Motherboards come in all shapes and sizes, with differing levels of performance and capabilities to meet the needs of a wide range of users. That’s as true of a motherboard’s audio hardware as it is for its USB port selection. While some users just need a place to plug in basic speakers so that they can hear the notification sound when a new Microsoft Teams message comes in, others want a solution ready to deliver audiophile-grade sound to their premium headset.
To make sure that your motherboard has everything you need and nothing that you don’t, we offer a variety of audio solutions across our different motherboard families. But perhaps you’re unsure what the difference is between these options. Here, we’ll answer some common questions, demystify some of the language surrounding onboard audio hardware, and help you identify the most important elements to look for based on your needs.
What is a codec?
As you compare different motherboard audio solutions, you’ll find the word “codec” featured prominently. Codec is a mashup of the words Coder/Decoder, and in the hardware space, it refers to the integrated circuitry responsible for converting analog audio signals into digital signals, and vice versa. (Muddying the waters of this discussion is the fact that there’s a whole world of software codecs, too, but we don’t need to cover those here.) Sometimes, devices or components focus on only one side of the conversion process. A Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC) takes digital samples and turns it back into an analog signal, while an Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) goes the other direction.
Codecs are necessary because headsets, microphones and speakers talk in a different language than computer hardware. Whereas PCs communicate digitally in 1s and 0s, microphones and speakers communicate with an analog signal. Think about chatting with a friend over Discord, for example. For your computer to process your voice and send it across the internet to your friend’s computer, it needs to convert the analog signal from your microphone into a digital one. And for your friend to hear your words in their headset, their PC needs to convert the digital signal back into the analog signal that their headset can pump out through the vibrations in its physical drivers. Codecs do that work on both ends.
What’s the difference between common motherboard audio codecs?
All codecs serve a similar function, but not all codecs are the same. We offer a variety of different codecs across our motherboard families because our users plug in a wide range of audio hardware into their PCs. Music enthusiasts with high-impedance audiophile-grade headphones, for example, can’t just plug their cans into a standard audio jack and get the kind of volume they’re looking for; they need a solution with a built-in amplifier. If you’re just connecting a standard set of PC speakers, that amp isn’t necessary.
Codecs also differ when it comes to their high-resolution audio capabilities. Digital music files differ in their bit depth and sampling frequency. “CD quality” sound is 16-bit, 44.1kHz. The common Realtek ALC897 codec supports up to 24-Bit / 192 kHz playback, making it very capable of producing CD-quality audio (and then some).
But perhaps you’re interested in even higher-quality audio. You’re not alone. There’s a thriving community of musicians, artists and others who demand more from their audio hardware. The Realtek ALC4082 codec found on our most premium motherboards, for example, supports up to 32-bit / 384 kHz playback through the front panel.
Do two motherboards with the same codec deliver the same audio quality?
Briefly put, no. The implementation of a codec matters, and it matters a lot.
One challenge that motherboard manufacturers have to surmount is noise. Analog signals are prone to picking up noise as they’re transmitted. And PCs are full of components that can create noise in your audio chain, especially when they’re running at full tilt. Introduce a high-wattage graphics card into the mix, and you’ve created an environment that poses a threat to your desire for pristine audio quality.
But motherboard manufacturers aren’t defenseless in this war against noise. For years, ROG motherboards have led the way with ROG SupremeFX technology. Boards with this tech have PCB layers dedicated for audio, high-quality capacitors, and audio line shielding that blocks electromagnetic interference from surrounding components.
Our highest-end motherboards wield ROG SupremeFX audio technology to give you an exceptionally low-noise experience for both recording and playback. The audio tech you get with the ROG Crosshair X870E Hero, for example, delivers an exceptional 110 dB signal-to-noise ratio to the line-in jack for pristine recording quality. There’s also a low-dropout regulator for cleaner power delivery to the SupremeFX ALC4082 codec and an integrated ESS® ES9219 Quad DAC capable of reaching -114dB THD+N for superior front-panel output. This combined solution allows for end-to-end 32-bit, 384 kHz resolution playback that conveys all the subtlety and nuances of each audio track.
Will I notice the difference between an entry-level and premium audio solution?
Browse around online, and you’ll find endless discussions about the value of audiophile-grade motherboard hardware. Some folks claim that high-resolution audio makes all the difference in the world. Others contend they don’t hear anything between them.
We’re not here to settle this argument. But we can offer some practical advice. The value that you’ll get out of a higher-end motherboard audio solution largely depends on the audio equipment that you intend to connect to it. If you’ve already invested in studio-grade equipment, then you’d be wise to pair it with equally capable motherboard audio. On the other hand, if you primarily use a wireless headset when you use your PC, your motherboard’s audio configuration won’t play a large role in your experience, since wireless headphones have their own DAC and amp.
