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| Image ref: http://computer.howstuffworks.com/sound-card.htm |
Sound Cards have a Line in/microphone port that allows the user to give audio input to the computer through the sound card. This port is coloured blue and is typically used with a Microphone, the user will use this device to record their voice or speak to other users.
A Sound Card also has a Line Out/Audio jack which allows the user to receive audio output from the computer using the sound card. This port is usually coloured pink and he user will typically plug in speakers or headphones to receive the output.
The connector a sound card most often uses is PCI OR PCI-E ports. These are the main expansion slots within a computer that hardware plugs into. Modern motherboards come with an integrated sound card as standard which makes PCI Expansion cards unnecessary and as a result uncommon in modern computers.
The cheapest of sound cards can be below £10 in price and these will provide basic audio Input/Output functionality to your P.C. Some of the high end sound cards such as the Asus Xonar are upwards of £100, these produce a much better sound quality than integrated sound cards will.
