Intel SST (Smart Sound Technology) drivers update help needed because of Windows 11 compatibility problem


Almighty1

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It appears that in the following article:

Microsoft is saying that anyone with drivers older than what's listed needs to upgade.

I have a Dell XPS 15 9570 notebook where Dell does not appear to provide Intel SST (Smart Sound Technology) drivers even though in Device Manager, it is installed as:
Intel (R) Smart Sound Technology (Intel (R) SST) Audio Controller is v10.23.0.2427
Intel (R) Smart Sound Technology (Intel (R) SST) OED is v10.23.3349.219

I have been running Windows 11 since July 3, 2021 24/7 and have not had any BSODs.

But anyways, on Microsoft Update Catalog, the latest versions of Intel (R) Smart Sound Technology (Intel (R) SST) that includes the Intel (R) Smart Sound Technology (Intel (R) SST) Audio Controller is v10.29.0.6367 as v10.29.0.6590 does not include it. The drivers from MUC are from different companies such as Lenovo and Quanta (who OEMs a lot of name brand machines) which still would not install if you just browse the folder but it needs to be manually selected with Update Driver, Browse my computer for drivers, Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer for the following devices:
Intel (R) Smart Sound Technology (Intel (R) SST) Audio Controller
Intel (R) Smart Sound Technology (Intel (R) SST) OED

It doesn't work correctly as the OED device is the one with the problem.

If I install the following:
Intel (R) Smart Sound Technology (Intel (R) SST) Audio Controller v10.29.0.6367
Intel (R) Smart Sound Technology (Intel (R) SST) OED v10.29.0.6367
Intel (R) Smart Sound Technology (Intel (R) SST) OED would have a problem with:
This device cannot start. (Code 10)
Mismatch configuration (production / engineering).

If I changed it to:
Intel (R) Smart Sound Technology (Intel (R) SST) Audio Controller v10.29.0.6367
Intel (R) Smart Sound Technology (Intel (R) SST) OED is v10.23.3349.219
Intel (R) Smart Sound Technology (Intel (R) SST) OED would have a problem with:
This device cannot start. (Code 10)
Mismatch configuration (production / engineering).

It would only work correctly with:
Intel (R) Smart Sound Technology (Intel (R) SST) Audio Controller v10.23.0.2427
Intel (R) Smart Sound Technology (Intel (R) SST) OED is v10.23.3349.219
which is also what it installs when I uninstall and delete drivers for Audio Controller as the OED device will also disappear as soon as the Audio Controller has been uninstalled.

Anyone else here that is using Intel Smart Sound Technology driver versions that are supposed to have the compatibility problem?
 
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My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows XP/7/8/8.1/10/11, Linux, Android, FreeBSD Unix
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 15 9570
    CPU
    Intel® Core™ i7-8750H 8th Gen Processor 2.2Ghz up to 4.1Ghz
    Motherboard
    Dell XPS 15 9570
    Memory
    32GB using 2x16GB modules
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel UHD 630 & NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti with 4GB DDR5
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC3266-CG
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.6" 4K Touch UltraHD 3840x2160 made by Sharp
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    Toshiba KXG60ZNV1T02 NVMe 1024GB/1TB SSD
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    Dell XPS 15 9570
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    Dell XPS 15 9570
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    Comcast/XFinity 1.44Gbps/42.5Mbps
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My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 22631.3296
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    PC/Desktop
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    Dell Optiplex 7080
    CPU
    i9-10900 10 core 20 threads
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    DELL 0J37VM
    Memory
    32 gb
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    none-Intel UHD Graphics 630
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    Integrated Realtek
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    Benq 27
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    2560x1440
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    1tb Solidigm m.2 +256gb ssd+512 gb usb m.2 sata
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    500w
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    Dell Premium
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    Logitech wired
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    so slow I'm too embarrassed to tell
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    Firefox
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    Defender+MWB Premium
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro 22H2 19045.3930
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    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 9020
    CPU
    i7-4770
    Memory
    24 gb
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
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    2560x1440
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    256 gb Toshiba BG4 M.2 NVE SSB and 1 tb hdd
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    500w
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    Dell factory
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    Logitech wireless
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    still not telling
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Did you see this video According to it,, the Intel SST driver is only necessary for 11th gen cpus. 10th gen. or older do not require the driver.
Here is a link to one user's fix and it correlates to video's statement. Maybe it can lead you in the right direction. https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us...-sst-oed/00485b71-188b-4af7-a212-326badab1084
Not sure about that since the Intel SST driver was either installed by Windows 11 originally or it came that way when the system originally shipped from Dell with Windows 10 back in 2019. I already looked at the videos and the fix which is to use High Definition Audio will actually degrade the sound when using the Realtek drivers for the actual sound drivers themselves. SST is not only needed for 11th generation CPUs or else it would be listed as drivers that are working properly in Device manager as this is a better definition of what Intel SST is which can be seen here:

"The Intel Smart Audio driver (or Intel Smart Sound) is actually an SST based "bus" driver which is used on most modern PCs

Without the Intel SST driver, your SST based onboard audio [Realtek High Definition Audio (SST), Conexant Smartaudio HD [SST] or Conexant ISST Audio, etc.) will not work at all (meaning no audio)

I know from experience since removing the Intel SST driver also removes the Realtek SST audio device in Device Manager on my brother's refurbished HP Spectre x360 15-df laptop

SST = Smart Sound Technology"

So the fix while visually working, sonically does not if you read other threads on various sites who also replaced the Intel SST with the High Definition Audio driver. It's listed under System Devices in Device Manager, not in the Sound, Game, Video Controllers section where the usual Realtek Audio drivers are.

