MSI 790FX-GD70

Audio Performance

The audio performance tests were done using Audio Rightmark 6.1.1 and a 3.5mm gold plated, oxygen free stereo loop back cable between stereo out and microphone input. Results were taken at the DVD sample rate of 16-bit/48KHz and High Definition 24-bit/96KHz.

What we're looking for:

• Noise Level: A higher negative is better. This is usually viewed in relation to a signal level which provides a signal to noise ratio. As you get closer to zero there's more noise and lesser audio fidelity.
  
  
• Frequency Response: Two values listing how close to the lower higher frequencies the codec can reach. If it hits them perfectly it'll display a 0, 0.
  
  
• Dynamic Range: The difference between the loudest and quietest sounds the codec can make before it distorts them. The larger the gap, the better.
  
  
• THD and IMD percentage: Closer to zero is better. THD and IMD are best looked at together, where as if you have a lot of THD and not much IMD, then it'll offer a warmer accurate sound. High THD and IMD provides a warm, inaccurate sound, low THD and high IMD gives a cold inaccurate sound and finally low THD and IMD gives a cold accurate sound.
  
  
• IMD = intermodulation distortion and is a fancy way of saying conversion interpolation, which is a basic detection of the quality loss after an analogue to digital then digital to analogue conversion. By comparing it to a highly compressed source it shows up problems with the codec and converters.
  
  
• THD = total harmonic distortion, which shows up unwanted harmonics; integer multiples of the original component sound that can be second, third, fourth degrees or overtones for example.
  
  
• Stereo Crosstalk: where the stereo channels "talk" to each other and interact. Ideally you want them entirely separate, unmixed or echoed in either channel, so a higher negative a result as possible is preferred.

16-bit / 48KHz

24-bit / 96KHz

The Realtek ALC889 is not to be confused with the Gigabyte specific 889a that it has used for the last few years, but they are very similar. Both are based off the older ALC885, but now include better content protection and Blu-ray support as well as a (paper rated) high 108dB SNR DAC output and 104dB SNR ADC input. The 889 supports dual S/PDIF outputs - as featured on the rear I/O - and also a converter to transport digital audio output to a HDMI transmitter. Despite the fact the Realtek website lists Dolby and DTS options as part of its repertoire, MSI does not include them in the software for its board.

In terms of performance, while it falls some way short of the 100+dB SNR rated above, MSI has implemented an impressive sound codec that directly rivals the 885 or 889a.