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Realtek AC97 Audio

Logo Realtek AC 97 Audio Codec

Realtek AC97 audio codecs are found in PCI/PCIe sound/modem cards and integrated audio solutions. Typically, the AC’97 audio subsystem is composed of a host controller that transmits data and an audio codec that performs analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog conversion. If you have the appropriate hardware, it is advisable to download the Realtek AC97 Audio Driver for free from the link https://drivers.us.com/audio/ac97 and install it on your PC. It provides 96 kHz when playing in 20-bit two-channel audio mode and 48 kHz with 20-bit multichannel from 5.1 to 7.1. Also download sound driver for Windows for another card.

Installing the Realtek AC97 Audio Driver when reinstalling the Windows system in case of failures or in other cases will automatically improve performance, expand capabilities, and correct errors in the sound subsystem of a computer or laptop. Therefore, save a bookmark to this page in social networks VK, OK, FB, G+ and forward it to yourself and your friends in messengers or in any convenient way.

Brief description

AC’97 software is necessary for the normal functioning of integrated and discrete sound solutions. Sound equipment on ALC-1xx, ALC-2xx, ALC-6xx, ALC-8xx and VIA chips is supported.

This set of href="https://drivers.us.com" title="download drivers">drivers, codecs and utilities is required for the operation of programs with sound. This software includes: audio and video players (AIMP, Winamp, Foobar2000, KMPlayer, Media Player Classic Home Cinema, SMPlayer, GOM Player, Zoom Player, PotPlayer and others), multimedia Internet services such as YouTube, online radio, online cinema and multimedia platforms (Adobe Flash Player, Adobe Shockwave Player, Microsoft Silverlight and others), instant messengers (Viber, Skype, ICQ, WhatsApp, ooVoo, Miranda, Telegram, Mail.ru Agent, Drug Vokrug and others), web browsers (Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Opera, Google Chrome, Yandex Browser, Tor Browser Bundle, Avant, UC and other browsers) and other software.

Realtek AC97 Audio enables recording audio from any audio devices, microphones, and digital musical instruments that support the MIDI interface. The quality of decoding and digitizing audio depends on the characteristics of the DAC/ADC of a specific audio codec chip. The Realtek AC97 Audio driver package is compatible with ALC chips marked 101, 201-203, 250, 650-658, 861 in Microsoft Windows XP, 2000, 2003, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 10, 11 (32-bit or 64-bit).

Realtek Semiconductor Corp. Overview

Since 1987, Realtek Semiconductor Corporation has been a leading global provider of integrated computing solutions. With leading RF, analog and mixed signal technologies, as well as deep manufacturing and systems expertise, Realtek delivers complete, high-performance and competitive solutions.

Realtek develops a wide range of products for communication networks, computer peripherals and multimedia.

Products include PCI/PCIe 10/100 Mbit/s and Gigabit network cards and embedded Ethernet controllers, gateway controllers, wireless LAN controllers, card reader controllers, webcam controllers, VoIP solutions, Bluetooth, LCD monitor controllers, HDMI, media converter controllers, high-quality audio solutions for consumer electronics, TV platforms, PCs. Switching products provide high-speed Internet access, reliability and security. Realtek audio solutions can be found in every third computer or laptop in the world.

If you have problems with sound, if there is no Realtek manager in the Windows system control panel, or if there are interruptions, then you need to update the Realtek drivers for Windows. You can download Realtek Audio for Windows from the websites of manufacturers of a wide variety of equipment. In Microsoft Windows 10 and 11, the Realtek AC97 Audio software is updated via Windows Update. However, in both cases there is a risk of getting outdated/compatible drivers. This also applies to software for communication equipment, network cards in PCI/PCIe format and integrated network interfaces. The most popular are Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, USB, Wireless PC Adapters, 10/100 MBit/s, Gigabit Ethernet, Fast Ethernet Controller, LAN PCI, PCIe GBE Family Controller, PCIe FE Family Controller and other PCI/PCIe network cards and integrated network controllers.

The best audio drivers

Audio drivers, which have become a de facto standard, deserve special mention. First of all, Realtek is known for its products that support Audio HD (High Definition) and AC97 (Audio Codec '97) standards. Realtek is even more famous for its Windows drivers, which have become a de facto standard, than for the chips themselves. Intel, the developer of the Intel High Definition Audio and Intel Audio Codec'97 audio specifications, does not distribute independently developed drivers for its audio solutions on its official website. Intel offers to download Realtek Driver from its official website, which works flawlessly with any compatible equipment.