More premium audio solutions will do more to help mitigate noise from being a distraction as you game, listen to music, or talk with friends and family through your PC. In this regard, it’s not what you notice that matters — it’s what you don’t. If you opt for a motherboard from a lesser-known manufacturer that skimps on the audio experience, you may regret your purchase the first time you plug in your headphones.
What other factors differentiate one motherboard’s audio solution from another?
So far, we’ve talked primarily about codecs. But other parts of a motherboard’s audio solution factor into your experience. Let’s briefly look at a few considerations:
- Jack selection. Entry-level motherboards will give you onboard jacks on the rear panel (microphone out, line out, headphone out). If you intend to connect your PC to a soundbar or a larger sound system, you might be best off finding a motherboard with S/PDIF output. These outputs let you transmit digital audio signals from one device to another without converting them into analog, resulting in minimal signal degradation and high-fidelity audio reproduction — not to mention the ability to transmit multi-channel surround sound signals over a single cable.
- LED illuminated audio jacks. This is admittedly a quality-of-life feature, not a strict necessity. But odds are pretty good that the space behind your PC chassis isn’t well-lit, and illuminated audio jacks will help make sure that connecting your audio equipment isn’t a frustrating game of guess-and-check.
- Impedance sensing. An audio solution with impedance sensing can detect when you’ve plugged in a high-impedance headset and adjust your output automatically.
- Gold-plated audio jacks. If you live in a hot and humid climate, or in close proximity to the ocean, these jacks can make a difference over time, as they’re less prone to environmental corrosion than other types.
Does audio software support vary between different motherboards?
For some users, a motherboard’s bundled software selection matters as much as its hardware layout, at least when it comes to audio. The basic controls in Windows 11 include Windows Sonic, which gives you spatial audio support for your headphones, but if you’re looking for a competitive edge in gaming or the ability to connect and control a 7.1 surround sound speaker system, you’ll want a motherboard that goes above and beyond the basics.
Modern TUF Gaming motherboards include DTS Audio Processing, which enhances gaming headset and speaker audio experiences by reducing distortion and by providing deeper bass, so games, movies and music sound better. It also allows you to customize audio settings with a built-in graphic equalizer. For the premium treatment, top-shelf ASUS motherboards come with a license for Dolby Atmos, which gives you immersive, multidimensional audio in any context.
What motherboard codec is best for me?
Right now, most ASUS motherboards ship with one of four audio configurations, with some variance between different motherboards with the same codec. Here, we’ll give you some recommendations for which one to pick without going too far into the weeds about what makes each codec tick.
- An affordable audio solution for everyday computing: ALC897. Odds are good that if you’re looking at a motherboard today, and the spec sheet doesn’t tell you which codec it has, it sports an ALC897. It’s a very common, entry-level codec that ensures your PC has the basic audio capabilities that you expect. If you primarily use a Bluetooth headset, or if you intend to use an external audio device, you might need anything more on your motherboard than an ALC897.
- Improved audio, with special benefits for gamers: ALC1220P and S1220P. Gaming PCs present special challenges to audio hardware, as higher-wattage components and add-in cards can create distracting noise. Our gaming motherboards from ROG Strix and TUF Gaming often include this higher tier of audio codec to ensure that noise doesn’t get in the way of your gaming experience.
- The best motherboard audio experiences you can buy today: ALC4082 and ALC4080. These codecs bump up to a USB interface so that they can offer high-resolution playback. These are premium units, so when we offer them on a motherboard we don’t hold back. The ALC4082-equipped ROG Maximus Z890 Extreme, for example, goes all-out with integrated amplifiers and op-amps, premium capacitors, interference shielding, and discrete traces for the right and left channels.
What can I do if I’m not getting high-quality audio from my motherboard?
So far, we’ve focused on what to look for in an audio solution as you’re buying a new motherboard. But perhaps you have a motherboard that you’re otherwise not ready to replace, but you’re not getting the audio quality that you’re hoping for.
In this scenario, you have options besides building a new PC. You could take advantage of one of your motherboard’s expansion slots by installing an add-in card. Perhaps you’re looking to drive an audiophile-grade headset. The ROG Clavis is a handy external USB DAC that plugs into a USB Type-C port and gives a premium audio experience with its ESS 9281 Quad-DAC. Another route is simply to go wireless. Headsets that connect via Bluetooth or a 2.4GHz connection, like the ROG Delta II, rely on their own onboard audio hardware.