Gigabyte ALC889a drivers vs Realtek drivers

[dale77]

Hi,

What is the difference between the drivers from Gigabyte for my GA-MA78GPM-UD2H motherboard (Realtek Function driver for Realtek Azalia audio chip, v2.18) and those from Realtek (v2.26)?

Realtek say:

Audio drivers available for download from the Realtek website are general drivers for our audio ICs, and may not offer the customizations made by your system/motherboard manufacturer. To be sure you obtain the full features/customizations provided in your original audio product, please download the latest drivers from your system/motherboard manufacturer's website.

Thanks!

Dale

[profJim]

Re: Gigabyte ALC889a drivers vs Realtek drivers

Their quote pretty much says it all. You shouldn't have any issues with using their most recent drivers. It's possible that GB might have customized their drivers with some minor tweaks or features.

Setting up 5.1 speaker setups is a bit quirky with the sound drivers. Speak up if you have any specific issues with speaker connections to your mobo. The z-5500 setup sounds awesome.

[dale77]

Re: Gigabyte ALC889a drivers vs Realtek drivers

Their quote pretty much says it all. You shouldn't have any issues with using their most recent drivers. It's possible that GB might have customized their drivers with some minor tweaks or features

Yes. Normally I run with the latest drivers from the manufacturer, so I'm just trying to find out what customizations will go missing if I go this way for the latest bug fixes and enhancements from Realtek. If it is only the gigabyte logo, I'll be sad, but I can live with that ;-)

Setting up 5.1 speaker setups is a bit quirky with the sound drivers. Speak up if you have any specific issues with speaker connections to your mobo. The z-5500 setup sounds awesome.

Ooo yes it does. Watched kung-fu panda on blu-ray last night. Superb audio. I am using 6-ch direct mode to the z-5500's to get full benefit of Tru-HD etc.

The only issue I have is that I have to retask the rear speaker connector from rear to sides, as in a 5.1 configuration Realtek calls the surrounds "sides" and this is enforced in the software. This is a bit wierd, but it is the only way I can get audio out of the surrounds.