Solved How to disable and remove onboard Realtek Audio from PC


Marcus Vinicus

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This query relates to the desktop PC in My Computer below. The motherboard is a Asus ProArt Z790 Creator Wi-Fi.
The Asus board has onboard Realtek Audio which I am going to disable as I've purchased a Fiio DAC\headphone amplifier which has much superior sound.

So what I want to know what is the best way of doing this. Is it either of?

1. Uninstall the Realtek drivers and software first then go into UEFI Bios and disable the onboard audio.

OR

2. Disable the onboard audio in UEFI Bios then uninstall software and drivers?

At the end I will use Driver Store Explorer to find and delete any old drivers.


The reason I am asking about this I don't want a bunch of old Realtek junk lying around post uninstall\disabling the Realtek audio.
Any feedback welcome.
 
Windows Build/Version
Windows 11 Professional 22H2 build 22621.1702

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Homebuilt
    CPU
    Intel Core i9 13900K
    Motherboard
    Asus ProArt Z790 Creator WiFi - Bios 1801
    Memory
    Corsair Dominator 64gb 5600MT/s DDR5 Dual Channel
    Graphics Card(s)
    Sapphire NITRO+ AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX Vapor-X 24GB
    Sound Card
    External Fiio K5 Pro ESS DAC - Headphone Amplifier
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG 50" QNED80 TV 120hz
    Screen Resolution
    3840 x 2160 120hz
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 980 Pro 2TB (OS)
    Samsung 980 Pro 1TB (Files)
    Lexar NZ790 4TB
    LaCie d2 Professional 6TB external - USB 3.1
    PSU
    Corsair RM1200x Shift
    Case
    Corsair RGB Smart Case 5000x (white)
    Cooling
    Corsair iCue H150i Elite Capellix XT
    Keyboard
    Logitech K860
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Ergo Trackball
    Internet Speed
    Fibre 900/500 Mbps
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge Chromium
    Antivirus
    Bitdefender Total Security
    Other Info
    Logitech Brio 4K Webcam
    Orico 10-port powered USB 3.0 hub
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP ProBook 455 G7
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 5 4500U
    Memory
    16GB DDR 3200mhz
    Graphics card(s)
    AMD Radeon
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.6"
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    512 GB PCIe® NVMe
Simply do it from the BIOS.

That said, unless you are going with a dedicated soundcard, there's really no need to disable integrated card for a DAC. I run a DAC and have never disabled my onboard soundcard other than toying with my old soundcard.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 (Build 22631.3296)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom built
    CPU
    Intel i9-9900K
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte Aorus Z390 Xtreme
    Memory
    32G (4x8) DDR4 Corsair RGB Dominator Platinum (3600Mhz)
    Graphics Card(s)
    Radeon VII
    Sound Card
    Onboard (ESS Sabre HiFi using Realtek drivers)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    NEC PA242w (24 inch)
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1200
    Hard Drives
    5 Samsung SSD drives: 2X 970 NVME (512 & 1TB), 3X EVO SATA (2X 2TB, 1X 1TB)
    PSU
    EVGA Super Nova I000 G2 (1000 watt)
    Case
    Cooler Master H500M
    Cooling
    Corsair H115i RGB Platinum
    Keyboard
    Logitech Craft
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    500mb Download. 11mb Upload
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge Chromium
    Antivirus
    Windows Security
    Other Info
    System used for gaming, photography, music, school.
  • Operating System
    Win 10 Pro 22H2 (build 19045.2130)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom Built
    CPU
    Intel i7-7700K
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte GA-Z270X-GAMING 8
    Memory
    32G (4x8) DDR4 Corsair Dominator Platinum (3333Mhz)
    Graphics card(s)
    AMD Radeon R9 Fury
    Sound Card
    Onboard (Creative Sound Blaster certified ZxRi)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell U2415 (24 inch)
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1200
    Hard Drives
    3 Samsung SSD drives: 1x 512gig 950 NVMe drive (OS drive), 1 x 512gig 850 Pro, 1x 256gig 840 Pro.
    PSU
    EVGA Super Nova 1000 P2 (1000 watt)
    Case
    Phantek Enthoo Luxe
    Cooling
    Corsair H100i
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master
    Keyboard
    Logitech MK 710
    Internet Speed
    100MB
    Browser
    Edge Chromium
    Antivirus
    Windows Security
    Other Info
    This is my backup system.
With this I found the simplest and best way of disabling onboard Realtek Audio is as follows:

  1. In Windows open Settings (Windows key + I)
  2. Click Apps
  3. Uninstall the Realtek Audio Console
  4. Uninstall the Realtek Audio drivers
  5. Run Driver Store Explorer and click 'Select old drivers'
  6. Remove any additional old Realtek audio drivers
  7. Reboot
  8. Check there are no Realtek audio services running in services.msc
  9. Optional step: Disable the onboard audio in the motherboard bios (I didn't carry out this step).
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Homebuilt
    CPU
    Intel Core i9 13900K
    Motherboard
    Asus ProArt Z790 Creator WiFi - Bios 1801
    Memory
    Corsair Dominator 64gb 5600MT/s DDR5 Dual Channel
    Graphics Card(s)
    Sapphire NITRO+ AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX Vapor-X 24GB
    Sound Card
    External Fiio K5 Pro ESS DAC - Headphone Amplifier
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG 50" QNED80 TV 120hz
    Screen Resolution
    3840 x 2160 120hz
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 980 Pro 2TB (OS)
    Samsung 980 Pro 1TB (Files)
    Lexar NZ790 4TB
    LaCie d2 Professional 6TB external - USB 3.1
    PSU
    Corsair RM1200x Shift
    Case
    Corsair RGB Smart Case 5000x (white)
    Cooling
    Corsair iCue H150i Elite Capellix XT
    Keyboard
    Logitech K860
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Ergo Trackball
    Internet Speed
    Fibre 900/500 Mbps
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge Chromium
    Antivirus
    Bitdefender Total Security
    Other Info
    Logitech Brio 4K Webcam
    Orico 10-port powered USB 3.0 hub
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP ProBook 455 G7
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 5 4500U
    Memory
    16GB DDR 3200mhz
    Graphics card(s)
    AMD Radeon
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.6"
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    512 GB PCIe® NVMe
With this I found the simplest and best way of disabling onboard Realtek Audio is as follows:

