USB DAC - Do I still need sound card drivers?

[terrancez]

I'm using a USB DAC right now, just wonder if I could uninstall my Realtek HD audio drivers? Is it going to cause any problem with games and other applications (voice chat, movies)? Has anybody tried this?

 

[R_1]

if the USB is the only audio device that you use, you can remove the drivers, but I would suggest you disable the audio in the BIOS as well.

 

[terrancez]

I also have a mic for voice chat, is it going to stop working? Just don't want to uninstall all the audio drivers and then install them back..

 

[R_1]

does the mic plug into the motherboard? if so you will need to keep the onboard drivers installed and the device enabled in the BIOS.
leaving it be should not cause any problems as you can choose the default device in the control panel. once you tell the OS to give priority to that device the software will follow suit.