How do I find and configure a sound card hardware buffer?

I'm looking at directx as my windows media player 11 and sound for websites is only a slight whirring sound throughout and some other sound. It only just started doing this. When i test directx for musical sounds its all clear in my earphones. Yet when I test for sounds it goes through software and then a message





your sound card does not support hardware buffering





blessed be

How do I find and configure a sound card hardware buffer?
You need a different sound card.