Latest Realtek HD Audio Driver Version [archive]

@ CountMike: I'm a bit wary of installing Realtek's very latest audio driver for 10, because it might be the wrong one (maybe not for my particular hardware IDs). I had an issue awhile back where I had done this, and it made my speakers sound atrocious. The reverb/echo was just really, really bad and distorted, causing my friends to joke that my speakers sound like a boombox.

The ones for my particular model on Dell's website work, sound fine, but are just well...........old. They're for Win7. I really would like to have the latest version that is optimal for 10, but don't want them to sound like crap. I know that some OEMs/manufacturers do customizations to drivers for specific models. The generic Realtek drivers are just that, generic, and may/may not sound fine. Also, the newest Realtek driver may or may not support SST (not sure if my model has that capability), does the driver installer auto-detect and adjust accordingly? Or do I need to find a version that specifically supports SST (or not)?

The Microsoft Update Catalog seems a bit useless, since I can't check all the Hardware IDs for the latest version(s) to see if they match what I'm seeing in Device Management.

The "Realtek High Definition Audio Codecs" is what I used last (http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads/...&GetDown=false), all of which are dated 2015 or older. If I download the latest stable WHQL (not beta) driver from Realtek's FTP site, this would be better?

You are more likely to find proper drivers from Realtek than from MS because MS drivers are more of generic type, some without bells and whistles Realtek drivers have. They are supplied by Realtek to MS which doesn't make drivers, just distributes them.
Realtek distributes drivers for many of their CODEC chips and windows in one package, that's why whole file is so large. If you download particular driver there is/are .INI files that specify what they are exactly for. It can be read by any text editor.
Driver installs only files necessary for particular CODEC chip, other files are not installed. It may be best if drivers existed at MB/computer manufacturer's site because they might put some extras in them but next best thing is from chip manufacturer.
All of that goes for other parts, not only for sound.

Tonyb said:

Go grap them from realtek FTP sites and unzip and install them. i had a dell once and all the realtek one will work for a dell with a realtek codec.

I agree totally with that Tony.

@ AnonVendetta, if it doesn't work out you can always uninstall and try another version out. Realtek are releasing WHQL HD drivers practically on a weekly basis at the moment.
I've been trying them all out and apart from the odd one which has sounded bad there's not a lot of difference between them.

Build 7735 WHQL has been released today.

ftp://ftp3.realtek.com.tw/Realtek/Ge..._Win7_WHQL.zip

username : spcust
password : hwwk758z

Thank you. First post updated. :)

Build 7736 WHQL is now available from the Realtek ftp servers.

ftp://ftp3.realtek.com.tw/Realtek/Ge..._Win7_WHQL.zip

username : spcust
password : hwwk758z


I guess this must be a bugfix release with it being so soon after 7735.

UPDATE

I just tried out build 7736 and can report that the sound is much improved over 7735 which to my ears sounded a bit muffled and unclear. Best to skip 7735 and go straight to 7736.

duplicate error in editing, pls see below :)