Contemporary Integrated Sound Solutions: Storm is Coming

Dom · Aug 28, 2003, 10:09 PM

In this article we will discuss two integrated sound subsystems. The first is formed by a VIA VT8235 South Bridge and an AC’97 VIA VT1616 codec, and the second one is based on nForce2 MCP-T with the integrated APU SoundStorm and an AC’97 Realtek ALC650 codec. For better comparison we will also include the results for Creative Audigy2 sound card.

Integrated sound hasn’t received much attention until recently. It simply existed, and that was all. It was one of the items in the mainboard features list and hence was viewed as such. However, the integrated audio subsystem has been steadily evolving and pushing out of the market all entry-level sound cards. Now, it is approaching even professional products.

Some prophets are already trumpeting the imminent death of all add-in sound cards as a genus, pointing at the sound solution from NVIDIA. But while NVIDIA is a direct competitor to the dominant force of the consumer market, which is of course Creative, VIA Technologies with its improved mainboard controller, Envy24PT, aspires for the professional market sector (I could remind you that the previous version of this controller – ICE1712 – appeared in a number of low-end professional cards).

Integrated sound is attacking; you can see this with a naked eye. So, this article is going to describe the combatants and pit them against each other!

-Article

Aug 28, 2003, 10:09 PM	#1
Dom DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 12,940 Rep Power: 0	Contemporary Integrated Sound Solutions: Storm is Coming In this article we will discuss two integrated sound subsystems. The first is formed by a VIA VT8235 South Bridge and an AC’97 VIA VT1616 codec, and the second one is based on nForce2 MCP-T with the integrated APU SoundStorm and an AC’97 Realtek ALC650 codec. For better comparison we will also include the results for Creative Audigy2 sound card. Integrated sound hasn’t received much attention until recently. It simply existed, and that was all. It was one of the items in the mainboard features list and hence was viewed as such. However, the integrated audio subsystem has been steadily evolving and pushing out of the market all entry-level sound cards. Now, it is approaching even professional products. Some prophets are already trumpeting the imminent death of all add-in sound cards as a genus, pointing at the sound solution from NVIDIA. But while NVIDIA is a direct competitor to the dominant force of the consumer market, which is of course Creative, VIA Technologies with its improved mainboard controller, Envy24PT, aspires for the professional market sector (I could remind you that the previous version of this controller – ICE1712 – appeared in a number of low-end professional cards). Integrated sound is attacking; you can see this with a naked eye. So, this article is going to describe the combatants and pit them against each other! -Article