Are you looking for a better sound experience from your PC? Upgrading your motherboard with high-quality onboard audio could be the solution. This article compares the top three contenders in the motherboard audio chipset market - Realtek, Intel, and Creative Sound Blaster. All three brands offer high-quality audio chips with support for high-definition audio, but there are some differences between them.
Realtek chips used to offer the best value for money, while Intel offered the best audio quality. Creative Sound Blaster chips used to be somewhere in between. Realtek now dominates motherboard audio chipsets, while Creative continues to produce high-quality sound cards.
Many PCs and laptops now use Intel HD Audio, implemented within the Intel chipset without a specific codec (digital-to-analog converter). Intel HD Audio provides the framework, but actual sound quality depends on the external OEM codec, which may not be specified.
| Audio chips | sampling rate | SNR | introduced | Sound Card or MB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AC’97 | up to 16-bit/44.1kHz | 1997 | ||
| 16-bit/48Khz | 2001 | Audigy | ||
| HD (High Definition Audio, HD Realtek audio etc) | up to 24-bit/48kHz | |||
| E-MU 20K | up to 24-bit/96kHz | 2005 | X-Fi | |
| up to 24-bit/192kHz | 2002 | Audigy 2 | ||
| Intel HD | 2004 | |||
| ALC897 Realtek | 97 dB | 2008 | ||
| E-MU CA10300 | 106 dB | 2006 | Audigy 4 | |
| 2013 | Audigy Rx | |||
| ALC898 Realtek | 110 dB | 2011 | ||
| 102 dB | 2013 | Audigy Fx | ||
| ALC1220 | 120 dB | 2017 | Gigabyte AORUS Z390 Master (~USD 360), ASUS ROG Strix Z370-E Gaming (~USD 200), MSI MPG Z490 Gaming Edge WiFi (~USD 250) | |
| ALC1200 | 108 dB | 2018 | ASUS TUF Gaming B550-PLUS (~USD 150), MSI MAG B460M Mortar (~USD 120), ASRock B460 Steel Legend (~USD 110) | |
| ALC4080 | up to 32-bit/384kHz | 120 dB | 2020 | ASUS ROG Crosshair VIII Hero (~USD 380), MSI MEG X570 Unify (~USD 300), ASRock X570 Taichi (~USD 290) |
| ALC4082 | 120 dB | 2021 | ASUS ROG Maximus XIII Extreme (~USD 700), MSI MPG Z590 Gaming Carbon WiFi (~USD 300), Gigabyte Z690 AORUS XTREME (~USD 850) | |
| ALC1220 | Up to 192 kHz | 120 dB | 2021 | Audigy Fx V2 (~AUD75) |
| Sound Core3D | up to 32-bit/384kHz | 122 dB | 2022 | AE-5 Plus |
| 127 dB | AE-7 | |||
| 129 dB | AE-9 (~USD 370) |
Sampling frequency of most Mp3 music and CDs is 44.1 kHz, DVD 48kHz. This means any motherboard made since 2005 can handle HiFi audio without any issues for a regular listener.
Audiophiles, music producers, or serious gamers may benefit from audio chips and sound cards with a high Signal-Noise ratio (SNR). SNR indicates the noise level in the output signal. Not every HiFi amplifier achieves an SNR of 100 dB.
An SNR over 100 dB is an overkill in a typical home environment where ambient noise levels are above 20-30 dB. In such settings, the high SNR's benefits would be masked by ambient noise, making it impractical for most home listening involving speakers.
However, high-quality headphones may allow you to benefit from a high SNR, mainly if they are active noise-cancelling.
Sound effects
Most latest Realtek codecs support 7.1 channels, Nahimic 3D, Dolby PCEE, SRS TruSurround HD, SRS Premium Sound, Fortemedia SAM, Creative Host Audio, Synopsys Sonic Focus, DTS Surround Sensation, UltraPC, and DTS Connect, but implementation depends on the specific motherboard, as well as your amplifier and speakers.
What motherboards have ALC1220 ?
It looks like ALC1220 provides the best quality for the price. Many motherboard models feature the ALC1220 audio codec, including Gigabyte AORUS MASTER, Asrock Extreme4, Taichi, Creator (ALC4050H+ALC1220), PG Velocita, PG Riptide, and Fatal1ty X370 Gaming K4. MSI GAMING PRO and M7 ACK also use ALC1220. To find out which audio codec a motherboard uses, check the product specifications before buying, as it may vary within the same model line.
Optical link or HDMI in motherboards
If your amplifier has an optical link (Toslink), choose a motherboard with an optical output for a stable digital connection, avoiding issues with analog coaxial wiring. However, optical supports only up to 5.1 channels in compressed formats like Dolby Digital or DTS. For uncompressed audio or full 7.1-channel support, HDMI is required.
Other options
Internal sound cards
Internal sound cards can also offer significant improvements in audio quality compared to onboard audio. They usually feature higher-quality components, better shielding against electrical interference, and additional features like dedicated headphone amps.
For instance, the Sound Blaster Audigy Fx V2 with the ALC1220 codec provides 120 dB SNR for AU$75, plus an additional AU$27 for the expansion card with optical out for uncompressed 5.1 chanels. The 7.1 surround sound from this card is virtual, achieved through software.
External USB sound adapters
An external sound adapter is the other solution for high-quality sound from a computer without changing the motherboard. These devices offer dedicated audio processing isolation from internal computer noise, often with advanced features like headphone amplification. They are a flexible, portable option that can significantly improve your audio experience, especially when paired with high-quality headphones or speakers.
While serious sound blasters cost over $200, the cheapest is SoundBlaster Play 4 with the headphone amplifier. Costing only $35 it provides over 110dB dynamic range and noise cancelling for headphones and microphone! It looks like a dongle and connects to any computer with a USB-C cable. It also has background noise cancelling and mic mute, specifically for audio conferencing.
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