Sound cards are an essential component within your computer for processing audio files. It helps to throw out sound through the built-in or external speakers in the computer. In any computer device, the speakers are plugged directly into the soundcard.

It’s been 20 years since the computer entered the market. These devices were like putting a typewriter, calculator, television and Atari all in one device. With all these properties, these devices are also needed to produce sound. For a long time, the sound was produced by the onboard source on the motherboard. However, over time, these computers have started getting complex. It thus needed a complex card to perform specific functions. This is why we can say that these cards are born out of the need for time. Initially, these cards were simple, with about 8 bit or 11 kHz sound capacity. Today technology has advanced hence we can find a wide range of options in the market.

Types of sound cards available in the market

Today the market is seeing an influx of these cards for different uses. Of all these different types, not all are in the form of a card. A PCI card is a simple sound device that’s plugged into the motherboard of a desktop PC. While a laptop comes with a different configuration, today, you can find PCMCIA cards for laptops that you can plug into the laptop’s card slot. Such devices are termed external sound cards. Moving ahead, there are USB and Firewire sound devices. These devices are also externally plugged into the computer or a laptop. Here are some of the most commonly found and used types of sound chips or devices available in the market on this date.

The motherboard sound chips

At the time of the introduction of the cards, they were expensive add-ons. At those times, the price of these cards was somewhere in hundreds of dollars. Later the popularity of computers lowered the price of the main course as well as the accessories. Likewise, technology became more and more compact. The same way these cards become condensed. Today they are amiable in a single small chip. Today they are built-in the motherboards. However, optionally there are slots for additional sound chips. This built-in card resulted in lowering the price of the machine. These cards are responsible for offering basic sounds in any machine you buy.

Standard sound cards for PC

This is an expansion card connected to one of the slots on the computer’s motherboard. Unlike a motherboard sound card, the standard sound card does not rely on the computer processor to perform any calculation to produce sound. As a result of independent working, a standard card gives improved performance. This is the reason why gamers around the globe appreciate these cards. Some standard sound cards also have additional features that a built-in card lacks. Some of the best features are the 24-bit recording and multiple channel surround sound you enjoy in 3D movies. Today the technology is advanced, and there are special cards available for gaming and movies.

The USB sound adapter (External sound adapter)

This is a small box that contains all the features of a standard sound card. You can connect these cards with a computer using a USB cable or a FireWire port. These adapters often have features that are not present in standard cards. Some of these features include additional input and output slots and physically accessible volume control keys. A USB sound adapter is much easier to manage and is portable. Unlike a standard sound card, these adapters can easily be reconnected from one computer to another. Likewise, you can easily upgrade your laptop sound system using a USB adapter and a FireWire for connection.

Core features of an audio card

Today the market offers a variety of sound chips. Each type of card serves differently. Some cards are best for common use, while others are specifically designed for advanced sounds like 3D or 4D. The price of a sound card depends on the performance and the preferred use of these devices. It means that a sound card for a low profile home theatre is different from a gaming, professional or high-performance HDMI card. Moreover, all these cards come with different types of connecting ports. For instance, a gaming card will feature a front breakout box that fits in a 5.25” front bay allowing the easy connection. But a simple home theatre card will be much different than this.

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