Driver Windows 11 64 Bit | Cmi8738

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.

Step 1: Open Device Manager, double-click the unknown device, go to Details tab, select Hardware Ids from the dropdown. You’ll see a string like PCI\VEN_13F6&DEV_0111&SUBSYS_12345678.

Step 2: Open the cmi8738.inf file in Notepad.

Step 3: Search for the line [CMedia.Mfg.NTamd64]. Below it, you will see entries like: %CMI8738.DeviceDesc% = CMI8738, PCI\VEN_13F6&DEV_0111 Cmi8738 Driver Windows 11 64 Bit

Step 4: Add a new line with your exact Hardware ID, but drop the &SUBSYS part. For example: %CMI8738.DeviceDesc% = CMI8738, PCI\VEN_13F6&DEV_0111&SUBSYS_12345678

Step 5: Save the file (you may need to save it to Desktop and copy back, as Windows protects the driver folder). Then run the "Have Disk" method again.

The CMI8738 has excellent hardware MIDI synthesis and Sound Blaster Pro compatibility. Under Windows 11, using DosBox-X or PCem, you can redirect legacy audio to the real CMI8738 hardware for authentic OPL3 FM synthesis – something USB headphones or modern Realtek chips cannot replicate. Some OEM CMI8738 cards have different hardware IDs (e

Safety Warning: Downloading drivers for legacy hardware from random "driver download" websites is a common way to get malware, adware, or rootkits. Use extreme caution.

Recommended Sources (Safe):

What NOT to do:

Direct Filename to look for: 8738_Win7-8-10_64bit.zip or cmi8738_wdm_6053.zip.

The CMI8738 (C-Media) is a legacy audio codec commonly found on older motherboards and PCI/PCIe sound cards. Official driver support for newer Windows versions is limited; Windows 11 may not include fully compatible built-in drivers for 64-bit systems, so you may need specific drivers or workarounds to restore full audio functionality (jack sensing, multi-channel, low-latency playback).

Believe it or not, the CMI8738 has very low ASIO latency (when paired with ASIO4ALL). Some musicians keep these cards for no-frills click tracks or legacy MIDI sequencing. The CMI8738 has excellent hardware MIDI synthesis and

There are three primary methods to source a working driver for Windows 11 64-bit. Since there is no official "Windows 11" branded driver from C-Media, we rely on compatibility modes and archived files.