How soft AC’97 sound card? (AC’97 Technology)

When people buy computers often hear someone is going to give you: this motherboard is integrated AC’97 sound card, so you’re on the sound card to buy a number of cost-effective ah. And even some so-called computer expert has such a sound card requirementshigh, the poor, who often therefore condemn it. This concept is particularly evident, often partiality. In the CPU, motherboards, graphics cards and other accessories on bulk purchase is unequivocal. Sound card, such as in small parts on the purchase, but it is very diffrent, 2,3 hundred dollars can buy a sound card in order to work out even if the very generous. I believe many people do not know AC’97 sound card would be something like this!

1. What is AC’97 soft sound card?

It is often the AC’97 sound card as a synonym, in fact, this is a misunderstanding understanding. This year, multi-media technology in the personal computer increasingly promotion, popularization and application. PC in order to be able to provide high-quality, low-cost audio architecture. In June 1996 to Intel five PC makers, led by Intel, Creative Labs, NS, Analog Device with Yamaha co-sponsored the Audio Codec’97 (referred to as AC’97, which means “sound of multimedia digital signal encoder / decoder” ) standards. The biggest innovation is the “two-chip” structure, so that ADC (Analog-to-Digital Conversion, analog to digital) and DAC (Digital-to-Analog Conversion, Digital to analog) conversions as much as possible from the system, so that could have been avoided Most digital / analog signal conversion generated clutter, resulting in better sound quality. At present, all the sound card will support the AC’97. Not simply to specific motherboard integrated soft sound card. AC’97 soft sound card and is another concept. It is based on an AC’97 the CODEC chip, non-digital audio processing unit, so the computer to play audio information, in addition to D / A and A / D conversion outside of work, we must deal with all the CPU to complete. It can be said that, AC’97 soft sound card only simplifies the hardware, and design ideas are still carrying out the standards of AC’97 sound card. The current AC’97 soft sound card has Analog Devices’s AD188x (AD1881, AD1885, AD1886), ALC201 / A, VIA VT1611A.

2. AC’97 really that bad?

If you ask the computer to understand Tomicus friends: AC’97 soft sound card how? They almost unanimously that the poor will be. Why? The author summed up the following reasons.
A CPU occupancy rate high
Because AC’97 soft sound card is only responsible for D / A and A / D conversion, and to deal with most of the work to the CPU have to do, so the occupancy rate of system resources will be increased then. CPU performance in the previous low, which can be fatal. Large-scale 3D game playing, the use of soft AC’97 sound card, this will result in a slower rate, frame-skipping and other issues even. This gives many people left a very bad impression (AC’97 said: This is not my~~!)。 However, at present it seems not a problem. CPU frequency of World War II also reached a climax, CPU frequency of success, the latest Pentium4 the frequency of up to 2.6G, the highest AthlonXP also has reached 1.667G, there is such a high frequency of the CPU backed up, AC’97 appears can breathe a sigh of relief. This is like the soft, like a cat, when the rapid increase in CPU performance, occupied that sufficient resources to accept, is precisely for this reason, many users slowly accepted cheap soft cats, believe that the AC’97 soft sound Card will be the same.
B sound quality poor
It has often been said AC’97 soft sound card is only a computer can only let things out loud, which is blamed its poor sound quality. AC’97 sound quality and those who did not high-end sound card can be compared. After all, it is free of charge. But those one or two hundred dollars sound card compared to a gap is not so poor. All AC’97 soft sound signal to noise ratio (SNR) can achieve more than 75dB. Although the main board will be around the electronic components of the clutter interference, but this problem in the motherboard exquisite workmanship have minimal impact.

Small knowledge: noise ratio (SNR, Signal to Noise Ratio) is the signal and no signal inherent noise, the performance in general is the background noise. Intensity ratio of the number of check used multiplied by 10, units are dB (decibels). When the signal to noise ratio is lower than 75dB, the noise in a quiet environment may be aware of, and play music when not obvious. When the signal to noise ratio reached about 95dB, the human ear it would be difficult to hear the noise.

C AC’97 soft sound of the Gospel

We can see, AC’97 soft sound card in the present circumstances, although the “cheap”, but at least not “Wumart” category. However, what we have now, many AC’97 soft sound card users can upgrade for free to carry out the first time, it transformed itself to become a high-performance sound card (as opposed to those cheap sound card is concerned). Nothing can have such a power? That is drive.