  1. In Windows open Settings (Windows key + I)
  2. Click Apps
  3. Uninstall the Realtek Audio Console
  4. Uninstall the Realtek Audio drivers
  5. Run Driver Store Explorer and click 'Select old drivers'
  6. Remove any additional old Realtek audio drivers
  7. Reboot
  8. Check there are no Realtek audio services running in services.msc
  9. Optional step: Disable the onboard audio in the motherboard bios (I didn't carry out this step).
I know you asked a question in which I provided an answer that you ignored, but the fact still is....

The above was unnecessary as the soundcard would have been ignored anyway being you're going through USB. Additionally the Realtek drivers would have been bypassed anyway since the DAC uses its own USB driver. I'm also speaking from experience as I've been running a USB DAC for 7 years now ;-)

And the "simplest" actually would have been to disable the onboard audio in the BIOS (if needed).

But it's your system so.... I was just answering the question.
 
Last edited:

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 (Build 22631.3296)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom built
    CPU
    Intel i9-9900K
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte Aorus Z390 Xtreme
    Memory
    32G (4x8) DDR4 Corsair RGB Dominator Platinum (3600Mhz)
    Graphics Card(s)
    Radeon VII
    Sound Card
    Onboard (ESS Sabre HiFi using Realtek drivers)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    NEC PA242w (24 inch)
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1200
    Hard Drives
    5 Samsung SSD drives: 2X 970 NVME (512 & 1TB), 3X EVO SATA (2X 2TB, 1X 1TB)
    PSU
    EVGA Super Nova I000 G2 (1000 watt)
    Case
    Cooler Master H500M
    Cooling
    Corsair H115i RGB Platinum
    Keyboard
    Logitech Craft
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    500mb Download. 11mb Upload
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge Chromium
    Antivirus
    Windows Security
    Other Info
    System used for gaming, photography, music, school.
  • Operating System
    Win 10 Pro 22H2 (build 19045.2130)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom Built
    CPU
    Intel i7-7700K
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte GA-Z270X-GAMING 8
    Memory
    32G (4x8) DDR4 Corsair Dominator Platinum (3333Mhz)
    Graphics card(s)
    AMD Radeon R9 Fury
    Sound Card
    Onboard (Creative Sound Blaster certified ZxRi)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell U2415 (24 inch)
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1200
    Hard Drives
    3 Samsung SSD drives: 1x 512gig 950 NVMe drive (OS drive), 1 x 512gig 850 Pro, 1x 256gig 840 Pro.
    PSU
    EVGA Super Nova 1000 P2 (1000 watt)
    Case
    Phantek Enthoo Luxe
    Cooling
    Corsair H100i
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master
    Keyboard
    Logitech MK 710
    Internet Speed
    100MB
    Browser
    Edge Chromium
    Antivirus
    Windows Security
    Other Info
    This is my backup system.
Next time in inside the bios I'll disable it.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Homebuilt
    CPU
    Intel Core i9 13900K
    Motherboard
    Asus ProArt Z790 Creator WiFi - Bios 1801
    Memory
    Corsair Dominator 64gb 5600MT/s DDR5 Dual Channel
    Graphics Card(s)
    Sapphire NITRO+ AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX Vapor-X 24GB
    Sound Card
    External Fiio K5 Pro ESS DAC - Headphone Amplifier
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG 50" QNED80 TV 120hz
    Screen Resolution
    3840 x 2160 120hz
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 980 Pro 2TB (OS)
    Samsung 980 Pro 1TB (Files)
    Lexar NZ790 4TB
    LaCie d2 Professional 6TB external - USB 3.1
    PSU
    Corsair RM1200x Shift
    Case
    Corsair RGB Smart Case 5000x (white)
    Cooling
    Corsair iCue H150i Elite Capellix XT
    Keyboard
    Logitech K860
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Ergo Trackball
    Internet Speed
    Fibre 900/500 Mbps
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge Chromium
    Antivirus
    Bitdefender Total Security
    Other Info
    Logitech Brio 4K Webcam
    Orico 10-port powered USB 3.0 hub
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP ProBook 455 G7
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 5 4500U
    Memory
    16GB DDR 3200mhz
    Graphics card(s)
    AMD Radeon
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.6"
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    512 GB PCIe® NVMe
Screenshot 2023-06-19 050318.pngScreenshot 2023-06-19 050346.png


Can someone tell me why is the realtek console i am using has so little features? I tried to update the driver but its still the same. Will uninstall and reinstall solve the problem?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    window 11
Can someone tell me why is the realtek console i am using has so little features? I tried to update the driver but its still the same. Will uninstall and reinstall solve the problem?

it's the computer manufacturer's choice of limiting or restricting options for the realtek audio console.
and NO, uninstall & re-install will NOT solve your problem as it will change nothing.

you must ask or contact the pc manufacturer of your computer and bring the issue to them
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 10 ltsc

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