Soundcards

helmie · 02-02-2006, 05:09 PM

Hi,
Is there any big advantages to using a soundcard to using the onboard audio?

One thing I do notice is at high volumes, you can a weird noise from the speakers, would this be removed with a sound card?

If i did get one, what would you reccomend?

Budget - £40.

Antiodontalgic · 02-02-2006, 06:02 PM

The Audio cards are better because it doesn't make your computer work as much as on board. Also with Sound cards your are able to take advantage of full surround sound and special effects on games and so forth.

I use a Sound Blaster Live and it works find but i would recommend a newer card from Creative.

Creative is the most famious Sound card producer. (They have diffrent versions)

**The_Other_One** · 02-02-2006, 06:19 PM

I had a sound blaster Live in my old system(it has no onboard audio) and it did sound better than my current soundcard... I could also bump Media Player Classic up to 24bit which really helped out...

As for performace, they usally take less, yes, than onboard sound cards, but typically, it's not that bad. If you read reviews, I'm think they rate it around a 5% decrease in performace for most onboard audio(with/without sound)

[-0MEGA-] · 02-02-2006, 06:24 PM

You wont see a visual improvement like you would with a video card, cpu, ram, ect. But it does sound much better, especially if you have headphones or nice speakers. The new X-Fi has CMSS-3D and 24Bit crystalizer, which makes headphones sound great in music, games, and movies.

**The_Other_One** · 02-02-2006, 06:31 PM

I didn't say there'd be a visual improvement if that's what you were suggesting

Well, there may be a slight FPS increase, but yeah, nothing major.

[-0MEGA-] · 02-02-2006, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_Other_One

I didn't say there'd be a visual improvement if that's what you were suggesting

Well, there may be a slight FPS increase, but yeah, nothing major.

no no, i wasnt talking to you, in fact i didnt even read your post

.

helmie · 02-02-2006, 08:57 PM

Ah right, so could anyone reccomand a cheap (but good) sound card?

EDIT:

How about this: (The top one)

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatal...oundcards.html

Phr3sH · 02-04-2006, 10:07 AM

i'd go with the x-fi hands down, you can get it for about 100$ and it has its own cpu which takes load off the main cpu freeing up more power for gaming and the like

LITHIUM · 02-04-2006, 08:43 PM

im sure that having a good sound card helps the gaming experience but personally i don't want to fork out all that money just to hear something really good

Phr3sH · 02-04-2006, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LITHIUM

im sure that having a good sound card helps the gaming experience but personally i don't want to fork out all that money just to hear something really good

It's really more then just hearing nice sound, although that is a big part. If your going to fork out the money on a good gaming comp then a good sound card is a must. It's just like a good home theatre system...sound is an integral component.

02-02-2006, 05:09 PM	#1 (permalink)
helmie Diamond Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Highlands, Scotland Age: 17 Posts: 1,208	Soundcards - Are they really worth it? Hi, Is there any big advantages to using a soundcard to using the onboard audio? One thing I do notice is at high volumes, you can a weird noise from the speakers, would this be removed with a sound card? If i did get one, what would you reccomend? Budget - £40. __________________ For sale: http://www.computerforum.com/111463-...tml#post893380

02-02-2006, 06:02 PM	#2 (permalink)
Antiodontalgic Gold Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Coalton, Ohio Age: 21 Posts: 359	Card The Audio cards are better because it doesn't make your computer work as much as on board. Also with Sound cards your are able to take advantage of full surround sound and special effects on games and so forth. I use a Sound Blaster Live and it works find but i would recommend a newer card from Creative. Creative is the most famious Sound card producer. (They have diffrent versions) __________________ "What you mean I have to work while at work?" Earn prizes and cash by signing up and doing offers or surveys. Get started by clicking Here

02-02-2006, 06:19 PM	#3 (permalink)
The_Other_One Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Lexington, NC Age: 23 Posts: 12,364	I had a sound blaster Live in my old system(it has no onboard audio) and it did sound better than my current soundcard... I could also bump Media Player Classic up to 24bit which really helped out... As for performace, they usally take less, yes, than onboard sound cards, but typically, it's not that bad. If you read reviews, I'm think they rate it around a 5% decrease in performace for most onboard audio(with/without sound) __________________ Desktop * Athlon X2 4200 \| 2G RAM \| 160G HD \| 7600GT Laptop1 * C2D T5550 \| 3G RAM \| 120G HD \| Intel x3100 Laptop2 * C2D T5250 \| 2G RAM \| 160G HD \| Intel x3100

02-02-2006, 06:24 PM	#4 (permalink)
[-0MEGA-] Diamond Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Concord, NH Age: 19 Posts: 26,897	You wont see a visual improvement like you would with a video card, cpu, ram, ect. But it does sound much better, especially if you have headphones or nice speakers. The new X-Fi has CMSS-3D and 24Bit crystalizer, which makes headphones sound great in music, games, and movies. __________________ Desktop // Laptop Core 2 Quad Q9550 @ 4.0GHz // Core 2 Duo T9300 2.5GHz Asus Rampage Formula X48 // Intel PM965 ATI 4870X2 2GB GDDR5 // Dual 512MB GDDR3 8600M GT's SLI 4GB (2x 2GB) DDR2 940 // 3GB DDR2 667 DC 750GB SATA 3.0Gbps w/32MB // 400GB (2x 200GB) 7200RPM Creative SB X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty SilverStone 750W +12V@60A 3DMark06: 21366 // 7394

02-02-2006, 06:31 PM	#5 (permalink)
The_Other_One Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Lexington, NC Age: 23 Posts: 12,364	I didn't say there'd be a visual improvement if that's what you were suggesting Well, there may be a slight FPS increase, but yeah, nothing major. __________________ Desktop * Athlon X2 4200 \| 2G RAM \| 160G HD \| 7600GT Laptop1 * C2D T5550 \| 3G RAM \| 120G HD \| Intel x3100 Laptop2 * C2D T5250 \| 2G RAM \| 160G HD \| Intel x3100

02-02-2006, 08:57 PM	#7 (permalink)
helmie Diamond Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Highlands, Scotland Age: 17 Posts: 1,208	Ah right, so could anyone reccomand a cheap (but good) sound card? EDIT: How about this: (The top one) http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatal...oundcards.html __________________ For sale: http://www.computerforum.com/111463-...tml#post893380 Last edited by helmie; 02-02-2006 at 09:31 PM.

02-04-2006, 10:07 AM	#8 (permalink)
Phr3sH New Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 18	i'd go with the x-fi hands down, you can get it for about 100$ and it has its own cpu which takes load off the main cpu freeing up more power for gaming and the like

02-04-2006, 08:43 PM	#9 (permalink)
LITHIUM Gold Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 308	im sure that having a good sound card helps the gaming experience but personally i don't want to fork out all that money just to hear something really good

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