Time Needed : 2 minutes
Sound cards responsible for processing an audio signal to output devices, such as speakers and headphones. In this guide, you will learn how to check what sound card (brand) your desktop PC or laptop is using. The following guide can be applied to Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10.
- Click on the Start button.
- Search for Device Manager and run the program.
- Expand Sound, video and game controllers. You would see the sound card device on your computer.Advertisement
Tools
- PC
Materials
- No material needed
Why there is more than one sound card?
Not all of them are sound cards. Some just audio drivers/software and hardware such as speakers and headphones. In my case, NVIDIA High Definition Audio is just an incremental feature from the graphics card, but basically, my computer already has a sound card on the motherboard.
Do I have to buy a sound card for my PC?
No, you don’t have to. Most PCs these days — or I would say, in the last two decades, are equipped with a built-in sound card on their motherboard.
Of course, there are many sound cards still being sold today, but they are for audiophiles and professional usages such as audio tuning and recording. For daily purposes (including gaming), your onboard sound card already doing the job really well.
