I have almost completed full set of "pure" version drivers for my Windows 7 / X99 platform. The only one I am missing is a driver for (here comes a quote from mainboard manual) "Realtek ALC1150 8-channel HD Audio CODEC featuring Crystal Sound 3".
Does anyone know where I can find a good source of updated "pure" (no bloatware) driver for this device? Does something like this exist?
@Lex :
You have to extract the content of the linked EXE file. You can do it with a tool like 7-Zip or Win-RAR.
If you want to avoid the installation of unneeded driver components, I recommend to manually install the Realtek High Definition Audio driver after having done a clean install of the OS.
@khanmein : Yes, I know this page, but I was afraid of any bloatware included and my question was about “pure” drivers, just like it was done here, on this forum, in case of many other drivers (for example: INF, IMEI, AHCI or USB).
@Fernando : Ah, ok I understand. I was indeed wondering about these packages and why they say “driver only” yet they have over a few hundred of MBytes each. I do not have “required knowledge” and I am not sure if that is some additional software I need (and I should install) or it is just “normal bloatware”.
That’s why I asked a question if there is some person who prepares Realtek Audio “pure” packages on regular basic with some explanations (“what is that and what do I need”) in the same way like you do for other device drivers.
Since there are a lot of different Realtek HD Audio Controller models, there are many INF files within the Win32 resp. Win64 folder of the extracted Realtek driverpack. So it is not easy for the user to find out the specific INF file, which is needed for your on-board Realtek HD Audio Controller.
That is why I gave you the advice to let the Windows Hardware Detection find this specific INF file and the related *.SYS, *.CAT and *.DLL files. It will be done automaticly, if you manually install the driver from within the Device Manager by choosing the “Browse my Computer…” > “Search” option and just navigate into the Win32 resp. Win64 folder of the previously extracted package.
Sigh, I think Realtek drivers case is very similar to Intel one… 
@Fernando : As you said, Intel doesn’t produce anymore mainboards, so it’s mainboard manufacturer who is responsible to offer appropriate up-to-date drivers for the customers of their product. Realtek doesn’t produce mainboards either, so their website is also not updated.
On my ASUS X99-A II website, there are two Realtek drivers: v6.0.1.7727 and v6.0.1.7848.
Realtek drivers on their website are v6.0.1.8186 - so yes, they are newer but, as I found out, not latest one.
My friend pointed me to his MSI X99A website where I found Realtek even newer drivers v6.0.1.8302 - so I started to search for Realtek drivers on the general web and that’s how I’ve found this website: https://www.necacom.net/index.php/realtek/hda - it seems that latest Realtek drivers are v6.0.1.8328.
The problem is that mentioned website does not offer it for Windows 7 - there is only Windows 10 download linked from microsoft.com
It’s so stupid that it requires so many searches to find the latest driver… sigh.
Any help if such drivers exist for Windows 7 also?
@Lex :
You should search for the best working and not for the latest drivers for your PC devices.
The latest Realtek HD Audio Drivers, which have been optimized for being used with all Windows Operating Systems from Win7 up, are the v6.0.1.8186 ones dated 06/29/2017.
All the other mentioned drivers with a higher version number are not yet offered by Realtek for the customers. They obviously have been optimized for being used with the latest Win10 versions (up to v1709) and are only available for Win10 users via Windows Update.
So why do you want to use with a fresh installed Windows7 an Audio driver, which has been optimized for another Operating System?
By the way: According to the related INF files you will be able to get the latest Realtek HD Audio driver v6.0.1.8328 dated 12/19/2017 properly installed with Windows 7, but I really doubt, that it will run better than the v6.0.1.8168 ones, which were officially released by Realtek for being used with your old OS.
It is stupid to search for the latest drivers, if the previously released drivers are better.
By the way - I am pretty sure, that immediately after you have done a fresh Win7 install with integrated or loaded latest drivers there will already be newer drivers available.
Yes, that would be the best option but it is really hard to tell for me which drivers are "best" ones without any tests and in many cases I don’t think I have required knowledge to judge if the driver works right as the differences between versions could be very subtle in details I do not know about… 
For me - latest versions should have most bugs fices from previous versions so that’s why I’m looking for them - I know, it is not a perfect reason, but at least it is "something".
I didn’t know about that optimisation - thank you for pointing that out. That version is indeed on Realtek website.
As I said, I was thinking it is the same case as Intel - Intel does not offer latest drivers on website but the latest drivers have higher version number and they are better.
As I said, I didn’t know about this specific optimization - I was thinking that they are offered for all OSes.
As I mentioned, I’ve checked MSI website for different X99 board (but still on Windows 7) and MSI offers newer driver than Realtek website for my OS so that’s why I thought "newer drivers" are for all OSes, not just for Windows 10.
