Latest Realtek HD Audio Driver Version

ithehappy said:

Guys quick query, which one is the superior audio codec, S1220A (Asus) or Realtek® ALC892 codec (Gigabyte)?

S1220A is newer and in the better gaming & very high end boards, so.....?

Oh and sound quality, also depends on the DAC chip your board comes with

Eample descripton of my Maximus X sound system:
ROG's awesome SupremeFX audio technology has levelled up, delivering an exceptional 113dB signal-to-noise ratio on the line-in connection — and that means our best-ever recording quality! We've also added a low-dropout regulator for cleaner power delivery to the SupremeFX S1220 codec, an ESS® Sabre Hi-Fi ES9023P digital-to-analog converter for superior front-panel output, and a Texas Instruments® RC4580 op-amp for high gain with low distortion — which all adds up to audio that envelops you as never before.

ithehappy said:

Thanks. Actually my friend is making a new system, just a plain 8600 based one and going for an entry level board, choices are either Asus ROG Strix B360-G Gaming or Gigabyte B360 AORUS GAMING 3 WIFI, both are pretty cheap boards, so asked before choosing one based on audio codec.

Going for the Asus then, obviously.

See my edit above, for other things to look at.

ithehappy said:

Huh? Could you tell me which board amongst those two has the better DAC? I thought these ALC892, S1220A were the DAC themselves! Damn!

Realtek is the CODEC for encoding or decoding a digital data stream or signal. Codec is a portmanteau of coder-decoder.
DAC is the Digital to Analog Converter for output.

Cliff S said:

Oh and sound quality, also depends on the DAC chip your board comes with

Eample descripton of my Maximus X sound system:
ROG's awesome SupremeFX audio technology has levelled up, delivering an exceptional 113dB signal-to-noise ratio on the line-in connection — and that means our best-ever recording quality! We've also added a low-dropout regulator for cleaner power delivery to the SupremeFX S1220 codec, an ESS® Sabre Hi-Fi ES9023P digital-to-analog converter for superior front-panel output, and a Texas Instruments® RC4580 op-amp for high gain with low distortion — which all adds up to audio that envelops you as never before.

Cliff, the DAC chip is a crucial one, I agree. The problem though is that for fixed stuff, like midrange laptops, you have no idea, what type of DAC you have and if that's a hurdle you have to overcome towards better sound quality. No specs nowhere and no way (at least one that I'm aware of) to find out what you have....
So, you go and buy an external one, like Audioquest Dragonfly with ESS Sabre 9010 and your problem is immediately solved!
But in this case, you forget Realtek drivers and use the Microsoft USB ones (which btw are Class 2 now). Again I'm talking about laptops, not the highly customizable desktops (you win some, you lose some....that's life)

CODEC/DAC chip is but one part, there are also varying circuits around it, preamp, filters etc, I doubt they can put all those to be of high quality in a laptop.

CountMike said:

CODEC/DAC chip is but one part, there are also varying circuits around it, preamp, filters etc, I doubt they can put all those to be of high quality in a laptop.

No Mike, they're not high quality at all!