Best External Sound Card For Gaming –

What a sound card.  An expansion card which allows for your computer to be able to send audio information to another audio device. An example being speakers or headphones. Differing from CPU for RAM, a sound card is not required from a hardware point of view.

Many of today’s sound cards are designed with a rectangular hardware component to them. Allowing them to be plugged into a motherboard through the PCI, although some are completely integrated also known as onboard sound cards. With all these being able to be connected to the speaker or mic with programmable sound capabilities through the computer.

History Of Sound Cards –

As computer have become more and more complex within the past 2 decades. Additionally, both manufacturers have realized that they need to find better ways to create sounds for things such as advanced applications and general entertainment purposes. Thus certain manufactures decided to work on sound card technology in order to improve or transfer existing sound.

So by the year 1990, some brands of computer makers came with built-in sound cards. With these sound cards being focused on a specific application such as music composition, or speech synthesis, or (increasingly) specific computer games. Although, over time, these sound cards began to become more versatile and soon came with various kinds all with different software.

Some Basic Functions Of The Device –

Audio files on a computer are something such as saved code. Being digital information that is able to be stored with a wide range of waveforms. Although, it is unable to create sound through “analog” waves that are needed to spread through the air in order to impact the ear and create sound. And the sound card translates this audio from the digital cord into the sound waves need to hear.

For this function to happen the card needs to use a DAC or a digital-analog converter. The purpose of the converter as said before, it to translate the audio file code into something such as an electrical pulse. Which then travels to the sound card connections and finally to the speaker. Thus with the speaker driver making the electrical impulse into sound waves.

Although, sound card are able to perform a very impressive function. They are able to do the whole process state above, in reverse. Thus if you have a computer that equipped with a microphone, then it also is able to route through the sound card. Being used in DC, or analog to digital converter, and translating the sound waves from your voice to be a code in the audio file.

Sound Card Description –

Now that you understand the history and the functions of a sound card. We can get into modern day sound card and how you can use one to elevate your gaming experience.  As previously stated, a sound card is simply just an expansion card which allows for your computer to send audio information to audio. Including things such as speaker and headphone.

Sound cards are a rectangular piece of hardware that have a number of connectors and port on the bottom and sides for connecting audio devices. Most sounds card are able to be installed through the PCI or the PCle slot that is located on the motherboard.

Additionally, there are also USB sound card that allows you to plug your headphones and microphones, and whatever another audio device to your small adapters to use with the USB port.

Audio Quality With Sounds Cards –

The vast number of the computer are not included with expansive cards, though they have integrated directly technology placed onto the motherboard. This configuration creates for a less expensive computer with a slightly less powerful audio system. However, dedication sound card are vital for serious audio professionals.

Thus since most of the desktop cases are built with a front-facing setup. Both USB port and headphone ports are able to share the same USB device plugin. Also, you are able to migrate interfaces through the refrained USB at the same time with your headphone.

What To Do If You Have No Sound –

Something that can happen is the sound card speakers or headphone to disconnect from there port or power source then cause for cut communication. Although, the majority of time, if you experience cut power most of the time, is it is a software related problem.

An obvious thing to check for is the sound length of the video, movie or whatever you are listening to. To make sure it isn’t muted and while at that check the system sound is also muted. Now more on the technological side is to check if the sound card has disabled itself through the device manager.

Furthermore, another thing that may make a sound card not to be able to deliver sound is that it has a missing or damaged device driver. Which is a small piece of software that tells the operating system and other software how to communicate with a piece of hardware. Thus we would suggest using a driver update tool, in order to install it with the correct drivers in Windows.

If you have done all the steps above correctly, and your computer still won’t deliver sound. Then simply you do not have the proper software for media playback.

What About External Sound Cards –

An external sound is a great piece of equipment that allows turning your computer into a full home theater with great audio. With an external sound card being a device that connects to your computer to add audio ports. It comes with multiple audio port including a

• 3.5mm Output jack
• 3.5mm Input jacks
• Coaxial S/PDIF jack
• Optical S/PDIF jack

The USB connector then offers one channel of the digital bit in its computer language then sent and received from the card. Which then the sound card decipher the data and translate it.

Benefits Of External Sound Cards Include –

• Easy installation with an external sound card you won’t have to open your computer thus you won’t need about. Messing up the internal components and extra pieces.
• Risk of static shock damage within the internal components are limited due to not having to open the computer.
• The design is overall small, compact and portable and protects against dust and other unwanted debris.

Best Sound Card On The Market –

Sound Card	Sound Configuration	Type	Connectors	Price
Creative Sound Blaster Z	5.1	Internal (PCIe)	Output: 3x 3.5mm jack; 1x Optical Input: 1x Amplified 3.5mm jack, 1x 3.5mm jack; 1x Optical	Check Price
Asus Xonar DS	7.1	Internal (PCIe)	Output: 4x 3.5mm jack Input: 1x 3.5mm jack	Check Price
Creative Sound Blaster Omni	5.1	External (USB 2.0)	Output: 2x RCA jack; 2x 3.5mm jack; 1x Optical Input: 2x 3.5mm jack	Check Price
Asus Essence STX II 7.1	7.1	Internal (PCIe)	Output: 1x 6.3mm jack, 8x RCA, 1x S/PDIF Input: 1x 6.3mm jack	Check Price