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    Upgrade Studio Sound Card

    Discussion in 'Dell' started by cohaagen, Oct 19, 2008.

  1. cohaagen

    cohaagen Newbie

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    I own a Studio 17 and would like a better sound card than the standard 2-channel card that came installed. All I can find directly from Dell are external and express cards that don't send sound through the HDMI output. I need one that will. Are there any available for the Studio?
     
    cohaagen, Oct 19, 2008
    #1
  2. nizzy1115

    nizzy1115 Notebook Prophet

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    You cant, it is impossible.
     
    nizzy1115, Oct 19, 2008
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  3. Greg

    Greg Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    There is no way to change the sound card built into the notebook, as it is built directly into the motherboard.
     
    Greg, Oct 19, 2008
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  4. cohaagen

    cohaagen Newbie

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    So what are my best options if I want to use my Studio as a component in my home theater system?
     
    cohaagen, Oct 19, 2008
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  5. mgh_a1

    mgh_a1 Notebook Evangelist

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    You could check to see if there is a pcmia sound card availible, or an external solution that works for you.
     
    mgh_a1, Oct 19, 2008
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  6. cohaagen

    cohaagen Newbie

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    Well, thanks, but does anyone have suggestions or recommendations? I don't want anything too awkward. As it stands, when I want to use my Studio to watch video, I just plug the HDMI cable into it. Unfortunately, the sound quality is mediocre and doesn't have enough power behind it.
    With a pcmcia solution, I guess things would get slightly more awkward, by adding the need for a separate output cable for audio and video. Does anyone have a set-up that they use and prefer as an effective solution, hopefully with 7.1 output and with something better than 24-bit sound?
     
    cohaagen, Oct 19, 2008
    #6
  7. nizzy1115

    nizzy1115 Notebook Prophet

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    You could get a soundcard that has optical out. Route the optical out from the sound card to the receiver and then send the hdmi with video only from the computer to the tv. You will have to manually change the default sound out option in the control panel each time too as it will always want to default to the hdmi cable for the audio.
     
    nizzy1115, Oct 20, 2008
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  8. cohaagen

    cohaagen Newbie

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    That is the option that I'd assumed would be most likely. So, inserting the sound card into the slot probably won't change the sound output by default? That's unfortunate.
    Does anyone have a good experience with any particular card? Are the Creative X-Fi cards a good option for the price, or are there better options in that under-$100 range? I've been pretty disappointed in the factory-installed card, but I suppose it wasn't primarily designed for this use.
     
    cohaagen, Oct 20, 2008
    #8