Does my computer have an onboard (integrated) sound card?

To determine if your computer has an onboard sound card, check the back of your computer where the cords and cables are connected. Find the speaker connector cable, which connects the speakers to the computer, then look where the cable connects to the computer.

If the connection (mini plug) is near the mouse, keyboard, and USB (Universal Serial Bus) connections, your computer likely has an integrated sound card. As shown in the picture above, this computer has an onboard sound card, with the audio ports located above the USB ports. In the case of a tower computer case, like the one shown above, these connections are usually found above or below USB ports.

However, if the audio ports are located in one of the expansion slots, it is a removable sound card and not an onboard sound card.