All modern computers have the ability to play high-quality digital sound, but getting here wasn't easy. The first part in our definitive history of computer sound cards looks at the device that started it all: the internal PC speaker.

The potential dangers faced when you use the Internet are very real and threaten far more than your computer and the files stored on it. Thankfully, computer software and operating systems have evolved to face these threats; a modern computer includes numerous safety features to help prevent you from putting yourself in a potentially risky situation.

The twelfth part in our definitive sound card history looks at the sound hardware of the Commodore 64 and Amiga 1000.

The eleventh part in our definitive sound card history looks at modern sound cards and how they influence today's game soundtracks.

The tenth part in our definitive sound card history looks at the Sound Blaster AWE32 and the advent of pre-recorded game soundtracks.

The ninth part in our definitive sound card history looks at the Sound Blaster 16 and the sound card wars of the '90s.

The eighth part in our definitive sound card history looks at the Gravis UltraSound and its advanced hardware mixing capabilities.

The seventh part in our definitive sound card history looks at the Roland Sound Canvas SC-55 and the development of General MIDI.

The sixth part in our definitive sound card history looks at the Creative Labs Sound Blaster and digital sampled sound in PC games.

The fifth part in our definitive sound card history looks at the Creative Music Systems Game Blaster and its failed attempt to find a market.

The fourth part in our definitive sound card history examines the Roland MT-32 sound module and its L/A Synthesis.