Not so often, users ask the question “How do I know which sound card I have?” This can be in two cases: when buying a new system unit or when reinstalling the operating system. There are four options for solving this problem. The first one is viewing the documentation that came with the PC. But it is not always available. Usually it is lost, and finding it is problematic. The second way is to use the device manager. But not always, Windows can determine such a board. Then you have to use specialized software - this is the third way. If the first three methods did not give a result, then you can simply disassemble the system unit and see the type of chip.
Documentation
The easiest way is to answer the question “How do I know which sound card I have?” Using the documentation. There are two types of sound cards : external and integrated. In the first case, this is a separate module installed in the system unit. A personal passport or instruction manual should go on it. If you have integrated performance, then the chip is built into the motherboard. In this situation, you need to study the same documentation for this component of the system unit. There is certainly such information.
Embedded Tools
The structure of any modern Windows operating system necessarily includes a “Device Manager”. With it, you can easily answer if you were asked “How do I know which sound card I have?” To do this, call up the menu on the “My Computer” icon by pressing the right button of the manipulator. Here you need to select the item "Properties". Next, in the right column, click the left button of the manipulator on the inscription "Device Manager". Then we find the point that begins with the word "Sound ..." and open it. To do this, click on the same button on the triangle on the left. The drop-down list should contain a sound card that is installed on your PC. But not always the OS is able to correctly identify the sound device. It can be displayed as an “Unknown device”.
Special software
If the OS’s funds are insufficient, then it is necessary to use specialized software in order to get the answer to the question: “How do I know which sound card I have?” To do this, install the AIDA64 program (it is most often used for this purpose), following the instructions of the wizard . After starting, we find the item “Audio PCI / PnP”. By clicking on it with the left button of the manipulator, we open a window with full information about this device. It is extremely rare, but still it happens that this method did not work either. Then move on to the next step.
On board
The last way to answer the question “What is my sound card?” Consists in disassembling the system unit. This can only be done if your computer is not under warranty. Otherwise, it must be sealed, and in such a situation, it must be taken to a service center. To solve this problem, it is enough to remove the side cover from the system unit from the side on which there are no contacts for connecting peripheral devices. Previously, the system unit must be completely disconnected, removed and placed on a table or on the floor. Next, remove the two screws on the side where there are no sockets. We remove the side panel of the case. We lay it on its side. At the next stage, we look where the outputs of the speaker system are (these are circles with colored rings around the entire perimeter). If on a separate board, then pay attention to the inscriptions on its largest chip. Otherwise, we have integrated performance, and in the area of ​​the audio outputs is the information we need. Similarly, we look for the largest microcircuit there and write off the data from it. If there are several of them, then it is better to write an abbreviation with each of them.
findings
A sound card for a computer is an important component of modern computing systems, without which it is simply impossible to imagine their work. The algorithm proposed in this article allows one to determine the type of such a device without problems. Moreover, everyone can cope with this task, regardless of the level of training and knowledge.