PCTech.com has a
good discussion on sound card technologies
Components
Generally, sound cards consist of the following components:
- A digital signal processor (DSP) for instruction processing
- a digital to analog converter (DAC) for speaker output
- an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) for inputs such as microphones, and tape
players
- read-only memory (ROM) for storing data
- musical instrument digital interface (MIDI) for connecting to external music
equipment
- a game port for connecting a joystick or game pad
- For many cards, the game port is also used to connect an external MIDI
adapter
- jacks for connecting speakers and microphones, as well as line in and line
out
Sound Card Chipsets
Just as motherboards have chipsets, so do sound cards ( and all other types of
expansion cards). The chipset processes the digital information that eventually
becomes sound. Sound cards from different vendors can actually use the same
chipset. Other bundled features and software then serve to distinguish one card
from the other.
At the bare minimum, sound cards are considered "Sound Blaster Pro
compatible", and will work with a Sound Blaster pro driver. However,
advanced features will not necessarily be available. Examples of chipsets on
the market include:
Cirrus Logic
CMedia
Yamaha
Drivers
A good example is Turtle Beach's
chart showing which of its cards have which kinds of chipsets.