Two sound cards at the same time?

bumblebee_tuna · 03-19-2007, 03:09 AM

Mostly just out of curiosity, is it possible to have two sound cards installed at same time? For example, a Audigy 2 Value and an x-fi xtremegamer? I originally wanted to do this when I got first got my x-fi to see if it was worth the quality but thought it wasn't possible. But upon examining the audio console, it allows you to select a device..........

PC eye · 03-19-2007, 04:10 AM

Besides the obvious software/driver conflict that would come up between the differences there not like two different ATI cards using the same catalyst version you might run smack into XP's? resource sharing problems? It would stand more likely that two identical cards would stand a far better chance while still being limited by software. That would be a sound rather then video SLI type setup then.

**The_Other_One** · 03-19-2007, 04:52 AM

There shouldn't be any problem. Most programs allow you to select what sound card you wish to use. Others will probably just use the windows default. I don't see much reason to have two cards going, but I can't see there being much of a problem.

bumblebee_tuna · 03-19-2007, 06:51 AM

Ya, I also thought it was impractical but I wanted to check before I gave my old card to somebody........

PC eye · 03-20-2007, 02:55 AM

Not all programs allow a change. Games for the most part detect the default sound whether onboard or expansion while video capture programs and tv tuners are more likely to see the option of choosing between different sources. Another problem that could be seen is with XP's resource sharing. Something on that idea could also depend on the OS being run. The only way to know is to try it under individual circumstances. That would be a hardware as well as software tweak there.

03-19-2007, 03:09 AM	#1 (permalink)
bumblebee_tuna Diamond Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Mission Viejo, CA Age: 19 Posts: 1,326	Two sound cards at the same time? Mostly just out of curiosity, is it possible to have two sound cards installed at same time? For example, a Audigy 2 Value and an x-fi xtremegamer? I originally wanted to do this when I got first got my x-fi to see if it was worth the quality but thought it wasn't possible. But upon examining the audio console, it allows you to select a device.......... __________________ Dell Inspiron 1520 Jet Black Intel Core 2 Duo T7500 2.2GHz / 2GB DDR2 667MHz / 160GB 7200RPM nVidia GeForce 8600m GT 256MB 15.4" WXGA Anti-glare Display (1280x800) Microsoft Windows Vista Premium w/ Media Direct boot hack into Ubuntu Gutsy Haikus are easy. But sometimes they don't make sense. Refrigerator.

03-19-2007, 04:10 AM	#2 (permalink)
PC eye Diamond Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Inside a pc Posts: 19,728	Besides the obvious software/driver conflict that would come up between the differences there not like two different ATI cards using the same catalyst version you might run smack into XP's? resource sharing problems? It would stand more likely that two identical cards would stand a far better chance while still being limited by software. That would be a sound rather then video SLI type setup then. __________________ Turning the Tongue into a Device Controller http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/Sma...ory?id=5647175 Is EBay going out of the Auction Business? http://abcnews.go.com/Business/story?id=5626840&page=1

03-19-2007, 04:52 AM	#3 (permalink)
The_Other_One Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Lexington, NC Age: 23 Posts: 12,368	There shouldn't be any problem. Most programs allow you to select what sound card you wish to use. Others will probably just use the windows default. I don't see much reason to have two cards going, but I can't see there being much of a problem. __________________ 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

03-19-2007, 06:51 AM	#4 (permalink)
bumblebee_tuna Diamond Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Mission Viejo, CA Age: 19 Posts: 1,326	Ya, I also thought it was impractical but I wanted to check before I gave my old card to somebody........ __________________ Dell Inspiron 1520 Jet Black Intel Core 2 Duo T7500 2.2GHz / 2GB DDR2 667MHz / 160GB 7200RPM nVidia GeForce 8600m GT 256MB 15.4" WXGA Anti-glare Display (1280x800) Microsoft Windows Vista Premium w/ Media Direct boot hack into Ubuntu Gutsy Haikus are easy. But sometimes they don't make sense. Refrigerator.

03-20-2007, 02:55 AM	#5 (permalink)
PC eye Diamond Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Inside a pc Posts: 19,728	Not all programs allow a change. Games for the most part detect the default sound whether onboard or expansion while video capture programs and tv tuners are more likely to see the option of choosing between different sources. Another problem that could be seen is with XP's resource sharing. Something on that idea could also depend on the OS being run. The only way to know is to try it under individual circumstances. That would be a hardware as well as software tweak there. __________________ Turning the Tongue into a Device Controller http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/Sma...ory?id=5647175 Is EBay going out of the Auction Business? http://abcnews.go.com/Business/story?id=5626840&page=1

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