PCI-E Express 6 Channel 5.1 CMI8738 Audio Sound Card PC Computer Compatible Ordinary Sound Card Extension Card for Windows
Bottom line: The PCI-E Express 6 Channel 5.1 CMI8738 Audio Sound Card PC Computer is a specs-and-price decision rather than a crowd-consensus one in the sound cards category. Check the specification table below against one or two close alternatives — on price and spec fit, not on star ratings.
As an Amazon Associate, SpecPicks earns from qualifying purchases. Full disclosure →
Pros & Cons
Pros
- ✓ Backed by GOLDEN BLUE's warranty and support channels
Cons
- ✗ Confirm socket / form-factor / power-rating compatibility against your build before ordering
- ✗ Price, stock, shipping and returns are set by the retailer and may have changed since this page was last updated
Manufacturer description
Description:System interface: 32-bit PCI express x1 Bus Master Wave table synthesizer: DLS-base Wavetable music synthesizer Software compatibility: fully Sound Blaster, Sound Blaster Pro and External connector: SPK1,SPK2,SPK3, line-in, MIC-in Internal connector: CD audio, AUX connectors Operation System: For Windows 2000/ XP/ VISTA/ For Win7/For Linux Specification:Color: MulticolorSize: 130*105*20mmPackage size: 150*130*30mmMaterial: Metal
SpecPicks Verdict
SpecPicks scored PCI-E Express 6 Channel 5.1 CMI8738 Audio Sound Card PC Computer… using a rating × review-volume × price-fit model applied to published specs and reviews across the sound cards category. GOLDEN BLUE'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
- Features:The type of PCI bus interface 5.1-channel sound card Built-in external built Applicable to the field of home Linear audio interface input / microphone input Linear standard output (front / rear / central / bass) Output sampling rate (KHZ) 96KHz 24 bit sample medianProvides audio fidelity that rivals movie theaters with 4/6-channel digital sound.Customize Internet audio with the power and surround sound of EAX audio technology.Enjoy compelling 3D audio and 4-channel
- ound on multiple speaker series.Rich software bundled.HRTF-base 3D positional audio, supporting Direct Sound 3D, EAX and A3D interfaces.Supports multi-speaker output to 4/6 speakers.Support high-performance 6-channel audio sound card.Own interface front-channel output, in the home / bass channel output.Rear channel output, surround sound output, microphone input, line transmission Income, headphone output.
Full Specifications
| Brand | GOLDEN BLUE |
|---|---|
| Platform | Linux, Windows 2000, Windows 7 |
| Model Number | PCI-E Express 6 Channel 5.1 CMI8738 |
| Compatibility | PC |
| Mfr Part Number | PCI-E Express 6 Channel 5.1 CMI8738 |
| Audio Output Mode | Surround Sound |
| Hardware Platform | Personal Computer |
| Compatible Devices | Personal Computer, Laptop, Headphone, Microphone, Speaker |
| Hardware Interface | Headphone, PCI Express x1 |
| Maximum Sample Rate | 96 KHz |
| Hardware Connectivity | Headphone, PCI Express x1 |
| Item Dimensions L x W x H | 5.12"L x 4.13"W x 0.79"H |
| Surround Sound Channel Configuration | 5.1 |
Ready to buy?
PCI-E Express 6 Channel 5.1 CMI8738 Audio Sound Card PC Computer Compatible Ordinary Sound Card Extension Card for Windows is listed on Amazon. Price, availability, shipping and returns are set by Amazon and its sellers — check the listing for current terms. SpecPicks earns a small commission on qualifying purchases — thank you for supporting independent review work.
Related Sound Cards
More guides & deep dives from the SpecPicks archive
Browse all articles & guides →- How to Build a Windows 98 Retro PC in 2026
- Best Budget Gaming PC Build 2026 — ~$1,000 ($800 on Sale)
- RTX 4070 Super vs RX 7800 XT — Which to Buy in 2026
- The Complete Voodoo5 5500 AGP Driver Guide (2026 Edition)
- Emulation Hardware in 2026: FPGA, Software, and Cart-Reader Ecosystems
- Best Retro Handhelds in 2026 — From $35 to $500
- Best 1440p Gaming GPUs in 2026
More reviews from the SpecPicks archive
Browse all reviews →- AMD Ryzen AI Halo: Pre-Orders Open for Linux Developers
- AVX-512 Speeds Up Linux Software RAID by Up to 41% on AMD Ryzen
- AA-AgentPerf: What the New Agentic Inference Benchmark Means for Local Coding Rigs
- 8BitDo Pro 2 vs DualSense: Best Controller for PC Gaming in 2026
- Best Gaming Controller for PC and Console in 2026: 5 Picks Compared
- Best Budget Streaming & Podcast Gear in 2026
- Free Retro Game Emulator Online: 2026 Browser Guide
- Troubleshooting Ryzen 5 5600X No-POST: Memory, BIOS, and Cooler Mount Fixes (2026)
- Ryzen 5 5600G vs Ryzen 7 5700X for a Budget Gaming + Streaming PC
- Best GPU for Local Llama 70B in 2026: RTX 3060 12GB Stack vs Single Workstation Card
- BIOS Says Resize BAR Is On But Nvidia Disagrees
- Best Mac for AI & LLM Workloads in 2026
- Best Budget SSD for Gaming in 2026: 5 Tested Picks Ranked
- Best Gaming Monitor for Console + PC Dual Setup in 2026
- DIY Steam Controller Puck Adds Xbox, Switch and PS Emulation Modes
- FIDECO vs Unitek vs Vantec: Best IDE-to-USB Adapter for Dumping Retro Drives
- Best Upgrades to Revive an Old Gaming PC in 2026: 5 Picks
- Run a Local LLM on a Raspberry Pi 4 8GB: What Works in 2026
- Nintendo Switch Steering Wheel V2: A 3D-Printed Accessibility Controller
- ComfyUI on an RTX 3060 12GB: Local Stable Diffusion Setup and Real Throughput
- Enthusiast Hides Gaming PC Inside Living Room Fan
- Best Parts for a Long-Context Local LLM Workstation in 2026
- Chrome Using Too Much RAM? Fixes + Hardware Upgrades
- How to Run a Public Website on a $10 ESP32 Without Servers
Earliest SpecPicks reviews
Browse full archive →- Best GPU for Llama 3.1 8B (2026)
- Best GPU for Qwen 3 14B (2026)
- Best GPU for Qwen 3 32B (2026)
- Best GPU for Llama 3.1 70B (2026)
- Best GPU for DeepSeek-R1 32B (2026)
- Best GPU for Llama 3.1 405B (2026)
- How to run Llama 3.1 8B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
- How to run Qwen 3 14B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
- How to run Qwen 3 32B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
- How to run Llama 3.1 70B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
- How to run DeepSeek-R1 32B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
- How to run Llama 3.1 8B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090