Integrated Audio for Today and Tomorrow

Intel has worked with the industry to develop a new specification for integrated audio that is capable of delivering the features and high-end performance of an add-in audio card. Intel® High Definition Audio (Intel® HD Audio) is capable of playing back more channels at higher quality than previous integrated audio formats. In addition, Intel® High Definition Audio (Intel® HD Audio) has the technology needed to support the latest and greatest audio content. By enabling enhanced usage models, Intel® High Definition Audio (Intel® HD Audio), available with the Intel® Express Chipsets, will also change how computer users interact with sound.

More and more consumers are moving their computers into the living room or family room so they can enjoy digital music or movies throughout the house on state-of-the-art multi-channel audio systems or big screen TVs. With better speakers connected to their computers, the limitations of current computer sound subsystems, whether integrated or add-in, can degrade the overall digital experience.

Many consumers are also asking for the ability to play two different audio streams through their PC at the same time—perhaps classical music in the study and a movie in the living room. These demands cannot be met with previous audio solutions.

  • Intel® G965, P965, Q965, Q963, 946GZ, and 946PL Express Chipsets
  • Intel® 975X, 955X, 945G, and 945P Express Chipsets
  • Intel® 925XE and 925X Express Chipsets
  • Intel® 915G, 915P, 915GV, 915GL, and 915PL Express Chipsets
  • Intel® 910GL Express Chipset

Consumers also want the ability to play back two different audio tracks simultaneously, such as a CD and a DVD, which can't be done using current audio solutions. Intel® High Definition Audio (Intel® HD Audio) features multi-streaming capabilities that give users the ability to send two or more different audio streams to different locations at the same time, from the same PC.

Microsoft has chosen Intel® High Definition Audio (Intel® HD Audio) as the main architecture for their new Universal Audio Architecture* (UAA), which provides one driver that will support all Intel® High Definition Audio (Intel® HD Audio) controllers and codecs. While the Microsoft driver is expected to support basic Intel® High Definition Audio (Intel® HD Audio) functions, codec vendors are expected to differentiate their solutions by offering enhanced Intel® High Definition Audio (Intel® HD Audio) solutions. The result is high-quality PC-based audio that delivers a seamless convergence of digital entertainment between the PC and consumer electronic devices.

Intel® HD Audio also provides improvements that support better jack retasking. The computer can sense when a device is plugged into an audio jack, determine what kind of device it is, and change the port function if the device has been plugged into the wrong port. For example, if a microphone is plugged into a speaker jack, the computer will recognize the error and will be able to change the jack to function as a microphone jack. This is an important step in getting audio to a point where it "just works"—users won't need to worry about getting the right device plugged into the right audio jack.

Technical Information