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How to Install a Sound Card in PC (Step by Step)

Beginner's Guide to Installing PCIe Sound Cards Onto a Desktop Motherboard

1. Find the Right PCIe Slot for Sound Card

Modern sound cards use a PCIe (PCI Express) connection, so a sound card needs to be installed into a spare PCIe slot on your motherboard. Motherboards have different types of PCIe slots. You have large PCIe x16 slots for installing graphics cards (the x16 indicates the amount of lanes of the slot, which relates to speed). Then you have smaller PCIe slots, for example PCIe x4 or PCIe x1 slots, which is where you install add-on cards such as sound cards (or for installing PCIe wireless cards).

If you have a wide graphics card that takes up multiple PCIe slots (ie hovers over it), the topmost small PCIe slot in your system may not be the ideal place to install your sound card.

The graphics card could be taking up so much space that makes it impossible to actually install a sound card there, or, the graphics card might be so close to the slot that installing the sound card there would negatively affect airflow within your system. In either of those cases, use a lower PCIe slot for your sound card.

But what about the large PCIe x16 slot? Is it possible to install a sound card there if you don't have a graphics card (or if your motherboard has more than one large PCIe x16 slot)? It's entirely possible to install a sound card in a PCIe x16 slot.

But if you have a graphics card installed in a PCIe x16 slot on your motherboard, I would avoid installing a sound card in a secondary PCIe x16 slot (if your board has two) as there is the chance that you would see a tiny decrease in performance of your graphics card (since the sound card would be taking up a little bandwidth by being in that x16 slot, even despite it not running at x16).

2. Remove Rear Case Bracket

Once you know which PCIe slot to install the sound card into, unscrew the metal bracket on the rear of the case which aligns to that slot. Use a Phillips-head screwdriver (with a head size #2 as explained in the PC building tools guide).

You need this metal bracket removed so that the rear of your sound card can poke through the back of your PC (so that the input ports face out the back). Keep the screws handy as you'll need them in just a second to secure the card once you've inserted it onto the motherboard.

3. Insert Sound Card in PCIe Slot

Take the sound card out of its box and protective bag. Hold it by its rear metal bracket - do not touch the green circuitry. Insert the card into the PCIe slot, making sure the bottom connectors align with the PCIe slot and the metal bracket aligns with the back of the case (so that the input ports of the card stick out the back of your computer).

Gently push the top of the card into the slot until it is securely in place. Now screw the card into the rear bracket of the case using the screws you removed just before, and you're done. That's basically all there is to know on how to install sound cards.

Does a Sound Card Need Drivers?

Yes, once your sound card has been fitted you will also need to download and install the latest drivers for that model from the manufacturer's website. You should always get the latest drivers online as the ones that may have come with your sound card on CD/DVD may be outdated, and you always want the latest drivers so your card runs at its best and so any potential bugs/issues have been fixed by the manufacturer.

Related: Best Software for New PC Builds

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