Space Cowboy Posted October 19, 2005 Posted October 19, 2005 Should I use the drivers from here? http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads/downlo...6&Software=True Or keep upgrading the drivers with these? http://www.majorgeeks.com/Realtek_AC97_Drivers_d4400.html Thanks Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharp Posted October 19, 2005 Posted October 19, 2005 Hello, What about the drivers from nVidia? They are part of the nF4 chipset drivers. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AFTERBURN321 Posted October 19, 2005 Posted October 19, 2005 You do not need the Realtek drivers. Use the nforce ones. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Cowboy Posted October 19, 2005 Posted October 19, 2005 Don't you have to toggle a pin to enable the nvidia? Also I thought the realtec was better.. sounding and more options? I could be wrong. Thanks Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AFTERBURN321 Posted October 19, 2005 Posted October 19, 2005 I personally feel that nvidia writes better drivers and no you dont. It may be realtek who made the hardware, but they are on nvidias chipset. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharp Posted October 19, 2005 Posted October 19, 2005 It doesn't matter what the chipset is. Microsoft could make the driver if realtek let them. Anyone that can write software can create the driver. Karajan (onboard sound) = only a codec. Not a sound card. With the use of drivers, it uses your CPU to emulate a sound card. (software sound card). What can it do? * Using your CPU it generates all the number of voices. * Does sound mixing on a software level. * 3d effects, surround/environmental effect/EAX. All the features = use your CPU + all are very basic. Audigy2 = 100% sound card *All hardware *Hardware sound mixing *onboard processor does all the number of voices. 3d support/effects Advanced audio effects, EAX *Surround sound So the drivers determine the sound card capabilities. I feel that nvidia's drivers are better. The realtek ones seem to filter out the bass from the treble and send less Bass to the left/right speakers. Also less bass to the sub. Also the nvidia one you can clone sound from the left/right front to the rear set. And you can set the LFE range, eg, specify the SUB to play any sound in the range of 0Hz to 120Hz. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Viper6 Posted October 19, 2005 Posted October 19, 2005 I think some of you might find this to be an interesting read... Realtek Audio Driver Vs. nVidia Audio Driver http://www.ngohq.com/home.php?page=Article...=read&arc_id=20 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Cowboy Posted October 19, 2005 Posted October 19, 2005 Realtek Audio Driver Vs. nVidia Audio Driver Benchmarks: Computer specification: Hardware: AMD64 3500+ Winchester Core @ 2300MHz (11x200) Gigabyte GA-K8NS-939 nForce3 250 (Realtek ALC850) 2x512Mb Kingston PC3200 2,2,2,5 ATI Radeon 9800XT 256Mb - AGP Software: Microsoft Windows XP SP2 nForce Drivers 6.xx Remix ATI Catalyst 5.5 Half-Life2 (DirectX9 Engine) Quake 3 (Old OpenGL Engine) Doom 3 (OpenGL Engine) Final Thoughts: The benchmarks have shown that Realteks high CPU usage doesnt cause a major performance loss. The music fans should like the Realtek driver because of the great sound quality. Gamers on the other hand may not like the lack of EAX support. Personally I stick with the Realtek driver. It seems nVidia did well with their Audio driver. It offers many features and provides a very professional interface. They even added hidden features such as a Sound firewall. Check out our files section to obtain the modded nVmixer or the forums for the registry entries. Conclusions: Realtek Audio Driver v3.72a + Great Sound quality. + UAJ. - High CPU usage. - Poor EAX support. - Lack of features. nVidia Audio Driver v4.62 + Low CPU usage. + Advanced features. + Professional Control Panel. + Dolby encoder support. + Reasonable EAX support. - Sound quality. If you are more interested in music you should use the Realtek driver. If you are an dedicated gamer or SoundStorm owner you should use the nVidia Audio driver. Since I'm not a gamer and only listen to music and music video's it sounds ike I should stay with Realtek? Doesn't the nvidia one also install a service? Thanks Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wakeup360 Posted October 19, 2005 Posted October 19, 2005 Should I use the drivers from here? http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads/downlo...6&Software=True Or keep upgrading the drivers with these? http://www.majorgeeks.com/Realtek_AC97_Drivers_d4400.html Thanks I don't think the drivers in the first link you listed are the right ones for the NF4 Karajan Module. If you want to download the correct drivers from realtek, they are located here: http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads/dlac97...8&Software=True It looks like they are the same as the ones on the Majorgeeks site. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
faheyd Posted October 19, 2005 Posted October 19, 2005 I think some of you might find this to be an interesting read... Realtek Audio Driver Vs. nVidia Audio Driver http://www.ngohq.com/home.php?page=Article...=read&arc_id=20 Thank You for that link! It really would have been interesting to see those numbers stacked up against a Audigy2, a Hercules Game Theater Pro, and a Turtle Beach Santa Cruz. I did like the graphs on that page once I got used to them. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
toolsong Posted October 19, 2005 Posted October 19, 2005 If your PC is a music source and you are prepared to sacrifice a few FPS in games (that you are giving away anyway with onboard audio) then do yourself a favour and check out a Chaintech AV-710 or ideally an Emu 0404 or 1212m. The 1212m is the only component I carried over from my previous AthlonXP system and is easily one of my best PC purchases ever Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ElAguila Posted October 19, 2005 Posted October 19, 2005 Does the nvidia driver offer EAX2 or just EAX support? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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