Really stupid sound card question...

widemind · 10-26-2006, 11:43 PM

I have an Asus A8V Deluxe motherboad (specs at http://techreport.com/reviews/2004q3...e/index.x?pg=1) and I was wondering - if I wanted to upgrade my sound card, couldn't I just buy one and plug it into one of the PCI slots and over-ride the on-board sound card I already have in there? Or can you not have two sound cards?

Additionally, if it's possible to replace the sound card, what sound card might be an ideal upgrade for the one I have?

I know these are stupid questions for most of you - but I'm new to hardware. Just trying to get the stupid things out of the way.

Thanks!
Adam

Emperor_nero · 10-26-2006, 11:46 PM

yeah you can just buy a sound card and just plug it into a empty PCI slot

widemind · 10-27-2006, 12:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Emperor_nero

yeah you can just buy a sound card and just plug it into a empty PCI slot

Awesome! Any particular sound card recommendations? Doesn't have to be anything overly fancy - just better than what I've got on my motherboard. Preferrably something I can manage individual speakers with on my 5.1 sound system. Right now my sound card only lets me run all my speakers at the same volume - but rumor has it, if you have one of them Creative Labs/Sound Blaster sound cards you can manage the individual speaker volumes. True?

Thanks again!

diduknowthat · 10-27-2006, 12:19 AM

Most soundcards can do that. Anyways, what's your budget on a soundcard. Also, do you game alot and stuff?

widemind · 10-27-2006, 12:29 AM

I don't do a TON of gaming - I mostly do video editing/ web design/ imaging, etc... But I just bought Battlefield 2142 and it crashes like mad. A lot of what people are saying on forums all over the place is that it's due to the sound card, and/or drivers, but nobody seems to have pin-pointed the problem. I know it's not the drivers because they're all up to date. But I figure for a motherboard that only cost me $120, the sound card can't be that great.

I just bought me a new video card though, so I'm going to wait for that to get here so I can test it and see if that helps with game crashes - but I'm sure I'll end up buying a sound card anyway pretty soon.

As far as budget goes, I'm trying to keep it under $100. Preferrably no more than about $50. You think I could score a sound card that's any good for less than $50?

Thanks.

Emperor_nero · 10-27-2006, 12:33 AM

yeah no ploblem go to www.newegg.com and then to hardware>sound cards and do some looking for what you want

widemind · 10-27-2006, 12:34 AM

Yeah - been shopping around on newegg all day. Any particular brand I should avoid? I know nothing about sound cards... and I mean NOTHING!

ADE · 10-27-2006, 12:54 AM

Well the Sound Blaster audigy 4 does great. Its has its own processor and will reduce the CPU work load and can do 7.1
https://usm.channelonline.com/magnum...?id=M002981601
does great with games (I own one) I have the SE sadly, but this is the non-SE which means better sound quality and even thought your a video editor sound will find a way into it all. Plus this may increase over all system performance.

**Archangel** · 10-27-2006, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by widemind

I know these are stupid questions for most of you - but I'm new to hardware. Just trying to get the stupid things out of the way.

Don't worry about that.. everyone started at some point..

anyhow, You can plug in a soundcard into an empty pci slot, and if you're going to do that, i would suggest you disable the onboard soundcard in the BIOS, since that could save you a lot of trouble in windows when you're setting up the sound again

I have a Audigy 4 at the moment, and the sound's beautifull.
you could go for a X-Fi soundcard.. but you'll need good speakers to justify for such a card (in my oppinion

). at this moment im funning a Audigy 4(like i said) paired with a $900 set of speakers and a 18 year old Tube Amp,.. and i do really like the sound ( so that card is really good imo).

so, if you want a good soundcard for a reasonable price, i can Only suggest the Audigy 4 too

widemind · 10-27-2006, 02:16 PM

You guys are awesome, thanks! I'm definitely going to check out the audigy 4 then.

