Sudhian: How does HD Audio compare to high end add-in cards such as the Audigy 2 ZS and M Audio Revolution?
Thomas: HD Audio architecture compares very nicely to specs of add-in cards as well as to those of stand-alone CE audio receivers. The architecture supports bandwidths that allow codec vendors to product codec products that can be superior in quality to traditional add-in cards and in some instances can provide more functionality than one can currently get from an add-in card.
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Full Version: More on Intel successor to AC'97
Good find! 
They mention that there is no hard and fast minimum SNR for these solutions, but the few I've looked at specs for (Realtek & Cmedia) indicate they test in the mid-90's going D->A if not higher. This suggests we will be able to measure SNRs in the 90db range on a motherboard (if properly done), which is damn good for a codec, but of course nothing is certain.
This might interest some:
They mention that there is no hard and fast minimum SNR for these solutions, but the few I've looked at specs for (Realtek & Cmedia) indicate they test in the mid-90's going D->A if not higher. This suggests we will be able to measure SNRs in the 90db range on a motherboard (if properly done), which is damn good for a codec, but of course nothing is certain.
This might interest some:
QUOTE
Thomas: ASIO drivers can be written for HD Audio solutions.
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