Optiplex Soundcare upgrade

Question

I have a 7010 optiplex I bought last summer running win 10 pro with 10gb ram and i5-3550 CPU.

I'd like to upgrade the sound card(am using sound both for playing CD's and some streaming). I have not been able to find info anywhere on what others have done to upgrade their optiplex card.

When I search for cards this one seems to come up as a common upgrade for desktops

https://www.amazon.com/Creative-Blaster-Audigy-Performance-Headphone/dp/B00EO6X4XG/ref=psdc_284823_t1_B07VNL332R

ANy advice is apprreciated.

Thanks

bradthetechnut · Accepted Answer

You might remember I gave this link above: https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Notebook-Audio/Set-Audio-Sample-Rate-on-Realtek-Audio/td-p/7209271

Find the speaker icon in Control Panel. Right click it to put a shortcut on your desktop (suggestion). That's the way I have it. Double-click icon > Playback tab > Advanced tab. I'll have a couple of screengrabs below.

That's for music playback, which is what I believe you're looking for.

If you want to adjust the quality for burning CDs, you'd have to adjust the quality in your burning software. It should already be defaulted at CD quality for CDs. Turning up the quality beyond CD quality wlll make a CD burn slower. I don't know if it can be played in all CD players then. If you burn music to DVDs, then I'm sure the quality can be set, or is defaulted at, to DVD quality.

If you use recording studio software, the quality you want would have to be set there. In 2 different sets of recording software I have, both were/are defaulted at CD quality.

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fireberd · Answer

First, which version of the 7010 do you have? There is the mini tower, small form, ultra small form.

The mini-tower will hold a PCIe card. Not sure about the small form and the ultra small is out.

For PCIe sound cards, the ASUS Xonar cards seem to be the current favorite on other computer forums.

Another option is USB connected sound card. There are many options and prices.

I have a recording studio with high end equipment, but for regular PC use the Realtek does well and I've never seen a need for anything else. The weak spot can the speakers. I do have high end Klipsch 2.1 computer speakers.

redxps630 · Answer

not an audiophile but I have seen a lot of Dell XPS pc w creative labs sound blaster sound cards in last 10 years.  Depends on how fancy or up to date you want a sound card to be.  The ones I have seen called eXtreme or X-Fi are 5th gen. They are not expensive.  I have not had hands on experience w the more recent 6th gen sound card from Creative labs. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sound_Blaster

Phico · Answer

It's a MT. OK Maybe I don't need a new card. How do I determine the bit rate for the realtek? Can't find any info in control panel or device manager. Thanks

bradthetechnut · Answer

Here we go: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.thewindowsclub.com/realtek-hd-audio-manager/amp/

I found the answer to what I was wondering - 24-bit 48kHz is studio quality while 16-bit 48kHz is DVD quality. https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Notebook-Audio/Set-Audio-Sample-Rate-on-Realtek-Audio/td-p/7209271

bradthetechnut · Answer

Does this help? When Intel created the HD Audio format (replacing AC97), its default sampling rate is 48 kHz. So all the realtek chipsets run natively at 48 kHz. There is a standard default way to handle CD's 44.1 kHz sampling rate.

I couldn't remember if 48kHz is studio quality, though better than CD quality. So I did a search: https://www.google.com/search?q=is+48khz+sound+studio+quality&oq=is+48khz+sound+studio+quality&aqs=chrome..69i57.17258j0j4&client=ms-android-americamovil-us-revc&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8

redxps630 · Answer

regarding specifically the audio spec in optiplex 7010

INTEGRATED REALTEK ALC269Q HIGH DEFINITION AUDIO

Support 44.1K/48K/96K/192 kHz sample rates

16, 20, and 24-bit resolution

S/N ratio 98 dB DAC outputs, 90 dB for ADC inputs

Analog Audio, 2 channels

p/23/47 https://www.dell.com/downloads/global/products/optix/en/optiplex_7010_technical_guidebook.pdf

Phico · Answer

Most helpful So how I do tinker with sample rate and resolution? I find nothing in my system to make adjustments. Thanks

fireberd · Answer

In a recording studio the final mixdown/mastered song or audio clip is either 16 bit 44.1Khz (CD Quality) or if the audio is for a video (movie or whatever) 48 Khz is used as it will sync with video.

I use 24 bit in my recording studio and even up to 96Khz as this allows more precise manipulation. But as noted its mixed down and mastered at the 16 bit 44.1Khz if its destined for a CD. If I need a Mp3 I use 192Kbps.

Phico · Answer

Whoops. I did as you said and found it. Previously I had clicked on the speaker icon and didn't find anything but this time I noticed a "Sound Control Panel" on the right and that displays the options.

Thanks for your help.

Phico · Answer

Thanks to all of you for your help. I now realize from what I've learned from you the realtek card will work just fine.

bradthetechnut · Answer

You're welcome. It looks like you thought I might've meant the speaker icon that shows in in the taskbar on the right and it just shows volumes?

Glad you got it working and you're happy with it.

I like playing music off of the computer because it's so much better than radio quality.

Optiplex Desktops

Optiplex Soundcare upgrade

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