Abit BE7-RAID
Stephen Cooper, November 14th, 2002
..:: Realtek ALC650 6-Channel Audio Codec ::..
The Abit BE7-RAID's six-channel onboard audio is provided by the Realtek ALC650 six-channel audio codec. As time progresses, we are seeing more and more motherboard manufacturers opting to go with high quality AC ’97 audio codecs that provide multiple channel support. More and more users are beginning to develop their computer systems into multimedia entertainment centers, and high quality audio is a must when it comes to these circumstances. We found that the ALC650 audio codec performed very well when it came to sound quality. We'll be able to show you this in the upcoming benchmark as we're debuting it in this review! We found the audio to be crisp and accurate, even when it came to the lower frequenices. The BE7-RAID sports some of the best onboard audio I've come across, especially when it comes to overall sound quality. The Realtek chip also allows for jack-sharing. With the included software, you can select to have the Line In port become the Rear Audio channel, and the Mic In port to be the Bass / Low Frequency Enhancement Channel. Here’s some more information from Realtek concerning the ALC650.
General Description
The ALC650 is an 18-bit, full duplex AC'97 2.2 compatible stereo audio CODEC designed for PC multimedia systems, including host/soft audio and AMR/CNR based designs. The ALC650 incorporates proprietary converter technology to achieve a high SNR, greater than 90 dB. The ALC650 AC'97 CODEC supports multiple CODEC extensions with independent variable sampling rates and built-in 3D effects. The ALC650 CODEC provides two pairs of stereo outputs with independent volume controls, a mono output, and multiple stereo and mono inputs, along with flexible mixing, gain and mute functions to provide a complete integrated audio solution for PCs. The digital interface circuitry of the ALC650 CODEC operates from a 5V/3.3V power supply with EAPD (External Amplifier Power Down) control for use in notebook and PC applications. The ALC650 integrates a 50mW/20ohm headset audio amplifier into the CODEC, which can save BOM costs. The ALC650 also supports an AC'97 2.2 compliant SPDIF out function which allows easy connection from the PC to consumer electronic products, such as AC3 decoder/speaker and mini disk. The ALC650 CODEC supports host/soft audio from Intel 810/815/820/845 chipsets as well as audio controller based VIA/SIS/ALI chipsets. Bundled Windows series drivers (Win95/98/ME/2000/XP/NT) and sound effect utilities (supporting Karaoke, emulation of 26 sound environments, and 5-band equalizer) provide a more comprehensive entertainment package for PC users. Finally, internal PLL circuits generate required timing signals, eliminating the need for external clocking devices.
Features
High performance CODEC with high S/N ratio (>90 dB)
18-bit ADC and 20-bit DAC resolution
Compliant with AC'97 2.2 specifications
18-bit stereo full-duplex CODEC with independent and variable sampling rate
4 analog line-level stereo inputs with 5-bit volume control: LINE_IN, CD, VIDEO, AUX
2 analog line-level mono inputs: PC_BEEP, PHONE_IN
Mono output with 5-bit volume control
Stereo output with 5-bit volume control
6 channel slot selectable DAC output for multi-channel applications
2 MIC inputs, which are software selectable
Power management capabilities
3D Stereo enhancement
Embedded 50mW/20ohm OP at front LINE output
External amplifier power down capability
Digital S/PDIF output
Digital S/PDIF input. (ALC650 Rev. E or later)
No external crystal/clock required
Supports 1 general purpose I/O pin
Power supply: Digital: 3.3V; Analog: 5V/3.3V
Standard 48-Pin LQFP Package
Applications
Multimedia PCs
3D PC Games
Information Appliance(IA)
Voice Recognition
Audio Conferencing
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