Music Sound Cards & Computer Sound Cards?

Oddly enough, I typed a whole explanation and then found this link for you and found that the link provided virtually the exact same information I provided below. So if you want the short version read my answer, or check out the excellent in-depth article at the link below:

http://computer.howstuffworks.com/sound-card.htm

Sound cards are to sound what video cards are to video: they remove responsibility of sound processing from your CPU (central processor) and give it it's own processor to perform calculations. With this increase in power, your sound card has an enhanced ABILITY to add effects. Such effects can be disabled easily (usually by access on the taskbar, in lower-right hand corner.)

What a sound card can do:

- add an equalizer to your system, allowing you manual control over all frequencies (i.e. bass, mid-range, and treble)

- add equalizer EFFECTS, for example my sound card can emulate a forest, a padded room, or even underwater

- add 3D effects to emulate noises behind or beside the listener without the need for multiple speakers.

- add advanced input to allow keyboard, guitar, and other various instrument inputs

- provide multiple, more advanced outputs such as HDMI

- add surround sound effects (such as Dolby 5.1 & 7.1) through both real and emulated modes

What a sound card CANNOT do:

- play music without a media player on your computer: a sound card cannot act as a media distributor.

- boost output wattage to any great value: a sound card is not an amplifier.

- receive analog input through CD or any other media: a sound card is a purely digital INPUT device.

Hope this helps!

There are a couple things I can suggest. Click the start button, and choose run. Type dxdiag and run the audio tests. If they run ok, and you don't hear anything, then it is not likely a driver issue. Go into the control panel and choose system and device manager. Check on the list for yellow or red tags next to any devices. If there are none then it is not likely a hardware issue. You can also make sure the headphones or speakers are plugged into the proper ports. Also open the sound properties to make sure the device is selected on the list and that the volume settings are up and not muted. In my experience, I switch between usb and soundblaster settings.