Author Topic: sound card questions (Read 363 times)

68DevilM · « **on:** August 03, 2004, 05:10:06 PM »

someone told me that upgradeing my sound card from the basic one that comes with the machine to something "more in tune with my video card" would enhance gameplay? in particullar it would enhance my video card. and make fps better.

any insight?

Skuzzy · « **Reply #1 on:** August 03, 2004, 05:27:31 PM »

It all depends. Some sound cards, such as an SBLive! card have very high CPU requirements, while an Audigy 2 ZS has very low CPU requirements.
What do you have?

As a general rule, onboard sound chips have more CPU overhead than a high quality PCI card will have due to the hardware buffers afforded a PCI card.

68DevilM · « **Reply #2 on:** August 03, 2004, 05:37:36 PM »

i guess im running the realtek ac97 audio?

at least thats what it says, im not really sure. all i know is i havent upgraded anything with the audio, it all basic

Skuzzy · « **Reply #3 on:** August 03, 2004, 07:16:15 PM »

A good sound card would probably be of benefit then. AC97 devices incur a high CPU utilization.

68DevilM · « **Reply #4 on:** August 03, 2004, 08:40:09 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Skuzzy
A good sound card would probably be of benefit then. AC97 devices incur a high CPU utilization.

any recomendations?

emachines
win xp 1.99 athlon
756 mb of ram
128mb ati video card 9200 series
80gb hard drive

FBScud · « **Reply #5 on:** August 04, 2004, 05:03:49 PM »

I'll join this thread. Currently running SB Live! on a P4, 1.3 ghz, 256 MB RAM, ATI 9600 XT (128 mb). If a soundcard upgrade would help, I'm for it. Otherwise, I'm probably shopping for a new 'puter within 4 months to run this game.