Realtek HD Audio Driver AND nVidia HD drivers?

[JC6]

I am installing a new Win 7 build on my new-build PC. I have a question...

My Asus P6X58D-E motherboard has onboard Realtek HD audio, for which one would expect to install the Realtek HD drivers. I just installed my nVidia graphics card driver (before installing the sound drivers) and the latest beta gives you the option to install or not install the "nVidia HD Audio driver".

Now, I will want to use audio over HDMI sometimes to output from my PC to my TV via HDMI - so I opted to install the nVidia HD Audio driver. My question is: do I also install the Realtek HD audio drivers? There are currently 4 "NVIDIA High Definition Audio" items showing up in device manager, plus one separate "High Definition Audio Device".

Any advice? Do the Realtek drivers offer much benefit over the built in Win 7 drivers? Any issues with conflicts if the nVidia and Realtek drivers are installed together?

Thanks.

 

[Hopalong X]

My ASUS P7P55D-E PRO has both installed.
It appears on mine the Nvidia is for graphics card output for HDMI, built in monitor speakers, etc. from the graphics card.
The onboard audio is for the motherboard audio outputs which also would include front panel in/outputs if you have them on the case and wired to mobo.

So you need both if using now or in the future.
Mike

 

[Aphelion]

The Windows HD device is actually a Windows certified Realtek driver.

I'm of the opinion, if everything is working well in the manner you require, there's no need to upgrade. If you're having problems, then upgrading the drivers becomes an option. (Depending on your problem).

(If you do decide to install the latest Realtek driver you may have to re-install the Graphics drivers again, depends on what the latest Realtek driver decides what to do with the HDMI devices, it should leave them alone but you never know.

All the settings you need can be found by right clicking on the Microsoft speaker icon in the task bar, select either Playback or Recording Devices, you may have to set Nvidia HDMI as the default output deivce when you're going to use HDMI. One you single left click on a device other options be come available.

Also, some devices may be hidden.

Right click the MS Speaker icon, select playback devices, right click anywhere in the center of the Window, enable both Show Disabled/Disconnected Devices.

Ap

 

[BlueMonster]

The Windows HD device is actually a Windows certified Realtek driver.

I'm of the opinion, if everything is working well in the manner you require, there's no need to upgrade. If you're having problems, then upgrading the drivers becomes an option. (Depending on your problem).

(If you do decide to install the latest Realtek driver you may have to re-install the Graphics drivers again, depends on what the latest Realtek driver decides what to do with the HDMI devices, it should leave them alone but you never know.

All the settings you need can be found by right clicking on the Microsoft speaker icon in the task bar, select either Playback or Recording Devices, you may have to set Nvidia HDMI as the default output deivce when you're going to use HDMI. One you single left click on a device other options be come available.

Also, some devices may be hidden.

Right click the MS Speaker icon, select playback devices, right click anywhere in the center of the Window, enable both Show Disabled/Disconnected Devices.

Ap

Aphelion~

You seem to be in the know here, NV audio, what not.

Anywho, I have FOUR NV Audio Drivers in Device Mgr. It happened during install-

ation of NV display drivers took a few times, LOL!! :sarc:

Here's pic, CAN I REMOVE ALL BUT ONE NV AUDIO DRIVER???

For that matter, I have no built in Speakers anywhere, ok. Like to

delete all, but no biggy there.

Surely I don't need FIVE!!

Thanks in Advance!!

Blue

 

[alphanumeric]

I also have the 4 NVIDIA High Definition Audio entries and in my case a VIA High Definition Audio entry under Sound video, and game controllers. Having 4 NVIDIA entries are normal, its not the same driver installed 4 times. If you delete them windows will just install them again. In my case the NVIDIA entries are for my GT220 video card and the VIA entry is for my motherboards onboard sound chip. I'd just leave it alone, especially if everything is working OK.

 

[BlueMonster]

I also have the 4 NVIDIA High Definition Audio entries and in my case a VIA High Definition Audio entry under Sound video, and game controllers. Having 4 NVIDIA entries are normal, its not the same driver installed 4 times. If you delete them windows will just install them again. In my case the NVIDIA entries are for my GT220 video card and the VIA entry is for my motherboards onboard sound chip. I'd just leave it alone, especially if everything is working OK.

Good advice. each driver file is probably about 50-100 kb's

Hardly anything to get worked up over!! LOL!! :huh: I'll just let them be.

