Aanalog Devices recently published a document challenging reviewers not only to benchmark the CPU utilization of integrated audio solutions, but also to explore how well those implementations handle EAX positional 3D audio. According to the document, most motherboards don't handle EAX properly, despite the fact that they claim to support the standard. Analog Devices diplomatically avoids naming names, but with the vast majority of integrated audio solutions powered by Realtek codecs, the writing's on the wall.

[NLN=Exploring EAX with onboard audio]http://techreport.com/etc/2006q4/onboard-eax/index.x?pg=1[/NLN]