It is stupid to search for the latest drivers, if the previously released drivers are better.
As I said, I didn’t know that that these older Realtek drivers are better - nobody told me that until this time.
I am aware of that, but still it’d be good to have "the most possible up-to-date drivers".
Anyway - that conclusion "Realtek HD Audio driver v6.0.1.8186 is probably the best one for my needs" is very important for me and ends my searches for now - thank you very much.
I’ve just finished a small experiment.
I can see one device in Device Manager with Realtek name ("Realtek High Definition Audio") which has two Harware IDs strings:
HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_10EC&DEV_0900&SUBSYS_10438699&REV_100
HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_10EC&DEV_0900&SUBSYS_10438699
I’ve found "suspicious" oem21.inf file with Realtek markings inside my Windows directory. I’ve unpacked previous version of Realtek HD Audio driver I installed before (it was v6.0.1.7848) and by comparing oem21.inf size with original package it seems to be the file named HDXRT.inf. However, it does not contain whole Hardware ID string, just a part of it (without SUBSYS in the end):
HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_10EC&DEV_0900
Next, I’ve unpacked Realtek HD Audio driver downloaded from Realtek website (v6.0.1.8186) and "scanned it" - there is new version of HDXRT.inf of course. However there is also another file, HDXRT4.inf which (this time) contains my whole Hardware ID string:
HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_10EC&DEV_0900&SUBSYS_10438699
HDXRT4.inf from previous release (v6.0.1.7848) doesnt have it.
Is it possible that when I install these v6.0.1.8186 drivers, my OS will get data from HDXRT4.inf instead of HDXRT.inf?
Probably yes.
As first step the OS Hardware Device Management searches for the INF file, which contains the best matching HardwareIDs.
As next step it compares the date and signature of the currently installed driver with those of the offered driver.
@Lex - I know this is old, but here is some other avenues about finding Realtek drivers. I go to these sites based on which system I have, look under audio or drivers and there you will see a whole section just on Realtek drivers.
Windows 7 - https://www.sevenforums.com/
Windows 8.1 - https://www.eightforums.com/
Windows 10 - https://www.tenforums.com/
I have been here at these sites searching for and discovering good information about Realtek drivers. Someone there also has the inside skinny on Realtek so you will see updated drivers like everyday (not literally, but you get it). Also, folks there help out tremendously as I can vouch for all the help they gave me. No more looking around for the latest driver, just go to their site for which system you have and off you go. Hope that helps you out, it has for me.
On Station-Driver is see there are 2 different drivers, HDA and UAD. I have a z170 Pro Gaming Board. Which is the better driver now, HDA or UAD?
HDA are the "classical" large drivers.
UAD are the so called "modern" one, are smaller and do install more files
Same Motherboard and I am using the latest Drivers for Win10/Win7 (8648 FF00) from Necacom or Laptop2Go or Station Drivers or from AlanFox’s Github Site for Realtek Drivers here:
https://github.com/alanfox2000/realtek-hda-release/releases/
they are also available from this thread on Asus ROG Forums
https://rog.asus.com/forum/showthread.ph…k-HD-Audio-(HDA)
KB
Realtek HDA or UAD for Asus Motherboard are a bit specific, the best way is to choose the Asus specific one (even if you use DTS, etc…).
To have some info on each release, follow this thread :
https://www.station-drivers.com/index.ph…en&limitstart=0
Read carefully (a bit long) some version are Branded for Asus with special spec.
Like Kbird say, Alanfox repository is one of the best link to DL Reaktek HDA or UAD.
UAD (call it UWD) are specifically for Win10 (since Win10 1703, Redstone 2, build 15063), it’s a new standard :
UWD (Universal Windows Drivers) for the driver and UWP (Universal Windows Platform) for application (control panel, etc…)
PS: Realtek call it UAD, but we need to use UWD to speak about.
There are several good thread on TenForums too , DDelo has made a script to make it easier to workout which Driver you need if not sure here:
https://www.tenforums.com/sound-audio/12…tml#post1561988
Realtek drivers are the hardest to find. Realtek’s own websites suck.
Like, they say 8716 is the best driver atm, I can’t find it tho!
https://github.com/alanfox2000/realtek-hda-release/releases/
https://github.com/pal1000/Realtek-UAD-generic/releases/
Mate thanks for the link but,
1- Why do we trust these github accounts?
2- One shares hda drivers and the other uad, what does that mean?
yeah, why do we trust these guys. For which devices are they ? Certainly not for the 878. No support for those. Manual install installs something but no sound ever commes from the rtl. Running setup just says there is no device.
As Always, only sound advice is to stick with official Original RTL (R2.82) drivers or microsoft ones. I’ll do it without the Rtl controlpanel then, since those options now are done via MS sound settings (win10 1903)