative of CMI9880 and Realtek (Rui Show) alc880/alc882/alc260/alc861 series, in addition, Granville Sheng SigmaTel and other manufacturers also have the corresponding products.

CMI9880 Audio chip signal-to-noise ratio for 92db,4 16bit/96khz audio input interface, Dolby headphone, support Dolby Virtual Speaker, Dolby Pro LogiC ILX and other functions While the signal-to-noise ratio of the ALC880 chip is 100dB, it supports 3 20bit/96khz audio input interfaces and optionally supports Dolby AC-3 digital surround sound decoding. The performance of the two advantages, and the ALC880 series of applications more extensive.

Is Hdaudio a chicken?

Limited by the cost, workmanship and technical strength of the manufacturers and other factors, integrated Hdaudio sound card performance is still uneven, for those who are eager to enjoy the hi-fi effect of the user, a separate Hdaudio sound card is their heart water choice. Innovative company Sound Blaster live! 24-bit and sound Blaster Audigy 2 value of these two products for those who pay attention to affordable users is the most important choice. The former has a 100dB signal-to-noise ratio, while providing playing games with the EAX Advanced HD 3.0 sound field effects and music appreciation of the eax sound field effect, enough to use the EAX 2.0 standard built-in audio chip products far away; the latter is more powerful, As Audigy2 's fellow brother, it employs the hi-fi level Crystal CS4382 eight-channel analog-to-digital conversion chip and Philips UDA1361 Stereo module conversion chip, which supports 24-bit/192khz playback and 24-bit/96khz recording, Signal to noise ratio up to 106db.

Having said so much, what kind of new experience will hdaudio bring to us, many tests have shown that it means richer features, more fever and more convenient use for independent sound cards, especially for high-end stand-alone sound cards, and for onboard sound cards, Hdaudio significance is more significant: Hdaudio sound card indicators have been close to the innovative Audigy sound card level, compared with the previous AC ' 97 sound card completely different, many performance parameters have been beyond the classic SoundBlaster live! 5.1 sound card, just compared with Audigy2 this grade of sound card, there is still a big gap. But for most of the audio part of the user is not high, the advent of hdaudio can not only fully meet the requirements of their daily use, but also to adapt to the current high-quality sound, video files become popular situation, but also provides a more humane and personalized interface. Want to wake your ears? Then get into the arms of Hdaudio!