The C-Media CMI9738 is an integrated AC’97 audio codec designed for motherboards and embedded systems. It supports 6-channel (5.1) audio output and features a 20-bit DAC and 18-bit ADC for decent multimedia performance. Commonly used in early 2000s PCs, the CMI9738 provides basic audio functionality for gaming, music, and voice communication. It supports legacy audio standards and remains compatible with Windows and Linux through generic or vendor-specific drivers.