Video, audio, and multimedia chips are integrated circuit (IC) chips designed for video, audio, and multimedia applications. A video chip handles the transfer of graphic data between a display monitor and the operating system. A video driver (also called a video card driver or multimedia driver) is a software component that allows the manufacturer to provide functions via updatable code. An audio chip allows a device to record, manipulate, and play sounds. A multimedia audio driver supports the use of audio in a multimedia context. Video, audio, and multimedia chips also allow system designers to provide advanced functions such as multiple sound channels or 3D graphics.

The primary specifications of video, audio, and multimedia chips are size of memory in megabytes, transfer speeds, number of channels, compatibility with the computer motherboard (or backboard), power supply requirements, and cooling requirements. Other specifications for video, audio, and multimedia chips vary with by function. For example, video cards can have video-in, video-out, and TV-out ports. If accelerated graphics port (AGP) or PCI Express is used, graphic operations can use system memory. Otherwise, a fast random-access memory (RAM) chip is required. For cathode ray tube (CRT) displays, analog/digital conversion is required. Digital audio processing has four important specifications: resolution (from 16- to 24-bit), sampling rate (for example, 44.1 or 48 KHz), signal-to-noise ratio (90 dB or higher for professional use) and number of channels (for surround sound, four or more channels).

Video, audio, and multimedia chips are integrated circuit (IC) chips designed for video, audio, and multimedia applications. A video chip handles the transfer of graphic data between a display monitor and the operating system. A video driver (also called a video card driver or multimedia driver) is a software component that allows the manufacturer to provide functions via updatable code. An audio chip allows a device to record, manipulate, and play sounds. A multimedia audio driver supports the use of audio in a multimedia context. Video, audio, and multimedia chips also allow system designers to provide advanced functions such as multiple sound channels or 3D graphics.

The primary specifications of video, audio, and multimedia chips are size of memory in megabytes, transfer speeds, number of channels, compatibility with the computer motherboard (or backboard), power supply requirements, and cooling requirements. Other specifications for video, audio, and multimedia chips vary with by function. For example, video cards can have video-in, video-out, and TV-out ports. If accelerated graphics port (AGP) or PCI Express is used, graphic operations can use system memory. Otherwise, a fast random-access memory (RAM) chip is required. For cathode ray tube (CRT) displays, analog/digital conversion is required. Digital audio processing has four important specifications: resolution (from 16- to 24-bit), sampling rate (for example, 44.1 or 48 KHz), signal-to-noise ratio (90 dB or higher for professional use) and number of channels (for surround sound, four or more channels).

Video, audio, and multimedia chips support codecs (programs used to compress or decompress a digital media file, such as a song or video), application program interfaces (APIs) like OpenGL®, video file formats like MPEG-4, graphics file formats like JPEG, and sound file formats like MP3®. The International Telecommunication Union Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T) publishes recommendations that apply to video, audio, and multimedia chips, including the H series on audiovisual and multimedia systems. OpenGL is a registered trademark of Silicon Graphics, Inc. MP3 is a registered trademark of Blaupunkt GMBH.