HDA or AC97

sreeve1993 · 2 Jan 2014 at 15:20

Hey guys,

This has been bugging me for some time and I have looked on the internet but can't really find the answer I'm looking for.

Anyway, I want to know the difference between the HDA audio and AC97 connectors. I have the AC97 currently connected to my sound card which is Asus Xonar DX 7.1.

So I'm just wondering if I'm using the correct connector?

Thanks guys

Stefan

Marsman · 2 Jan 2014 at 15:37

It doesn't matter when connecting to sound card. It only matters when connecting to a motherboard. AC97 is the old onboard audio standard, so that particular connector would be used for really old motherboards. HD Audio standard was introduced around 2004, and is what onboard audio is based on up to this point.

wazza300 · 2 Jan 2014 at 16:04

both are the same regarding sound quality

all that's different is jack detection on hdaudio

if you have the hdaudio case plug then use that if not then ac97

sreeve1993 · 2 Jan 2014 at 16:04

Oh perfect!
I have noticed that my front panel audio doesn't work, for it to work does the connectors have to be connected to the motherboard instead of the sound card?

wazza300 · 2 Jan 2014 at 16:10

no

which connector are you using? hdaudio? if so the front panel ports should work,if ac97 then look in the asus xonar software and choose ac97 or disable front panel jack detection,then you should get sound from front panel

sreeve1993 · 2 Jan 2014 at 16:12

I'm using the AC97 connector, its connected to the sound card.

wazza300 · 2 Jan 2014 at 16:14

look in the software for the soundcard

you need to look for ac97 sound or disable front panel jack detection tick either those boxes if you see them,then your sound will work

sreeve1993 · 2 Jan 2014 at 16:45

I feel so stupid but I can't even find anything like you described

wazza300 · 2 Jan 2014 at 16:48

think it might be called front panel headphones/front panel speakers

set to front panel headphones

sreeve1993 · 2 Jan 2014 at 17:00

I just swapped the AC97 to the HD connector and front panel audio still doesn't work.
I can't find the Asus software either, all I have is the Asus audio centre but there is nothing there.
I will have a second look. Its not much of a big deal to me, my keyboard allows me to connect headphones and mic.

sreeve1993 · 2 Jan 2014 at 17:41

I got it to work, in the Asus software there is an Analog output and had to switch it to FP headset haha. But I'm sure it wasn't there before. I went onto BIOS and enabled onboard HD.

wazza300 · 2 Jan 2014 at 17:44

ahh that's good,been ages since I owned my xonar dx so was little rusty,glad its working now tho

don't think the onboard needs to be enabled tho?

sreeve1993 · 2 Jan 2014 at 17:48

Its been a while for me as well that I configured anything.
I will go back into BIOS and reset it.

Personally, switching to the HDA connector probably helped

wazza300 · 2 Jan 2014 at 17:50

yeah,i think it has to be disabled so that sound goes through the soundcard and not the mb

sreeve1993 · 2 Jan 2014 at 17:58

Disabled it.
Front Panel is working, finally! Thank you for your help

Don't think I will use my headphones much but its nice to have it.
My Corsair SP500 speakers are too amazing to use headphones.