Thanks again!
Adam

10-26-2006, 11:43 PM	#1 (permalink)
widemind New Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 21	Really stupid sound card question... I have an Asus A8V Deluxe motherboad (specs at http://techreport.com/reviews/2004q3...e/index.x?pg=1) and I was wondering - if I wanted to upgrade my sound card, couldn't I just buy one and plug it into one of the PCI slots and over-ride the on-board sound card I already have in there? Or can you not have two sound cards? Additionally, if it's possible to replace the sound card, what sound card might be an ideal upgrade for the one I have? I know these are stupid questions for most of you - but I'm new to hardware. Just trying to get the stupid things out of the way. Thanks! Adam

10-26-2006, 11:46 PM	#2 (permalink)
Emperor_nero Diamond Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: 127.0.0.1 Posts: 2,301	yeah you can just buy a sound card and just plug it into a empty PCI slot __________________ I play Rugby, and no its not like it's sissy cousin with the pads.

10-27-2006, 12:19 AM	#4 (permalink)
diduknowthat formerly liuliuboy Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Massachusetts Age: 17 Posts: 6,162	Most soundcards can do that. Anyways, what's your budget on a soundcard. Also, do you game alot and stuff? __________________ Silent Tuned \| 3D Marks 06: 11566 Q6600 2.4ghz CPU \| Gigabyte GA-P35 LGA 775 MB EVGA 8800gt 512mb Video Card G.Skill 4GB Ram \| Western Digital 400GB HD X-Fi Xtrememusic Sound Card Antec P180B Case \| Scythe Ninja HSF CM Real Power Pro 650watt PSU

10-27-2006, 12:33 AM	#6 (permalink)
Emperor_nero Diamond Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: 127.0.0.1 Posts: 2,301	yeah no ploblem go to www.newegg.com and then to hardware>sound cards and do some looking for what you want __________________ I play Rugby, and no its not like it's sissy cousin with the pads.

10-27-2006, 12:34 AM	#7 (permalink)
widemind New Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 21	Yeah - been shopping around on newegg all day. Any particular brand I should avoid? I know nothing about sound cards... and I mean NOTHING! __________________ AMD Athlon 64 3200+ Processor Asus A8V Deluxe Motherboard 160GB Seagate Hard Drive Creative X-Fi XtremeGamer Sound Card 2GB DDR GeForce 7800GS Antec Tower

10-27-2006, 12:29 AM	#5 (permalink)
widemind New Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 21	I don't do a TON of gaming - I mostly do video editing/ web design/ imaging, etc... But I just bought Battlefield 2142 and it crashes like mad. A lot of what people are saying on forums all over the place is that it's due to the sound card, and/or drivers, but nobody seems to have pin-pointed the problem. I know it's not the drivers because they're all up to date. But I figure for a motherboard that only cost me $120, the sound card can't be that great. I just bought me a new video card though, so I'm going to wait for that to get here so I can test it and see if that helps with game crashes - but I'm sure I'll end up buying a sound card anyway pretty soon. As far as budget goes, I'm trying to keep it under $100. Preferrably no more than about $50. You think I could score a sound card that's any good for less than $50? Thanks.

10-27-2006, 12:54 AM	#8 (permalink)
ADE banned Join Date: Jul 2006 Age: 15 Posts: 3,372	Well the Sound Blaster audigy 4 does great. Its has its own processor and will reduce the CPU work load and can do 7.1 https://usm.channelonline.com/magnum...?id=M002981601 does great with games (I own one) I have the SE sadly, but this is the non-SE which means better sound quality and even thought your a video editor sound will find a way into it all. Plus this may increase over all system performance.

10-27-2006, 02:16 PM	#10 (permalink)
widemind New Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 21	You guys are awesome, thanks! I'm definitely going to check out the audigy 4 then. Thanks again! Adam __________________ AMD Athlon 64 3200+ Processor Asus A8V Deluxe Motherboard 160GB Seagate Hard Drive Creative X-Fi XtremeGamer Sound Card 2GB DDR GeForce 7800GS Antec Tower

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