A sound card is an expansion card that allows a computer to send audio information to an audio device, such as speakers, a pair of headphones, etc.
There are many uses for a sound card, such as hearing the sound of video games, listening to music or movies, having text read to you, and more. As convenient as these tasks may be, a sound card, unlike a CPU وRAM , is not a piece of hardware required to run a computer.
Sound card description
A sound card is a rectangular piece of hardware with several contacts on the bottom of the card and multiple ports on the side for connecting to audio devices, such as speakers.
The sound card is installed in a PCI or PCIe slot on the motherboard.
Because the motherboard, case, and peripheral cards are designed with compatibility in mind, the side of the sound card fits perfectly against the back of the case when installed, making its ports available for use.
There is, too USB sound cards It allows you to connect headphones, microphones, and possibly other audio devices to your computer through a small adapter that can be plugged directly into a USB port.
Sound card and sound quality
Many modern computers do not have sound expansion cards but instead have the same technology built directly into the motherboard, hence the name integrated sound cards.
This configuration allows for a less expensive computer and a less powerful audio system. This is a wise choice for almost any computer user, even audiophiles.
Dedicated sound cards, like the one shown here on this page, are usually only necessary for serious audio professionals.
Since most desktop cases are set up for the front USB ports and headphone jacks to share a common ground wire, you may hear static in your headphones if you also have USB devices connected.
You should be able to mitigate this interference either by refraining from using these USB ports at the same time as using headphones, or by running a male-to-female extension cable from the sound card on the back of the computer to the headphones.
“No sound on the computer”
While it's possible that the sound card or speakers/headphones have disconnected from their ports/power and are no longer communicating with each other, there is usually an associated software that is preventing sound from playing.
The first thing you should do is make sure the sound of the video, song, movie, or whatever you're listening to isn't muted. Also, make sure your system volume isn't muted (check the sound icon on the taskbar below the clock).
Another thing to check is whether the sound card itself is disabled in Device Manager. See How do I enable a device in Device Manager in Windows? if you're not sure how to enable your sound card.
Another reason your sound card may not connect is a missing or corrupted device driver. The best way to fix this problem is to install the sound card driver using one of these free driver update tools. If you already have the necessary driver downloaded but don't know how to install it, follow our guide on how to update drivers in Windows.
After checking all of the above, if your computer still won't play audio, you may not have the appropriate media player installed. Check out our list of free audio converter software to convert the audio file to another format your media player can recognize.
More information about sound cards
Most computer users know that they must connect their speakers to the back of their computer in order to hear and control the audio being played from the computer. While you may not use all of them, there are often other ports on the sound card for other reasons.
For example, there may be ports for a joystick, microphone, and an auxiliary device. Other cards still have inputs and outputs designed for more advanced tasks, such as audio editing and professional audio output.
These ports are sometimes labeled to make it easier to identify which port belongs to each device. Here are a few:
- blue circle in line
- The pink circle is the microphone.
- Green circle line out (speaker)
- The orange circle is an external amplifier.
- Black circle subwoofer left/right
Buy a sound card
Prepare Creative Labs (Sound Blaster) و Turtle Beach و Diamond Multimedia It is one of the well-known sound card makers, but there are many others.
Installing a sound card is relatively easy. However, unlike external peripherals that can be plugged into the outside of your computer, if it wasn't already obvious, a sound card is plugged in from the inside.
After opening the computer case, place the sound card in the appropriate expansion slot. See what the inside of your computer looks like to better understand where the sound card is installed.
Not sure which ports you have on your motherboard? The System Information tool can be very helpful in identifying that information and much more.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q1: How can I check my sound card?
The answer: You can identify your sound card in Windows Device Manager. One way to access Device Manager is to press Windows + x and then select Device Manager. The sound card is listed under Sound, video and game controllers.
Q2: What is the use of DB-15 connector on sound card?
The answer: The DB-15 connector is a 15-pin analog jack. On a sound card, the DB-15 connector is used to connect MIDI devices or game controllers.
Q3: How do I update my sound card driver?
The answer: To update a driver in Windows, go to Device Manager > Sound, video and game controllers. Then, right-click the sound card and select Update driver > Search automatically for drivers. If Windows can't find a new driver, check the device manufacturer's website.
