| Feature | Native on Win9x/XP | On Win11 (via modded driver) | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | 4-speaker output (rear) | Yes | No (only front L/R) | | Digital SPDIF Out | Yes | Intermittent / broken | | Microphone In | Yes | No (driver fails to route) | | Gameport / MIDI | Yes | No (no port driver) | | EAX / DirectSound3D | Yes (via wrapper) | No (removed from Windows stack) | | ASIO support | Via 3rd party | No | | BSOD stability | Stable | Frequent (every 1-2 hours) |
Even after installation, you may encounter issues. Here is how to solve them.
This happens if you attempt to launch a 32-bit driver installer package. Ensure you have downloaded the 64-bit version of the legacy driver. Alternatively, bypass the setup wizard entirely by using Method A (Device Manager installation) . Cmi8738 Driver Windows 11 64 Bit
Look for versions designated for Windows 7 64-bit or Windows 8 64-bit to ensure the best chance of compatibility with Windows 11.
Since official sources are dormant, users must rely on driver repositories, Windows Update, or third-party tools. Method 1: Using DriverHub (Recommended) | Feature | Native on Win9x/XP | On
Some OEM CMI8738 cards have different hardware IDs (e.g., PCI\VEN_13F6&DEV_0111 vs SUBSYS_1234 ). Windows may not recognize your specific variant.
or later, which is often listed as compatible with Windows 10/11. Alternatively, the Windows 10 64-bit version 1.1.4.1111 is widely reported as stable. Driver Scape Where to Find Drivers Official Support: C-Media Download Center first, though they primarily host drivers for newer chips. Third-Party Repositories: Since official support is limited, sites like Driver Scape host archived 64-bit drivers for this chipset. The Retro Web: For older PCI versions of the card, The Retro Web maintains a repository of various driver revisions. C-Media Electronics, Inc. Manual Installation Steps Ensure you have downloaded the 64-bit version of
Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager .