StarTech.com

StarTech.com 4 Channel Low Profile PCI Sound Adapter Card AC97 3D Audio Effects Sound Cards PCISOUND4LP

Name: StarTech.com 4 Channel Low Profile PCI Sound Adapter Card AC97 3D Audio Effects Sound Cards PCISOUND4LP
Brand: StarTech.com
SKU: B001D767GA

Bottom line: The StarTech.com 4 Channel Low Profile PCI Sound Adapter Card AC97 3D: Low-profile bracket fits slim and SFF cases where full-height PCI cards won't seat; main trade-off: AC97 codec, so no hardware DSP or ASIO-grade latency for music production.

Live pricing on eBay

As an Amazon Associate, SpecPicks earns from qualifying purchases. Full disclosure →

🛒 See live eBay price Also on Amazon — Check price → Compare to similar sound cards

By Mike Perry, Founder & Editor-in-Chief · Listing data updated 2026-10-06

Mike Perry — Hardware researcher since 2014. For retro PC hardware and period-correct parts, synthesises manufacturer documentation, community compatibility lists and marketplace listings rather than first-hand lab testing. Core beat: GPU performance across gaming, rendering, and local-LLM inference. About the author →

Pros & Cons

Pros

✓ Low-profile bracket fits slim and SFF cases where full-height PCI cards won't seat
✓ Hardware 4-channel output over three 3.5mm mini-jacks, no software mixing needed
✓ EAX environmental audio support for period-correct effects in older DirectSound titles
✓ Built-in 32 Ohm earphone buffer drives headphones without a separate amp
✓ StarTech.com 2-year warranty plus free lifetime technical support

Cons

✗ AC97 codec, so no hardware DSP or ASIO-grade latency for music production
✗ Legacy PCI slot only, unusable in modern PCIe-only motherboards
✗ Driver support stops at Windows 7 and Server 2008 R2, no Windows 10 or 11 listed
✗ 4 channels max, so no 5.1 or 7.1 surround decoding

Manufacturer description

This PCI sound card provides high quality, multi-channel audio capability and is configured with low profile bracket that allows the card to be installed in a slim form factor or low profile PC case. The sound card includes a microphone port for applications requiring audio input (voice chat etc.), two audio output ports for rich, clear sound, and a Line-In port for simple connection of auxiliary devices.

SpecPicks Verdict

SpecPicks scored StarTech.com 4 Channel Low Profile PCI Sound Adapter Card AC97 3D… using a rating × review-volume × price-fit model applied to published specs and reviews across the sound cards category. StarTech.com's sound cards lineup sits within the broader category mid-tier; price and specs are the deciding factors over brand loyalty here. Judge it on the specification table and the price rather than on sentiment: check the figures that decide your use case, then put it side-by-side with two or three close alternatives in the Compare tool before clicking through.

Common buyer scenarios for sound cards of this kind: matching it to an existing build, replacing a failing part, or upgrading from a previous-generation equivalent. Check the spec table below against your current setup — particularly socket / form-factor / power-rating fields — and confirm compatibility on the retailer's listing before purchase. Prices and stock are set by the retailer and may have moved since this page was last updated.

Key Features

Hardware 4-channel audio outputs and support for EAX environmental audio extensions
Backed by a StarTech.com 2-year warranty and free lifetime technical support
4 channel audio output via 3.5mm mini-jacks
Support for EAX, Karaoke Key and Echoing
Built-in 32 Ohm earphone buffer. Operating Systems: Windows 2000/ XP(32/64bit)/ Server 2003(32/64bit)/ Vista(32/64bit)/ 7(32/64bit)/ Server 2008 R2, and Linux

Full Specifications

Brand	StarTech.com
Platform	Linux, Windows 2000
Model Number	PCISOUND4LP
Compatibility	Linux
Mfr Part Number	PCISOUND4LP
Audio Output Mode	Surround
Hardware Platform	PC
Hardware Interface	PCI
Warranty Description	Lifetime warranty
Hardware Connectivity	PCI
Global Trade Identification Number	00065030831529
Surround Sound Channel Configuration	4

Ready to buy?

StarTech.com 4 Channel Low Profile PCI Sound Adapter Card AC97 3D Audio Effects Sound Cards PCISOUND4LP is vintage hardware; the used and vintage market on eBay carries most of the live inventory. Prices and condition vary by seller and move in real time, so we link the live listing rather than quote a cached price. It also has an Amazon listing — check it for current price and availability. SpecPicks earns a small commission on qualifying purchases — thank you for supporting independent review work.

See live eBay listings → Check Amazon listing →