ALC880 vs ALC860

Randal · #1 31st Oct 2007, 12:45 PM

I purchased this computer about 2 and a half years ago. the computer is an Emachines T5016. IT came with an onboard Realtek ALC880 sound card. I have always had problems with the Microphone volume, no matter how I configuered the system there was never any recording volume. I have checked and rechecked all of the settings, and emachines have also helped me reinstall the original drivers which came with it, yet I still have to almost eat the mic in order to have any recording volume.
I downloaded the High Definition Audio Driver File which Realtek listed on their site as being the most recent driver for the ALC 880 (WDM_R180). I Simply clicked on and installed this file as it was an executable file. I tried to use the update driver option in the device manager but the ok button never became enabled when I selected the folder that the file was in.
The drivers appear to have installed ok, but I am currious about this one thing. Before installation of this newer file my Realtek Sound Effect Manager Program stated that I had ALC880, Driver File Version 5.10.0.5034. After installing this new driver it lists that I have ALC860 driver file 5.10.0.5497. The driver file version is definitely newer but why would the ALC be changed to ALC860 which to my thinking is older than the ALC880 which I had?
Not knowing anything about ALC (Audio Codecs) Is the ALC860 which the newer file installed older than the ALC880 which I already had, and if so what if anything should I do about it. The sound seems to be ok after the installation of the newer driver, but I don't want to think that I have installed an older component than what I already had. Thanks for any assistance which you could offer.
Randal

**Elijah** · #2 12th Nov 2007, 05:36 PM

Hey there Randal

Nice havin you here at TCF!

It sound like your sound and mic are working now. Right?

And if it's working this way I'd not be concerned about whether a driver is older or newer. It's not like the driver is from the 90's.

I'd just be happy it works

Elijah

Randal · #3 12th Nov 2007, 05:48 PM

Thanks for the reply. The mic still has little to no volume, but everything else is working fine. Realtek did respond to my inquiry and stated that based on the txt file I sent them which the test program generated everything was ok with my system. I did notice in the txt file that it stated that I my system was ALC880 subsystem 860. This is all very strange to me, and I don't know why the updated driver for my realtek sound card would have changed the Audio Codec in my Realtek Sound Effect Manager from ALC880 to ALC860. As you stated however if it is working, don't worry about it. Thanks again for the reply.
Randal

**Elijah** · #4 12th Nov 2007, 05:52 PM

I'd/We'd be glad to try and help you fix your mic problem.

I usually like to connect remotely to computers that have problems like this. It is easier for me to know what's going on and diagnose the problem.
So if it's okay with you we can set it up.

Elijah