is a sound card needed?

AAzumak · 01-15-2008, 08:21 PM

my current computer doesn't have a sound card at all

should i ne buying one for my new computer,

it has the one that comes with the motherboard, but is a full sized on really needed? how is it better than the motherboards card?

JLV2k5 · 01-15-2008, 08:33 PM

if you have decent speakers and are looking for better quality sound, by all means get a sound card. A big one isnt needed, any will improve sound from music, video or gaming.
If you do not have good speakers, this defeats the purpose of a sound card. If you are casually gaming and listening to music, the on board sound of your mobo is fine.

A lot of people claim that sound cards are needed for gaming because X-Fi gaming cards relieve the CPU of sound processing responsibility and increases frame rates but i do not think it is very significant.

PunterCam · 01-16-2008, 12:29 AM

I'd repectfully disagree entirely with the above post!

The difference in sound quality from your onboard sound card and a £100 (read $200) seperate card is practically non existant. The only part of the card that could make a difference will be the d-a convertors, and while you may be able to hear a difference between the two cards back to back, I very much doubt you could accuarately tell which was the better card. Neither would sound 'better', they'd sound slightly 'different', and even that would be extremely hard to tell.

Games nowadays are pretty impressive, and feature '3d sound' and all that other stuff. It does take more power to process, and freeing the cpu up by having a seperate soundcard will make a difference, especially if you have an older computer that already struggles with new games.

oscaryu1 · 01-16-2008, 12:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AAzumak

my current computer doesn't have a sound card at all

should i ne buying one for my new computer,

it has the one that comes with the motherboard, but is a full sized on really needed? how is it better than the motherboards card?

Motherboard sound cards aren't that bad IMO. I have 8 channel sound on a $70 motherboard

No need for upgrading here.

Beyond · 01-29-2008, 05:44 AM

Depends. What are you using it for?

The_Beast · 01-29-2008, 02:50 PM

A sound card is the last thing I would spend money on

01-15-2008, 08:21 PM	#1 (permalink)
AAzumak New Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 12	is a sound card needed? my current computer doesn't have a sound card at all should i ne buying one for my new computer, it has the one that comes with the motherboard, but is a full sized on really needed? how is it better than the motherboards card? Last edited by AAzumak; 01-15-2008 at 08:23 PM.

01-15-2008, 08:33 PM	#2 (permalink)
JLV2k5 Diamond Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: University of Delaware Age: 20 Posts: 1,260	if you have decent speakers and are looking for better quality sound, by all means get a sound card. A big one isnt needed, any will improve sound from music, video or gaming. If you do not have good speakers, this defeats the purpose of a sound card. If you are casually gaming and listening to music, the on board sound of your mobo is fine. A lot of people claim that sound cards are needed for gaming because X-Fi gaming cards relieve the CPU of sound processing responsibility and increases frame rates but i do not think it is very significant. __________________ Planned System Processor: Intel C2D E8400 3.00Ghz GPU: EVGA 8800GT 512mb GDDR3 MB: Gigabyte X38 775 RAM: Corsair XMS2 4GB DDR2 800 PSU: OCZ 700W ; Case: Antec 900 HDD: Seagate 320GB 7200/16 OS: Vista Home Premium 64 Monitor: 19'' Samsung LCD 2 ms

01-29-2008, 05:44 AM	#5 (permalink)
Beyond Diamond Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Computer Engineering @ NCSU Posts: 1,267	Depends. What are you using it for? __________________ EVGA 680i // Antec P180B Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 2GB Corsair XMS2 Dominator EVGA 8800GTX > MAG 22" (x2) Audigy 2 ZS > a) PA2V2 > Alessandro MS-1s (music); b) Pioneer VSX-516-K/S > Insignia NS-B2111 (2) 74GB WD Raptor \| 500GB WD Caviar SE16 Antec TruePower 2.0 ..at factory timings.

01-29-2008, 02:50 PM	#6 (permalink)
The_Beast Diamond Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Somewhere In Wisconsin Age: 16 Posts: 3,253	A sound card is the last thing I would spend money on __________________ Rendering Machine - Gigabyte DS3L P35 - - C2D E6550 - - Corsair XMS2 2Gb - Seagate 'Cuda 320Gb - Sapphire 2600 XT 256mb - - Antec Earthwatt 430 watt - - Windows XP Pro - - Hp w1907 monitor - Check Out My Custom Clock Picture 1/\Picture 2

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01-16-2008, 12:29 AM	#3 (permalink)
PunterCam Gold Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 367	I'd repectfully disagree entirely with the above post! The difference in sound quality from your onboard sound card and a £100 (read $200) seperate card is practically non existant. The only part of the card that could make a difference will be the d-a convertors, and while you may be able to hear a difference between the two cards back to back, I very much doubt you could accuarately tell which was the better card. Neither would sound 'better', they'd sound slightly 'different', and even that would be extremely hard to tell. Games nowadays are pretty impressive, and feature '3d sound' and all that other stuff. It does take more power to process, and freeing the cpu up by having a seperate soundcard will make a difference, especially if you have an older computer that already struggles with new games.

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