Latest Realtek HD Audio Driver Version for Windows 8

[CountMike]

Newest drivers from Realtek are v2.75 (6.0 1.7246) from May 21. 2014. Wouldn't that mean that both HP and MS have modified them ?

Realtek

 

[erpster4]

not exactly, CountMike. more like Realtek makes special or custom modifications for PC manufacturers like HP/Dell/Acer/Lenovo/Toshiba, etc.
and MS does not modify the drivers as Realtek sometimes offer them to MS on the Windows Update / Microsoft Update Catalog sites for distribution [in other words, Microsoft offer these new drivers as "driver updates" for downloading if WU/MU detects certain models of Realtek audio devices with old drivers and provides updates to them].

The drivers you find on the Realtek web site are generic, all-purpose ones. The ones found on PC manufacturer web sites sometimes have special configurations or customizations. Read this notice on the Realtek web site when obtaining their HD Audio Codec drivers:

Audio drivers available for download from the Realtek website are general drivers for our audio ICs, and may not offer the customizations made by your system/motherboard manufacturer. To be sure you obtain the full features/customizations provided in your original audio product, please download the latest drivers from your system/motherboard manufacturer's website.

BTW, Microsoft has recently posted version 6.0.1.7385 with a date of November 13, 2014. However, this one can only be used on 64bit editions of Windows 7, 8 & 8.1 and not under 32bit editions.

 

[65Cobra427SC]

Interesting thread but could use some further explanation. Running Win 8.1 x64 on Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD4H MB with Realtek ALC892 chip and ATI Radeon HD6870 with HDMI Port and Integrated Audio Controller which supports HD Video/Audio. For non-critical sound I use the monitor speakers. Otherwise I output the audio/video (audio only for music) to my receiver and 5.1 setup.

I'd like to have the latest audio drivers but I'm also not looking to create any issues. The confusion comes from the availability of audio related drivers from Gigabyte, Realtek and Microsoft on top of the AMD drivers. Not sure if AMD drivers affect anything related to this but I checked the other three sources...

GIGABYTE
Realtek Function Driver for Realtek Azalia Audio Chip "R3.75" (10/21/2013) (315 MB)

REALTEK:
Windows 7/8/8.1 x64 Driver "R2.75" (05/21/2014) (122 MB)
ATI HDMI Audio Device Driver "R2.70" (06/22/2012) (22 MB)

MICROSOFT:
Win7/8.1 Realtek High Definition Audio Driver 6.0.1.7385 (11/13/2014) (66 MB)

 

[erpster4]

well 65Cobra427SC, the latest Realtek HD Audio driver from Gigabyte is version 6.0.1.7348 (9/22/2014) [R3.87]
although that one is for Gigabyte P35w V3 & P35x V3 laptops, that driver can also function on your Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD4H motherboard. download is about 428Mb because it includes Dolby DS1/PCEE4 and Waves MaxxAudio installers.

On the other hand, you already have the latest Realtek/ATI HDMI Audio driver [R2.70] (6/22/2012) if you have audio devices connected to an HDMI port instead of the normal analog HD audio port.

 

[65Cobra427SC]

Thanks for responding erpster4. Part of the confusion is I haven't installed the Realtek/ATI HDMI Audio Driver (R2.70). I believe that driver was created when AMD Video Drivers didn't include drivers for the HDMI Out port. Now that they do, it's no longer needed... which is also why it's not been updated since then. Now my system is using the "AMD HDMI Output" driver instead, and properties shows that version as is 9.0.0.9905 dated 2014-02-21 which of course only confuses things even more, ha

So apparently I need to narrow down which drivers to install based on what I'm actually using. In my case, since I only have one HDMI Out on my video card, the sound either goes to my monitor via a stereo jack from the SoundBlaster card, or directly to my receiver via the HDMI port from the video card. But I'm not sure the chain of events before sound exits the HDMI port... i.e. if I play music via VideoLAN is it passed directly to the HDMI port? Don't want to tie up this thread so I'll do more research and once I figure out the answer I'll either post the results or a link here. Thanks for the help. I'll still be subscribed to this thread in the meantime. If you, or anyone else has any further input, feel free to chime in. Thanks again.

 

[Graham Clark]

Thank you Brink as I Hate this IDT Driver that came with my HP PC, and miss the easy quality& naturallity, that Realtek gave me on my Win7 PC.

