The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    What is the "Sound Blaster" sound card specs on my Alienware 13 R1?

    Discussion in '2015+ Alienware 13 / 15 / 17' started by tom_mai78101, Sep 13, 2015.

  1. tom_mai78101

    tom_mai78101 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    35
    Messages:
    216
    Likes Received:
    14
    Trophy Points:
    31
    Before upgrading to Windows 10 Pro, I recalled I have "Sound Blaster" pre-installed with the laptop when I bought it. But, I have no idea what the sound card technical specs are.

    After upgrading to Windows 10 Pro, I was looking at the Dell Drivers page, but I only see Realtek Audio drivers, but no Sound Blaster drivers.

    Does that mean there's no Sound Blaster driver for Windows 10 on Alienware 13 R1? Or there's just no driver for Sound Blaster at all in the first place? for Windows 10?

    Or Dell didn't have Sound Blaster in the Drivers page list, and forgot about it?
     
    tom_mai78101, Sep 13, 2015
    #1
  2. Alienware-L_Porras

    Alienware-L_Porras Company Representative

    Reputations:
    3,658
    Messages:
    6,874
    Likes Received:
    969
    Trophy Points:
    281
    That's the one, it has all the apps and drivers that you need for the audio device.
     
    Alienware-L_Porras, Sep 15, 2015
    #2
  3. tom_mai78101

    tom_mai78101 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    35
    Messages:
    216
    Likes Received:
    14
    Trophy Points:
    31
    So why was there a black "SoundBlaster" black welcome logo when I turn on my laptop on Windows 8.1 before I upgraded?
     
    tom_mai78101, Sep 28, 2015
    #3
  4. Raidriar

    Raidriar ლ(ಠ益ಠლ)

    Reputations:
    1,708
    Messages:
    5,820
    Likes Received:
    4,311
    Trophy Points:
    431
    You have a SoundBlaster Recon3di sound card.
     
    Raidriar, Sep 28, 2015
    #4
  5. tom_mai78101

    tom_mai78101 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    35
    Messages:
    216
    Likes Received:
    14
    Trophy Points:
    31
    But the welcome logo is no longer there in Windows 10 Pro. I would like to have it back. Thanks for telling me that I have a Recon3di sound card. Now I know what it is, I wished Dell has this info on the system specs page for Alienware 13.
     
    tom_mai78101, Sep 28, 2015
    #5
  6. Raidriar

    Raidriar ლ(ಠ益ಠლ)

    Reputations:
    1,708
    Messages:
    5,820
    Likes Received:
    4,311
    Trophy Points:
    431
    May be software/driver incompatibility.
     
    Raidriar, Sep 28, 2015
    #6
  7. tom_mai78101

    tom_mai78101 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    35
    Messages:
    216
    Likes Received:
    14
    Trophy Points:
    31
    Has it been updated? Also, had edited my post before yours.
     
    tom_mai78101, Sep 28, 2015
    #7
  8. Raidriar

    Raidriar ლ(ಠ益ಠლ)

    Reputations:
    1,708
    Messages:
    5,820
    Likes Received:
    4,311
    Trophy Points:
    431
    I apologize, you do not have a Recon 3di sound card, but some ALCxxxx realtek based chip. Your "soundblaster" may have just been additional software installed on your computer, like SoundBlaster X-Fi MB3 or something of the sort. Only the Alienware 15 / 17 R2 have the sound blaster card
     
    Raidriar, Sep 28, 2015
    #8
  9. tom_mai78101

    tom_mai78101 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    35
    Messages:
    216
    Likes Received:
    14
    Trophy Points:
    31
    SoundBlaster X-Fi MB3. Yep, this logo.

    Kind of strange how I got this before.

    Dell really needs to have Sound Card info in the Technical Specs Overview section. It really sucks.
     
    tom_mai78101, Sep 28, 2015
    #9
  10. Raidriar

    Raidriar ლ(ಠ益ಠლ)

    Reputations:
    1,708
    Messages:
    5,820
    Likes Received:
    4,311
    Trophy Points:
    431
    This is just some sound software, kinda gimicky if you ask me. Not super critical to have at all.
     
    Raidriar, Sep 28, 2015
    #10
  11. tom_mai78101

    tom_mai78101 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    35
    Messages:
    216
    Likes Received:
    14
    Trophy Points:
    31
    What Dell is lacking is the full technical sheet of specifications for Alienware 13. I would like to have the full tech specs.
     
    tom_mai78101, Sep 28, 2015
    #11
  12. LinkRS

    LinkRS Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    56
    Messages:
    295
    Likes Received:
    22
    Trophy Points:
    31
    Howdy,
    I have an M17xR4, which also has the SoundBlaster Recon3di (where the 'i' indicates it is integrated). And yes it is primarily a software device. However, Alienware/Dell has not provided drivers for this card for the M17xR4 for Windows 10. The good news is that the Windows 8.1 versions will work under Windows 10 (that is what I am running). Try switching the drivers to Windows 8.1 and see if they option for the SoundBlaster shows up. Good luck!

    Rich S.
     
    LinkRS, Sep 29, 2015
    #12