Thanks again fella's.........

Blue

 

[alphanumeric]

No problem, thats what we are here for.

 

[BigBoi88]

Problem i have is that everytime i restart the pc or plug in the hdmi cord it keeps on reinstalling thes 4 drivers over and over again. Any way to fix that?

 

[alphanumeric]

Are you deleting them again each time? If yes, don't, just leave them alone. If no, I think I would un-install and then re-install my video drivers.

 

[matt06black]

4 NVIDIA HD Audio Drivers but no audio and sometimes no display

I've just noticed that I have the same 4 x HD Audio Drivers.

What's odd is that the 1st time I used an HDMI cable to connect to tv the display worked bu no audio. The next day both worked, and now it seems neither does. Please help this is driving me nuts. It is an NVidia card, think a 320??

I am now using an RGB lead instead.

Also have questions about the sound from the onboard outputs. I have just bought a 5.1 pc surround system which connects using 3 3.5mm jacks, but it doesn't look ike I have a read and sub output, just the blue pink and green ones. I read somewhere that these sometimes do both the rear/sub outputs and mic/line in. Is this right? If not what is the best way to connect this system?

Thank you, Matt

 

[alphanumeric]

Have a look in control panel for an icon for you particular sound card, be it VIA or Realtek, etc. Once you find it and run the application there should be options to reconfigure the jacks. Your Mic jack will likely end un being the center, sub channel. Some are auto sensing so just plugging in the cables may auto switch it. There should be a speaker test option in there somewhere too, to verify you've got it all plugged in correctly.

 

[TechniQUe]

same 4 drivers

i also have the Nvidia drivers plus the realtek. I use the realtek for my lcd speakers and one of the Nvidia for my hdmi. i have the others disabled. My problem is i have an unknown device attached that i believe is coming from one of those drivers. can anyone help me in the right direction? I tried playing movies using the hdmi while others disabled and its like a 50/50 chance when it doesnt just freeze. I might have other problems as well but i just want to get started, thanks in advance

 

[alphanumeric]

Your best option, for a good response to your problem, would be to start your own thread. You''ll get more looks/hits that way.

 

[matt06black]

Thanks for the advice. I had a look for the option to reconfigure the jacks and couldn't find anything. This is an on board sound card, would that make any difference? Is there anything else I could do, like change the driver or something?
Thanks

 

[alphanumeric]

The hardware has to support that function regardless of the driver. It may not work without the correct driver but the hardware has to support it in the first place. if it doesn't, it doesn't matter what driver you use. Both of my current PC's support that function with their onboard sound. One is Realtek and the other is a VIA chip-set. Get your driver from the motherboard manufacturers support web page for your model motherboard. You might also want to look at your motherboards manual to see what it says regarding the audio jack configuration.

 

[matt06black]

Thanks all. Eventually used an online program to identify my motherboard, then used the intel website to update software. May have been lucky but now have surround sound though the 3 connections that normally do mic & input. Cheers for the help, got there eventually.

 

[Joshua1226]

Well I had a question just posted a bit ago. Since I am new it was moderated til right now. I go to edit it because I answered it It says that was too short. So now I have to type nonsense here.

 

[Joshua1226]

i also have the Nvidia drivers plus the realtek. I use the realtek for my lcd speakers and one of the Nvidia for my hdmi. i have the others disabled. My problem is i have an unknown device attached that i believe is coming from one of those drivers. can anyone help me in the right direction? I tried playing movies using the hdmi while others disabled and its like a 50/50 chance when it doesnt just freeze. I might have other problems as well but i just want to get started, thanks in advance

Well I have been reading all over about the 2 drivers clashing and only the 2. Seems realtek and nvidia dislike each other. After 4 days of vigorous work of installing / uninstalling ccleaners reg edit... You name it I did it. I saw someone say.. when they updated/ installed Nvidia it kicked realtek off. It was forced off in bios. Not sure why it did. I checked mine this morning and sure was the same. It kicked my on board off. Then nvidia HD audio was only showing. Check there might just be an easy fix. It may be reading your on board HD or another.

 

[shaw]

I dont get it. Do nvidia cards also process sound if you use HDMI? i have a sound card with its driver installed and also nvidia hd drivers installed, should i remove the nvidia audio drivers?

 

[Layback Bear]

My suggestion is don't remove the drivers. Windows will use the drivers needed and leave the rest alone until needed.