So here's a question: how much sound card do you need? Hubby's been using my antiquated Audigy because his X-Fi had a hardware issue with his sysboard, and the mic input died. Not surprising, as he bought me that Audigy roughly seven years ago so I could hear the wisps in Commonlands in stereo (hah, EQ!).
We can get a "perfectly okay" Audigy for $30. We can get an X-Fi that claims to have all the hardware issues worked out for $90. But how much sound card do you really need if you're not doing professional sound recording and mixing?
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No matter what card you buy, it is more than likely that the bottleneck will be in your speakers and not your sound card. Unless you have made a serious investment in speakers (say more than $300.00) pretty much any sound card on the market is going to sound just fine.
I run two different sound systems on my desktop rig. One is a Klipsch 5.1 set (the larger version of THIS system) that runs through a Soundblaster card. I use this system for most gaming and also my day to day sound needs (Hulu, DVDs, Winamp etc)
For critical listening and pro-audio work I use a pair of Mackie MR5 powered monitors (like THESE ) driven through a Lexicon Alpha USB sound card.
But in all fairness, most people have not made the kind of investment in sound equipment that I have. And if you are running with the speakers that shipped with your computer or a low cost aftermarket upgrade (as most people do) you will never hear the difference between most sound cards.
Even with headphones or ear buds, unless you have made an investment in a "studio quality" pair you won't hear any difference.
I run two different sound systems on my desktop rig. One is a Klipsch 5.1 set (the larger version of THIS system) that runs through a Soundblaster card. I use this system for most gaming and also my day to day sound needs (Hulu, DVDs, Winamp etc)
For critical listening and pro-audio work I use a pair of Mackie MR5 powered monitors (like THESE ) driven through a Lexicon Alpha USB sound card.
But in all fairness, most people have not made the kind of investment in sound equipment that I have. And if you are running with the speakers that shipped with your computer or a low cost aftermarket upgrade (as most people do) you will never hear the difference between most sound cards.
Even with headphones or ear buds, unless you have made an investment in a "studio quality" pair you won't hear any difference.
7 posts
As the hubby, I'll tell ya...
I don't have studio speakers. I do have a really nice 5.1 set of Altec Lansing. (I don't recall what they cost new.) They are over 5 years old, but (if my wife wasn't so frapping sound sensitive) still pump out really nice sound at high volume. The headset is new, but is a Logitech noise canceling gaming headset that would not qualify as "studio."
The motherboard has sound on it. HOWEVER, when running Madden08, the sound would stutter. Having a sound card fixes that, which tells me that I have to have one if I'm going to game. Apparently, the bus for the onboard sound is not fast/big enough to handle higher-end applications.
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System Information
------------------
Operating System: Windows Vistaâ„¢ Home Premium (6.0, Build 6002) Service Pack 2 (6002.lh_sp2rtm.090410-1830)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Sutures
System Model: Custom
BIOS: Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG
Processor: AMD Athlon(tm) 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 6000+ (2 CPUs), ~3.0GHz
Memory: 8190MB RAM
Page File: 2416MB used, 14016MB available
DirectX Version: DirectX 10
---------------
Display Devices (x2 running SLI)
---------------
Card name: NVIDIA GeForce 9600 GSO
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip type: GeForce 9600 GSO
DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0610&SUBSYS_0616196E&REV_A2
Display Memory: 4079 MB
Dedicated Memory: 751 MB
Shared Memory: 3327 MB
Current Mode: 1440 x 900 (32 bit) (75Hz)
I don't have studio speakers. I do have a really nice 5.1 set of Altec Lansing. (I don't recall what they cost new.) They are over 5 years old, but (if my wife wasn't so frapping sound sensitive) still pump out really nice sound at high volume. The headset is new, but is a Logitech noise canceling gaming headset that would not qualify as "studio."
The motherboard has sound on it. HOWEVER, when running Madden08, the sound would stutter. Having a sound card fixes that, which tells me that I have to have one if I'm going to game. Apparently, the bus for the onboard sound is not fast/big enough to handle higher-end applications.
------------------
System Information
------------------
Operating System: Windows Vistaâ„¢ Home Premium (6.0, Build 6002) Service Pack 2 (6002.lh_sp2rtm.090410-1830)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Sutures
System Model: Custom
BIOS: Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG
Processor: AMD Athlon(tm) 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 6000+ (2 CPUs), ~3.0GHz
Memory: 8190MB RAM
Page File: 2416MB used, 14016MB available
DirectX Version: DirectX 10
---------------
Display Devices (x2 running SLI)
---------------
Card name: NVIDIA GeForce 9600 GSO
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip type: GeForce 9600 GSO
DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0610&SUBSYS_0616196E&REV_A2
Display Memory: 4079 MB
Dedicated Memory: 751 MB
Shared Memory: 3327 MB
Current Mode: 1440 x 900 (32 bit) (75Hz)
Sounds like the onboard card is using MOBO resources (like RAM & CPX) instead of processing within the card itself.
With that in mind, any aftermarket card will probably work fine for you.
The Altec speakers are a fine choice for consumer grade gear.
I had a 2.1 set of the Altecs before I got my Klipsch. My dad has them now and he loves them!
Edited, Oct 12th 2009 12:01pm by OldBlueDragon
With that in mind, any aftermarket card will probably work fine for you.
The Altec speakers are a fine choice for consumer grade gear.
I had a 2.1 set of the Altecs before I got my Klipsch. My dad has them now and he loves them!
Edited, Oct 12th 2009 12:01pm by OldBlueDragon
Hubby's in class tonight, so I'll link it. Hubby ended up with this: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001E25KDK/ref=ox_ya_oh_product Final decisions included checking out his sysboard schematics, lol.
The cheapo in me was really wishing he'd get the $30 Audigy, lol, but I knew that wasn't realistic.
The cheapo in me was really wishing he'd get the $30 Audigy, lol, but I knew that wasn't realistic.
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Cook Ten Rats
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Cook Ten Rats
Creative Labs really does make some good sound cards, though. I had one that lasted (and worked well) for about 9 years. I just got a Diamond card, Xtreme Sound. Seems to be working ok.
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