I did watch the video except MSI as the OEM provided the Intel SST driver while Dell does not which is where the difference lies. Until the OED device works properly, the Mic will not be working from what I read.

MSI would have worked except the driver ends in 5152, according to the Microsoft doc, it requires v5174 or later to avoid the issue.

The Microsoft link you provided was what I tried as they said to delete both devices except in my case, uninstall and deleting the first device with the Audio Controller in the name would also make the OED disappear before the reboot. When it reboots, all it does is it loads the original drivers I had for those two devices so it is identifying the devices correctly and even able to reinstall them even though the drivers are supposedly deleted.
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows XP/7/8/8.1/10/11, Linux, Android, FreeBSD Unix
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 15 9570
    CPU
    Intel® Core™ i7-8750H 8th Gen Processor 2.2Ghz up to 4.1Ghz
    Motherboard
    Dell XPS 15 9570
    Memory
    32GB using 2x16GB modules
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel UHD 630 & NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti with 4GB DDR5
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC3266-CG
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.6" 4K Touch UltraHD 3840x2160 made by Sharp
    Screen Resolution
    3840x2160
    Hard Drives
    Toshiba KXG60ZNV1T02 NVMe 1024GB/1TB SSD
    PSU
    Dell XPS 15 9570
    Case
    Dell XPS 15 9570
    Cooling
    Stock
    Keyboard
    Stock
    Mouse
    SwitftPoint ProPoint
    Internet Speed
    Comcast/XFinity 1.44Gbps/42.5Mbps
    Browser
    Microsoft EDGE (Chromium based) & Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender that came with Windows
It appears that in the following article:

Microsoft is saying that anyone with drivers older than what's listed needs to upgade.

I have a Dell XPS 15 9570 notebook where Dell does not appear to provide Intel SST (Smart Sound Technology) drivers even though in Device Manager, it is installed as:
Intel (R) Smart Sound Technology (Intel (R) SST) Audio Controller is v10.23.0.2427
Intel (R) Smart Sound Technology (Intel (R) SST) OED is v10.23.3349.219

you need to contact & ask Dell for newer Intel SST (Smart Sound Technology) & Realtek audio drivers for Win11 as Dell has not provided updated drivers for your XPS 15 9570 laptop PC (latest Realtek audio driver package from dell for xps 9570 is 6.0.8991.1 which is definitely outdated. most of the time, the Intel SST controller drivers are bundled or packaged together with the Realtek audio drivers in the \RealtekAudio\IntelHDASST\ folder of the Dell Realtek audio driver EXE package - I view these exe packages from 7zip)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 10 ltsc
you need to contact & ask Dell for newer Intel SST (Smart Sound Technology) & Realtek audio drivers for Win11 as Dell has not provided updated drivers for your XPS 15 9570 laptop PC (latest Realtek audio driver package from dell for xps 9570 is 6.0.8991.1 which is definitely outdated. most of the time, the Intel SST controller drivers are bundled or packaged together with the Realtek audio drivers in the \RealtekAudio\IntelHDASST\ folder of the Dell Realtek audio driver EXE package - I view these exe packages from 7zip)
I don't think contacting Dell will be of any use because Dell does not even acknowledge that Intel SST drivers exist from searching threads on their forums and the machine is from 2019 or earlier so they will not provide support for non-current models. I am using generic UAD drivers. So I think the only chance of it happening is if Dell releases newer Realtek drivers that are UAD instead of HDA. I thought the Intel SST from MUC were supposed to be generic enough so it will work not that I had any BSOD problems with Windows 11 as a result of the currently installed ones. Thanks for the location of the IntelSST drivers though.
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows XP/7/8/8.1/10/11, Linux, Android, FreeBSD Unix
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 15 9570
    CPU
    Intel® Core™ i7-8750H 8th Gen Processor 2.2Ghz up to 4.1Ghz
    Motherboard
    Dell XPS 15 9570
    Memory
    32GB using 2x16GB modules
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel UHD 630 & NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti with 4GB DDR5
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC3266-CG
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.6" 4K Touch UltraHD 3840x2160 made by Sharp
    Screen Resolution
    3840x2160
    Hard Drives
    Toshiba KXG60ZNV1T02 NVMe 1024GB/1TB SSD
    PSU
    Dell XPS 15 9570
    Case
    Dell XPS 15 9570
    Cooling
    Stock
    Keyboard
    Stock
    Mouse
    SwitftPoint ProPoint
    Internet Speed
    Comcast/XFinity 1.44Gbps/42.5Mbps
    Browser
    Microsoft EDGE (Chromium based) & Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender that came with Windows
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