Windows 7: Clean install - High Definition Audio Device listed twice!?

I am running a clean install of Windows 7 Pro x64 SP1 on a Asus P8Z68 Deluxe. When I first installed Windows, first thing I did was install Intel's chipset drivers and IRST drivers, then all other mobo drivers. Checked Device Manager and everything is detected.

Here's where it gets weird, I had a MSI R6970 installed on a workbench and when it was time to put everything in the case the video card wouldn't fit.

I had spare GPUs lying around so I used a ATI 5450 in the meantime. However once I installed the 5450 and booted the system, then restart after detection, device manager is showing there's a unknown High Definition Audio Device in device manager.

I tried uninstall Realtek's drivers (R266) and reinstalling them, didn't work. I tried installing 'ATI HDMI Audio Device' from Realtek's website, didn't work.



Now I'm starting to think, does this have something to do with AMD's drivers?

You're correct - this ATI card supports HDMI 1.3 which can transfer video and audio over a single cable. For that reason the card has its own audio device onboard, which requires drivers from AMD.

It will not conflict in any way with your existing Realtek audio, it's simply an additional audio device you may instruct Windows to use instead.

The problem I'm having now is how to get it to detect? I tried uninstalling Realtek and AMD's drivers and reinstalling, doesn't work, '?' is still there.

The drivers for the videocard should take care of this for you. To download them, go here:

AMD Graphics Drivers & Software

The drivers installed by Windows tend to be more basic and not include the audio device component.
However, if you're simply going to use your laptop normally and not connect it to a HDMI output device such as a TV, then you might simply ignore the missing audio device as it does no harm to your system.

Again, the ATI HDMI audio device is completely separate from the Realtek audio and there's no need to uninstall the Realtek drivers.

Delete/uninstall the driver "ATI HDMI Audio" using the Device manager. Reboot.
Use the link that Corazon posted and download the CCC package which has the AMD HDMI driver included.
If all goes well, your driver should read "AMD High Definition Audio Device"

I did exactly that and it's still and it still undetected. I tried disabling onboard in the BIOS and it goes away so I'm stumped as to why it shows up twice in Device Manager.

The AMD audio is for HDMI, Realtek is for other (on board) audio, speakers, headphones and such. It is normal and causes no harm, here's mine...


...so twice ain't so bad.

The difference is yours are detected, I can't get mine to detect.

I'm going to do a reinstall since I haven't started putting any serious information on the OS.

I just thought this problem was weird since swapping out my 6970 for a 5450 shouldn't cause any issues because AMD uses unified drivers. Now that it's happened I don't know how to remedy it and being a perfectionist it's annoying having a exclamation mark in Device Manager.

Figured out the problem! It's Sandy Bridge's integrated audio. Run Intel's integrated display driver, reboot and it will detect.

hey guys please help with my prob