Monthly Archives: February 2006

Digital/Analog Audio & Sound Drivers for Windows Vista

Posted on by NeoSmart Technologies
121

While Windows Vista may tout a “all-new and improved” audio stack with superb quality and resonance, it’s of no use if you don’t have the right sound card drivers for Windows Vista. The biggest problem with audio drivers for Windows Vista is with Digital Audio – most people can get their SPDIF or Digital outputs to spew analog sound – which just doesn’t work with hi-fi, digital speakers. NeoSmart Technologies has compiled a list of audio drivers for the most popular sound cards that experience trouble with Windows Vista, in hopes that our readers will find it useful.

  • SoundMAX Integrated Digital Audio – Analog audio with the drivers works fine, but digital audio doesn’t.
  • Creative Sound Blaster Live! Series – No sound by default, Creative drivers won’t install.
  • Creative Audigy 1 – No sound by default, Creative drivers won’t install.
  • Creative Audigy 2 – No sound by default, Creative drivers won’t install.
  • Creative Audigy 4 – Creative drivers install but constantly stutter.
  • Creative X-Fi Series – Creative drivers install but constantly stutter.
  • SigmaTel HD Audio – Default Vista drivers don’t well in digital, bad bass
  • SigmaTel Integrated Audio – No compatible drivers; Digital N/A.
  • Other AC ’97 – No compatible drivers; Digital N/A.

The last two entries do not support Digital Audio, and are simply a manner of finding the right drivers compatible with your chipset; making them at once the easiest to solve due to the lack of complications, and the hardest due to the large variety of AC ’97 implementations.

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Vista 5308 User Interview

Posted on by NeoSmart Technologies
1

While our beta testers are breaking Vista and bending it backwards as far as it will go, we have put together a little (oh come on, its not THAT long..!) survey for you guys to answer.. We look forward to seeing your responses!

A) Do you have 5308?
1) Yes
2) Yes, as Main OS
3) Yes, but not going to install
4) Yes, but going to uninstall
5) No
6) No, but going to get it

B) Did you get 5308 from…
1) Microsoft Connect
2) MSDN Subscription
3) Other

C) Graphics impressions:
1) Awesome! (5)
2) Much better than before, definitely good (4)
3) OK (3)
4) 5270 was better (2)
5) Going the wrong way! Gimme 5270 back! (1)

D) Stability Impressions..
1) Never crashes (5)
2) Can go a day without crashing (4)
3) Always crashes (3)
4) Won’t Boot (2)
5) Won’t Install (1)

E) Install Speed
1) X minutes off of DVD
2) X minutes off of virtual DVD
3) X minutes off of extracted folder

F) Vista Speed
1) Very snappy, no lag whatsoever (5)
2) Faster than 5270, but still needs work (4)
3) Same as 5270 (3)
4) Much slower than 5270 (2)
5) Unusable due to lag in interface (1)

G) Driver support
1) Everything supported! (5)
2) One item not supported (4)
3) Two to three devices not supported (3)
4) Most thing don’t work (2)
5) Vista refuses to install on my hardware (1)

H) Application support
1) Everything supported! (5)
2) 2+ Programs install but don’t work (4)
3) 2+ Programs don’t install (3)
4) Most thing don’t work or install (2)
5) Vista refuses to install (1)