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What soundcard do I have?

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by mc_user 2 views

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I am attempting to re-install W98 on a Hitachi Deskview all-in-one PC. I know that the PC has some kind of ESS Audio chip in it but I don't know what version. Hitachi tech support said the PC was a custom job built for a private company and they don't have any records on it. (That's how I got it. The private company distributed them to doctors for internet access then proceeded to go belly-up. I bought the orphan from a doctor friend who can't use it.)

Any software out there that can tell me what specific sound chip is in this thing?

Old Polish Proverb: The chicken that clucks the loudest, is the one most likely to go to the steamfitters picnic.

9 replies

by sgt_shultz

i don't know of any software. i have seen it for video and network cards, but not sound. did you try driversguide.com. looks like a few ess drivers up there. when this happens to me, i just keep trying drivers. or i put in new sound card (smile). good luck

by fred07

Hi,

First the all in ones are usually built in sound cards and you will need the MB driver for it to work correctly.

Carefull of static, remove the left side cover of the case and ckeck the MB mfg and version.

Then hunt it down on the net for the MB drivers.

If it is a full sound card, simply do above and remove the sound card and identify the mfg and access them through the net for correct drivers.

fred

by mc_user

Poster rated this answer.
Finally opened up the unit and I still could not locate the sound card or chip. Stuff was packed in tighter than my last discount plane trip to Orlando. I was able to ID the motherboard. From that I found out I needed ESS Solo 1 drivers. This worked out fine. The system is up and running.

Thanks.

Old Polish Proverb: Read the whole library my son, but the cheese will still smell after four days.

by deadly ernest

The actual sound chip will be marked with the chip model number on it. Regardless of if it is a seperate sound card or built in the info will be on a chip with either 'ESS' or a big treble clef symbol followed by a 3 or 4 digit number; most are 13xx, 16xx, or 18xx. Some sound cards will even have the number printed near the top edge, and some motherboards will have it printed near the sound chip.

If the audio is built in it is a good chance that you have either a PCCHIPS or a PC PARTNERS motherboards with ASUS and GIGABYTE being the next best runners up. There are a few others out there but many small brands were renamed boards of those four, especially the first two.

In the past I have found the ESS 1688 chip drivers will work for most ESS chips anyway. Not the best performance available but usually working sound.

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