Sound card

i have two sound cards, onboard and pci. But I hardly ever use it, I use to use the extra one for my headphones, so instead of unplugging the speakers, just select the other sound card.
 
I recently upgraded to the X-Fi XtremeMusic (although I actually got it for gaming). Cheaper than the Fatal1ty, but not with all the bells and whistles, or the XRAM. I experienced a jump in sound quality (although it depends on the "ear"), but it was more noticible at higher volumes. Agreed, you DO need a good speaker setup. I've got the Logitech X-530 5.1 set, and music sounds awesome on them. Go for it!
 
I also have X-530's with a cheapy creative card (Live 24-bit) and it was
a big improvement on my onboard sound. Maybe I just had
bad onboard sound.
Turning the volume to max with no sound made my speakers buzz
but with my new setup it's dead silent.
I'm not a audiophile though.
 
I have a an asus a8n32 sli deluxe with supposedly "great" onboard sound. It just sux compared to my old audigy2 platinum, the sound difference is huge, one of the best bits of kit i ever bought, and i bought it about 4 years ago and it still rocks. Its definitely worth having a decent card, there's just too much going on on your mobo to not affect an onboard chip.
Just make sure you complement it with good speakers or its pointless.
 
i have a dfi lanparty expert with 5.1 'karajan' onboard sound.........how good is this in relation to the expensive pci soundcards?
 
onboard sound is fine dude

dont go spending 2k on something that enhances a little bit :)

go get a cheap 300 buck soundblaster or audigy value

dont buy this expensive kuk that only a dedicated sound fundi know the difference :)
 
If you're just listening to music or playing games, stay with the onboard - especially if you don't run your rig through a professional sound system.
Even the most expensive Yamaha or Turtle Beach cards sound crappy through desktop speaker systems and there's really no point (except for bragging) to go beyond onboard. :cool:
 
NoRulez said:
If you're just listening to music or playing games, stay with the onboard - especially if you don't run your rig through a professional sound system.
Click to expand...
As apposed to what? Isn't that what most people do with their PC's? Play games and listen to music? I've compared my Logitech speakers to so-called "home entertainment" systems, and the sound quality of the Logitech’s was just beyond words (PC 5.1 surround speakers vs. 5.1 home entertainment system - for half the price, R700 vs. R1500). I have an extra set of 2.1 Logitech speakers that I hooked up to my TV, and it STILL sounds better than other home entertainment systems. (and I'm mostly referring to systems that are within affordable reach of most people).

It is a debated point that sound cards in SA are overpriced when compared to abroad, but so is most other PC components. I also had (still have) onboard sound, but I got myself a proper sound card because I wanted to improve my listening pleasure (for games, but mostly for music), just as one would buy a faster CPU or bigger RAM for better PC performance. Stating that, soundcards are still a "luxury" item, as apposed to things like CPU's and RAM, as it is not a crucial PC component. But then why would you go and buy a 19" LCD monitor over a 19" CRT monitor? Because you can.

Besides, I've found that there is things add-on sound card's software allows you to do that most onboard sound card's software probably just wont. For example (and this is not the only thing that's good about it), with the pci sound card I've got, I can tweak the 3-D effect of the audio output, something I couldn't do with my onboard sound (and believe me, I've tried). When you've got a 5.1 surround sound system, this makes, in my opinion, a HUGE difference, with games and with music, 'cause usually it appears that no sound would be coming from the rear speakers, even though there would be (when using onboard sound). However, I never had the opportunity to test other onboard sound cards, and I understand that the more recent motherboards are bringing out better quality onboard sound cards. And following the sound upgrade, I've never regretted getting it.

So sure, if the guy is using plain, crappy old desktop speakers, than there is no point really in upgrading the soundcard. But I'm assuming that he wouldn't have posted the question if he didn't have at least a reasonably good speaker setup. And agreeably, the Audigy 2 cards are a lot cheaper than the current X-Fi cards, and probably do exactly the same job. So if you've got the money to spend, upgrade the sound card, if you feel sound is important to you.
 
Do yourself a favour & get a seperate sound card. I've got the Audigy2 ZS Pro + Creative Inspire 6.1 speakers - and my onboard sound sucks donkey balls compared to that.

The onboard sound sounds 'tinny', not rich, full & bassy like a dedicated sound card.

*I guess the same goes for onboard graphics & seperate graphics card.
 
Recently got the Creative X-Fi Elite. Maybe an overkill but definitely much better sound quality. Great for games, movies and music, but also excellent for music production and MIDI which is one of my hobbies.

Got to have good speakers, though.
 
dude, these new intel boards have HD audio, which sounds as good as my creative audigy.

if you have onboard, a new sound card is one of the best price/improvement upgrades.

life is too short to have ban sound. onboard is very tinny! i agree.
 
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