HD Audio的3.5mm音频插孔与AC'97规范及一般音频设备中使用的接口不同。AC'97使用普通的3.5mm音频插孔,通常有5个针脚:一个针脚接地,两个针脚接立体声信号,另外两个针脚接返回信号[12]:20。当没有连接插头时,两个立体声信号会连接到各自的返回引脚。当插头插入时,立体声信号与插头上的相应通道连接,并与插孔的返回针脚断开。HD Audio的3.5mm插孔没有两个回传音频信号;相反,它有一个隔离开关,用于感应插孔中是否有插头[12]:25。
It is strongly recommended that motherboard designers only use Intel HD Audio analog front panel dongles with the Intel HD Audio analog front panel header to ensure that the jack detection and dynamic retasking capability are preserved. Passive AC'97 analog front panel dongles (ones that leave the 5V Analog pin-7 line unconnected on the dongle) may be used with the Intel HD Audio analog front panel header. But note that the front panel jack detection and re-tasking functionality will be lost as the AC'97 jacks cannot support connection to the SENSE line. In addition, software must be aware that an AC'97 dongle is being used with an Intel HD Audio analog header since the software might need to dedicate codec ports that are connected to the header to meet the product's intended functionality.