 

[erpster4]

Thanks for responding erpster4. Part of the confusion is I haven't installed the Realtek/ATI HDMI Audio Driver (R2.70). I believe that driver was created when AMD Video Drivers didn't include drivers for the HDMI Out port. Now that they do, it's no longer needed... which is also why it's not been updated since then. Now my system is using the "AMD HDMI Output" driver instead, and properties shows that version as is 9.0.0.9905 dated 2014-02-21 which of course only confuses things even more, ha

Yup, the ATI/AMD HDMI Audio v9.0.0.9905 driver has been included in the latest AMD Catalyst Omega Display drivers found on the AMD support site. I installed the latest Catalyst Omega Windows package (which is v14.12) on my dad's Toshiba C55Dt laptop with Windows 8.1 and it also installed that AMD HDMI audio driver. The Toshiba laptop also uses Realtek HD Audio with DTS Sound audio enhancement which of course needs a separate audio download [latest Toshiba based Realtek HD audio driver they have is 6.0.1.7329 posted 9/25/2014].

Thank you Brink as I Hate this IDT Driver that came with my HP PC, and miss the easy quality& naturallity, that Realtek gave me on my Win7 PC.

Some HP Pavilion 500-239 PCs come with Realtek audio while few others with that same model come with IDT audio. Realtek audio drivers very rarely work (or almost never work) on IDT audio hardware. I tried the realtek drivers on my mom's old Dell Inspiron e1405 laptop which use Sigmatel/IDT audio hardware and they didn't work - no sound at all. So I went back to using the proper Sigmatel/IDT audio drivers on the Dell laptop to get the sound working again on there.

 

[erpster4]

Realtek HD Audio driver v6.0.1.7460 [3/4/2015] available from Microsoft (WHQL for Windows 8.1 only):
32bit
64bit

 

[popeye]

Realtek HD Audio driver v6.0.1.7460 [3/4/2015] available from Microsoft (WHQL for Windows 8.1 only):
32bit
64bit

Just installed and seem to be working fine. Show a date of 3/4/2015 version 6.0.1.7460. Thanks for the update!

 

[Brink]

Realtek HD Audio driver v6.0.1.7460 [3/4/2015] available from Microsoft (WHQL for Windows 8.1 only):
32bit
64bit

Thank you. First post updated.

 

[orlando1974]

Hi Brink, I stumbled upon this thread because a few months ago my Rode SmartLav+ (lapel microphone) was working fine when plugged into my desktop's front HD panel (Realtek) but since doing a fresh install of Windows a few weeks ago, it no longer works when I connect it to my PC. The mic still works because I tested it by connecting it directly to my smartphone.

So I thought about updating the drivers... Im on Audio Driver Version 6.0.1.7023. This is the lastest one posted by Asus (manufacturer of my motherboard) but it's last update goes back to October 2013! So I dont know why my mic was working thru the front panel before... should I try updating to the generic lastest 64-bit version you posted?

I should add that a similar issue occurs on my Asus laptop, only in this case when I plug in the mic, Windows asks me if its headphones or speakers. Um, its neither! And it doesnt even show as an option in Recording Devices. This one's latest update also goes back to 2013.

Not sure if there is a connection between the issues on my laptop and desktop... both are Asus, both latest update to specific product go back to 2013, trying to use the same mic in both machines, but difference on desktop is dedicated MIC input on front panel while on laptop is mic/phones combo jack.

 

[Brink]

It wouldn't hurt to give the latest driver version a try.

 

[orlando1974]

How do you install a .cab file??? (It wont let me use this as an apply latest update... says it already has the latest update. )

 

[CountMike]

How do you install a .cab file??? (It wont let me use this as an apply latest update... says it already has the latest update. )

Use driver from here: Realtek it's .exe

 

[orlando1974]

OK so the laptop issue is ALMOST resolved. Installing the version 2.75 EXE has allowed me to record with my external microphone. Couple questions:

1. Is it normal that the built-in webcam mic gets disabled when I connect an external mic, or does this depend on the laptop?
2. When I connect it, it also thinks that its headphones or speakers because I get a pop up that asks if its headphones or speakers (no option to tell it its a microphone), and the speakers are disabled until I unplug the mic. (also seems to add an yellow exclamation mark next to High Definition Audio Device in Device Manager when I connect it)
3. How do I update to the latest March version posted by Brink?

 

[popeye]

Extract the cab file to a folder with something like 7z. Then go to Device Manager and select to update the Realtek audio, choose to browse computer for file, then point to the folder you extracted cab to.

 

[orlando1974]

Do you need to be on an AMD machine for these to work? I noticed that the file downloaded thru the MS Update Catalog starts with "AMD...". I'm on Intel machine....

...and it keeps telling me that the latest version is installed (6.0.1.7246). Maybe the laptop is hardwired to know that there currently is no greater version released by Asus for this machine and therefore ignores my attempts to force upon it a generic driver?

 

[Brink]

Hello Orlando,

I'm not sure what you mean. I don't see AMD anywhere in the file name for the download. :huh:

You can download them on any computer though.

 

[Cliff S]

I think he means the generic term for 64bit processors: x86-64 (also known as x64, x86_64 and AMD64)

 

[Brink]

Ah, yep that must be it.