The Audio Codec '97 specification was developed by Intel in 1994, but it is best implemented by Realtek Semiconductor. In terms of price/quality ratio, Realtek had no competitors to sound solutions based on AC’97 audio codecs until Intel introduced the Intel High Definition Audio specification in 2004. If you need AC97 drivers, then 99% of the time it makes sense to try downloading Realtek AC97 Audio Driver (x86 or x64) instead of other options. All sounds produced by the computer are generated by this software. The package includes WDM Drivers, Multimedia Player, Sound Effect, Sound Man, and Av Rack.

Driver Sound Manager Interface

Screenshot Realtek AC97 Audio driversScreenshots https://drivers.us.com
The manager is activated when the system boots and contains all the settings necessary for a home or office user, located in the corresponding sections. There is the possibility of controlling the sound of the speakers, the karaoke function, analog and digital output, loudness compensation, equalizer. The Realtek interface is implemented entirely.

Any integrated Realtek sound card provides high-quality sound when watching movies, TV series, video clips and playing computer games. The Realtek panel has all the necessary settings for listening to music and favorite songs, watching video clips, TV series, movies with the best quality sound. Gamers will appreciate realistic sounds and special effects when playing computer games. On the secure site https://drivers.us.com any user can download Realtek AC97 Audio Driver for Windows 7, Vista, XP (32-bit and 64-bit) for free. Some configurations work successfully in the OS Windows 11, 10, 8.1, 8 environment, although this is not guaranteed by the manufacturer.

Realtek AC97 Audio Features

A modern computer without sound is significantly limited, and often simply unusable. Only with high-quality sound can you fully play games, watch movies, TV shows, series and listen to music, both in MP3 format and in high-quality multichannel formats. Any Realtek AC97 Audio solution provides clear sound of 2 channels in 96 kHz/20-bit mode, and up to 8 channels - 48 kHz/20-bit. If you are going to download Realtek AC97 for free and install it on your PC, then it is worth mentioning the following features:

  • - high-quality playback of system sounds,
  • - listening to music, watching videos, playing games,
  • - support for a large number of devices,
  • - fast connection of Plug&Play equipment,
  • - backward compatibility with the High Definition Audio audio codec standard,
  • - compatibility with OS Windows,
  • - manager for changing settings and audio configuration,
  • - changing audio system parameters (headphones, stereo, 5.1, 7.1),
  • - the ability to record voice, sounds, music,
  • - support for MIDI digital musical instruments,
  • - compatibility with voice recognition applications.

It is enough to download Realtek AC97 Audio for Windows (x86) for free and x64) to have inexpensive sound in games, when watching movies, TV series, broadcasts, listening to your favorite music, playing musical instruments, using a microphone for voice communication with friends.

Realtek AC97 Audio is widely used today

Many users work on outdated equipment. The easiest way to get high-quality sound is to download the AC97 drivers for the Realtek Audio Controller for free on this page https://drivers.us.com/audio/ac97 now. The features of the integrated sound module of motherboards on ALC series chips include high CPU load when using the computer's multimedia capabilities.

The need to install Realtek sound chip drivers arises immediately after installing/reinstalling Windows. It is necessary to remove and reinstall Realtek AC97 Audio if periodic disappearances, distortions, hissing and artifacts of sound are noted. Problems with sound and, accordingly, the need to download Realtek AC97 Audio Driver for free can arise at any time, so save a bookmark to this page in social networks VKontakte, Facebook, Odnoklassniki, My World, Google Plus, Twitter, Telegram or any convenient way.

Download Realtek AC97 Audio Driver for Windows

Last update: 01/05/2025.


Download for free: For Windows 7, Vista (32-bit and 64-bit), as well as 11, 10, 8.1, 8 (29.7 MB)
Realtek AC97 Audio Drivers for Windows 7, Vista (32-bit and 64-bit); some configurations work successfully in the OS Windows 11, 10, 8.1, 8, although this is not guaranteed on the official website. Size 29.7 MB.

Free download: for Windows XP, 2000 and 2003 x32 and x64 (17.9 MB)
Realtek AC97 Audio Drivers for Windows XP, 2000 and 2003 (32-bit and 64-bit). Size 17.9 MB.


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