SoundMAX 3.0

SoundMAX 3.0 is Analog Devices and Intel jointly issued technologies, applicable to a full range of Analog soft sound card (although the claim that only supports the AD1885, but by modifying the smwdm.inf documents, can support a full range of AD188x sound card). AC’97 soft sound card can have a hardware-level data-processing conversion capacity and the highest professional quality 94dB playback ability. SoundMAX 3.0 has become an AC’97 soft sound card of high-performance solutions for the outstanding representatives. The use of SoundMAX, will enable us to cheap AC’97 soft sound card issued by high-quality 3D sound effects and excellent MIDI synthesis effects. SoundMAX 3.0 use Sensaura for 3D positional audio, MIDI wavetable soft is used with the XG-compatible Sondius-XG, as long as sufficient computer performance, soft voice wave table at the same time there is no ceiling on the number. It is worth mentioning that, in the SoundMAX 3.0 add a new audio algorithms SPX, this dynamic algorithm allows the use of this algorithm changes the game a lot of voices, even if the game is the same as a small number of different contexts will factors arising from different voices for each change, the voice is no longer a static game, the fun is also increased. But so far in support of the game is still a small number of SPX, and that it does not matter, SoundMAX 3.0 is also compatible with the current popular audio API, including Microsoft DirectSound / DirectX 8.0, Aureal A3D 1.0, EAX 1.0 and 2.0, as well as many we do not know the sound characteristics .

Realtek ALC201 / A AC’97

Hongtoushan SoundMAX3.0 hold up half the time, Realtek for ALC201 / A tailored a driver, in effect, no less than SoundMAX 3.0. It also enable ALC201 / A has a hardware-level data-processing capacity and the highest conversion 95dB of SNR, also improved the occupancy rate of CPU. At the same time, with as many as 26 kinds of environmental sound choice for users. Use ALC201 / A soft sound of a friend, do not miss Oh!

New driver, not only reduces the CPU occupancy rate, and improve the sound quality, but also AC’97 soft sound card to support a complete three-dimensional audio, MIDI wavetable synthesis of. In addition, because the specificity of AC’97 soft sound card. Caused chipset manufacturers will spare no effort to support the advent of the two best drivers, it should be soft AC’97 sound card will change in people’s minds the impression that it inferior. I believe the future, manufacturers will continue to introduce better drivers.

D AC’97 soft sound card for which users?

Ordinary users
If your audio application is only listening to MP3, play an ordinary game, then the sound card to buy some of it could hardly avoid waste. AC’97 soft sound card fully meet your needs. Some might say that soft AC’97 poor quality sound card, unless you have music maestro gold ears, otherwise, you can not hear the soft AC’97 sound card and the difference between high-end sound card. DIY to focus on “practical, enough” to spend money where they are needed most.
Game users
Now many games, especially CS represented FPS games, in the graphics requirements, audio has become very important. Listening identified bit sound card required to have a powerful audio and positioning capabilities. In this regard, in addition to SB Live sound card and Aureal series, many cheap sound cards can not achieve good results. AC’97 soft sound card is also not the performance. But a strong drive to it is indeed a strong driving force. For example, the AD1885 loaded SoundMAX 3.0 after the CS in the quality and positioning effects, than the cheap CMI8738 sound card, etc. are much better. But if you name the money of many things, or to purchase high-end Creative sound card line now, they better meet your needs.

E How are we going to look soft AC’97 sound card?

Due to inherent high CPU occupancy rate and sound quality poor, resulting in soft AC’97 sound card from birth to the present, are synonymous with poor quality. Although the CPU speed is increasing, SoundMAX 3.0, Realtek drivers to varying degrees, the day after tomorrow to make up for the deficiency of AC’97 soft sound card. However, in the high work load, the use of soft AC’97 sound card will still be dragged down the speed of the system. However, for ordinary users and the general game users, AC’97 soft sound card is a more cost-effective solutions. Through the drive, we can allow a free sound card transformed into a sound card worth several hundred dollars. This process is completely free. If there are still people say AC’97 soft sound card is a chicken, devoid of any merit, then his thoughts on dated.

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This entry was posted on Monday, January 19th, 2009 at 4:02 am and is filed under sound card problem. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site. |2,586 views