Latest Realtek HD Audio Driver Version

EyeInTheSky · 04 Apr 2018

DooGie said:

@EyeInTheSky When you use the Microsoft Update Catalog you get list of the drivers available. Click on the driver you want to see the details of in the left hand column underneath Title. This will open up a box with a number of tabs across the top. Click on the Package Details Tab and you will get a list of all the compatible Realtek hardware.

Hope you can understand what I'm talking about :)

Yes, I understand completely and appreciate very much your in-depth explanation. I was addressing more or less the fact that "Device Manager" was not finding the latest drivers for my device and I have to manually search for them. Also, it intrigued me that someone else could even know that a particular driver would work on my system when I have no audio specs listed in my computer specs pertaining to my audio drivers.

On top of that, I have been through the steps outlined in your eloquent post and at the time, I didn't realize what I was looking for when updating to the latest driver manually. Now that I know what I am looking for, I will be able to determine whether or not to download a particular version or not manually since "Device Manager" fails to detect the latest driver when I ask it to automatically search windows update database for the latest drivers.

Thanks again!

JohnnyGui · 06 Apr 2018

erpster4 said:

no problem, JohnnyGui.

Realtek audio devices in ASUS motherboards & laptops have subsystem or SUBSYS IDs beginning with "1043"
Realtek audio devices in ASRock motherboards have subsystem or SUBSYS IDs beginning with "1849"

Google search on "how to find hardware id in device manager"
use this search on finding your hardware device ID number for your Realtek audio device, Johnny.

Another v8356 driver pack from MS recently shown up but it's 7.3Mb in size and it's a "bare bones" (or should I say bare-naked) driver with no control panel UI & no enhancements; just a basic driver similar to 8348 :)) though it does include the HDXRT.INF file that allows installation on almost any Realtek audio device.

I'll instead use the 8356 driver (the 82.6Mb cab package) on my friend's ASUS M5A78L USB3 motherboard that uses hardware ID "HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_10EC&DEV_0887&SUBSYS_10438576", which does qualify for it since it is mentioned in the HDXRT4.INF file and includes that specific inf file.

for many others, 8351 is the best driver which I'll install on my bro's Sony Vaio & my dad's Toshiba Satellite laptops, both which use Realtek ALC269 audio chips.

you really have to check these CAB packages carefully to see if they include the HDART.inf file (for x86/32bit OSes) or the HDXRT.inf file (for x64/64bit OSes); otherwise pass on them.

Hey erpster4,

I noticed that the shown "supported hardware-id's" in the info box when clicking on the driver's name in the Microsoft Update Catalog, are different from the given hardware-id's in the HDXRT.inf file.

For example, the current version 6.0.1.8409 doesn't show any subsys starting with 1849 in its MUC info box. However, when opening the HDXRT.inf file with Notepad, I can find several subsys_1849.

Does this mean that it supports my Asrock Pro4 Z77 mobo and that I should ignore the info in the MUC link?

asturias7 · 06 Apr 2018

JohnnyGui said:

Hey erpster4,

I noticed that the shown "supported hardware-id's" in the info box when clicking on the driver's name in the Microsoft Update Catalog, are different from the given hardware-id's in the HDXRT.inf file.

For example, the current version 6.0.1.8409 doesn't show any subsys starting with 1849 in its MUC info box. However, when opening the HDXRT.inf file with Notepad, I can find several subsys_1849.

Does this mean that it supports my Asrock Pro4 Z77 mobo and that I should ignore the info in the MUC link?

Sorry to interrupt...
if yours is 1849, then the update will work for you.

JohnnyGui · 06 Apr 2018

asturias7 said:

Sorry to interrupt...
if yours is 1849, then the update will work for you.

Not interrupting at all. Thanks for the info! I guess I'll have to check the HDRXT.inf from now on instead of the info on MUC.

tomseys · 06 Apr 2018

I installed 6.0.1.8186 and that seems to have a nice clear stereo sound but not much in the way of customization options (not that I use those). My little HP audio control shortcut does not work with it - it doesn't launch.

