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.