Notebook upgrade

[Castle]

How do you upgrade/change an internal/built in sound card in a notebook PC? Is it possible in the first place? What is the best option when you have a distorted quality sound card assuming problem do not lie with speakers or outdated device drivers?

 

[PC eye]

Have a service center replace the board or toss it for a new model laptop! While you could be seeing a failing onboard audio chip you could also be seeing a problem with the connection to the mini plug socket on the board itself if it has a cold solder joint or is now loose from wear after repeatedly plugging in and removal of the external speakers. You may also be seeing a driver conflict with something else installed.

 

[Castle]

Have a service center replace the board or toss it for a new model laptop! While you could be seeing a failing onboard audio chip you could also be seeing a problem with the connection to the mini plug socket on the board itself if it has a cold solder joint or is now loose from wear after repeatedly plugging in and removal of the external speakers. You may also be seeing a driver conflict with something else installed.

I would like to know if buying a PCMCIA sound adapter or a USB sound adapter can correct this problem without going through the hassle to replace the whole circuit board? Will it work properly without removing the existing built in sound adapter? Will the new PCMCIA sound adapter/USB sound adapter have IRQ conflicts with the old, unremoved built in sound adpater?

Thanks.

 

[PC eye]

There are sound cards and adapters for portable units. You would first need to disable the onboard sound which you know has a problem. Hopefully that is the only problem being seen with it. It would help to know the actual cause as to whether it is a bad chip or a problem with the mini plug socket like a possible loose or broken contact. Then you could proceed from there.

If those were links for products they will have to be reposted or edited since no windows opens from them. I thought you should know about this if those were intended as links to products. You could try editing and resaving a fresh set of links there.