Added: From there I updated to the most recent driver which is 6.0.1.8409 using the cab file and that does work with the hp audio control. So maybe it is on the machine somewhere besides being just a shortcut or somehow it connects to it and controls it. Not hearing much difference in sound quality. I think 8186 might be a little clearer and slightly less bassy. But its not bad. I think both of them sound better than the one that came on my laptop which is 8117. Hard to directly compare though since I'm going by memory.

I notice with 8409 that when I restart the computer it seems the driver losses the connection to the HP audio control and sounds a little tinny/underpowered until I launch the HP audio control and then it sounds normal. Which it doesn't do with driver 8117. That's annoying.

Update: If i enable Realtek HD Audio Manager in Startup then the HP audio control launches onto the notification tray when starting the computer and works right away. So I guess that works though I didn't have to do that before.

tomseys · 07 Apr 2018

Does anyone know of any Realtek drivers that are just drivers only and will not hook up with an HD realtek audio manager interface like HP audio control? I noticed 8186 seemed to act like this.. it would not connect with the hp audio control and sounded fine out of the box. I'm looking for other ones like this.

The reason I am asking is because hp audio control is kind of buggy. Depending on the version of the driver it will either stay locked on enhancements when you have headphones or speakers on and that sounds awful, or it will reduce the levels on enhancements to nothing but still keep it on which changes the sound and in either case you can not shut it off. Or it won't connect properly and sound is off until it does. I don't trust it based on this buggy and inconsistent behavior and even when it appears to work right, I'm not sure what its doing to the sound even when totally set to off (enhancements, equalizer etc) which is how I like to set it. Even the 3-4 driver versions available for this model show different behavior with the HP audio control aka Realtek audio manager. 2 of them seem to work right but I'm not very impressed with the sound of them (they are just ok).

I don't mind if there are zero enhancements or equalizers and its just the basic driver as long as sounds good. Thanks.

CountMike · 07 Apr 2018

tomseys said:

Does anyone know of any Realtek drivers that are just drivers only and will not hook up with an HD realtek audio manager interface like HP audio control? I noticed 8186 seemed to act like this.. it would not connect with the hp audio control and sounded fine out of the box. I'm looking for other ones like this.

The reason I am asking is because hp audio control is kind of buggy. Depending on the version of the driver it will either stay locked on enhancements when you have headphones or speakers on and that sounds awful, or it will reduce the levels on enhancements to nothing but still keep it on which changes the sound and in either case you can not shut it off. Or it won't connect properly and sound is off until it does. I don't trust it based on this buggy and inconsistent behavior and even when it appears to work right, I'm not sure what its doing to the sound even when totally set to off (enhancements, equalizer etc) which is how I like to set it. Even the 3-4 driver versions available for this model show different behavior with the HP audio control aka Realtek audio manager. 2 of them seem to work right but I'm not very impressed with the sound of them (they are just ok).

I don't mind if there are zero enhancements or equalizers and its just the basic driver as long as sounds good. Thanks.

Most drivers directly from Realtec have no HD Audio control panel yet they work.

tomseys · 07 Apr 2018

CountMike said:

Most drivers directly from Realtec have no HD Audio control panel yet they work.

Yeah I got 8186 from the realtek site and it didn't have or connect to an audio control panel. Maybe I'll browse that site more and see what else they have if they do have anything else. Thanks.

asturias7 · 07 Apr 2018

tomseys said:

Yeah I got 8186 from the realtek site and it didn't have or connect to an audio control panel. Maybe I'll browse that site more and see what else they have if they do have anything else. Thanks.

Good luck waiting for Realtek to provide weekly updates... they only provide major updates every 6 months+ to a year or so.

tomseys · 07 Apr 2018

asturias7 said:

Good luck waiting for Realtek to provide weekly updates... they only provide major updates every 6 months+ to a year or so.

Well maybe I'll have to give them a call and complain about that.