audigy 2 value vs audigy 2 Zs

[Pollock]

In my quest to improve frame rates i disabled my on board sound AC97 stuff, and added the audigy 2 value.  I did not see any gain in performance. So i returned the soundcard and re-installed the ac97 drivers.  I have read here that many people get a decent boost in framerates using the audigy2 card.  

Here is my question:

Is the budhet audigy2 missing the hardware that is driven ny directX, or is it the same as the audigy 2 ZS.  I do not need a killer soundcard because I use headphones when I play and this is a dedicated aceshigh pc.  I remember reading that on board sound sucks cpu of resource so that is why I am trying this.

Here is my system specs.


CPU: AMD 64 3000 939 pin overclocked to 2.4 GHZ

cooling:ZALMAN CNPS7000B-ALCU 120mm 2 Ball Cooling Fan - Retail

Motherboard: MSI K8N NEO2 PLATINUM Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce3 Ultra ATX AMD

Video card: ATI 9700 pro 128meg

Memory: CORSAIR ValueSelect 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM Unbuffered DDR 400 (PC 3200) Dual Channel Kit System Memory.

[Skuzzy]

After reading many posts about this, I am coming to the conclusion AMD users derive no benefits from better sound hardware.  I really have to claim ignorance as to why that is.  It does not make any sense and it may not be accurate either.

I know Intel based systems get a really good performance boost from switching AC97 (or SBLive!) to any Audigy 2 card.

[Pollock]

Thanks for the reply Skuzzy.

I honestly feel that with my rig I should not drop below 30fps ever. But I am having them drop as low as 10 lately.

If it is not too much trouble I would like to send you a dxdiag to look at to see if anything looks hinky.

[Skuzzy]

Sure, send it in.

What in-game settings are you using?  Here is what they should be:

Resolution: 1024x768, or 1280x960
Maximum Texture Size: 512 (unless you are using anti-aliasing, then it should be 256)
Preload textures to system memory should be checked.
Preload skins should be checked as well.

With 256 texture sizes you can get away with 2X anti-aliasing, but any larger texture sizes and you need to disable anti-aliasing.

[JB73]

im running an amd XP1800

Gf Ti4800

768mb RAM

on an MSI board, with a SB Live! card

i run 2x AA 512 textures preload all, and get mid 30's mostly avobe 60 in the sky, but down to 20 in a huge furball

[Skuzzy]

You have over-extended the 4800 with those settings.  But its AA will shut down with that texture size so it will not have an effect.

[Pollock]

Thanks skuzzy I will send it when I get home.

[Pollock]

here is my dx diag I hope this has the correct info.  If you need the .txt file i can send it to your email. thanks again Skuzzy.


System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 5/2/2005, 22:18:19
       Machine name: POLLOCK-ML2NDD1
   Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 1 (2600.xpsp1.020828-1920)
           Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: NVIDIA
       System Model: AWRDACPI
               BIOS: Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG
          Processor: AMD Athlon(tm) 64 Processor 3000+, ~2.4GHz
             Memory: 1024MB RAM
          Page File: 110MB used, 2351MB available
        Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS
    DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
     DxDiag Version: 5.03.0001.0904 32bit Unicode

------------
DxDiag Notes
------------
  DirectX Files Tab: No problems found.
      Display Tab 1: No problems found.
        Sound Tab 1: No problems found.
          Music Tab: No problems found.
          Input Tab: No problems found.
        Network Tab: No problems found.

--------------------
DirectX Debug Levels
--------------------
Direct3D:    0/4 (n/a)
DirectDraw:  0/4 (retail)
DirectInput: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectMusic: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectPlay:  0/9 (retail)
DirectSound: 0/5 (retail)
DirectShow:  0/6 (retail)

---------------
Display Devices
---------------
        Card name: RADEON 9700 PRO (Omega 2.5.97a)
     Manufacturer: ATI Technologies Inc. (Omega 2.5.97a)
        Chip type: RADEON 9700 AGP (0x4E44)
         DAC type: Internal DAC(400MHz)
       Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_4E44&SUBSYS_00021002&REV_00
   Display Memory: 128.0 MB
     Current Mode: 1280 x 960 (32 bit) (85Hz)
          Monitor: Plug and Play Monitor
  Monitor Max Res: 1600,1200
      Driver Name: ati2dvag.dll
   Driver Version: 6.14.0010.6497 (English)
      DDI Version: 9 (or higher)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
 Driver Date/Size: 11/30/2004 22:12:50, 221184 bytes
      WHQL Logo'd: n/a
  WHQL Date Stamp: n/a
              VDD: n/a
         Mini VDD: ati2mtag.sys
    Mini VDD Date: 12/14/2004 18:51:50, 873984 bytes
Device Identifier: {D7B71EE2-0D04-11CF-D36A-0820A1C2CB35}
        Vendor ID: 0x1002
        Device ID: 0x4E44
        SubSys ID: 0x00021002
      Revision ID: 0x0000
      Revision ID: 0x0000
      Video Accel:
 Deinterlace Caps: n/a
         Registry: OK
     DDraw Status: Enabled
       D3D Status: Enabled
       AGP Status: Not Available
DDraw Test Result: Not run
 D3D7 Test Result: Not run
 D3D8 Test Result: Not run
 D3D9 Test Result: Not run

-------------
Sound Devices
-------------
            Description: Realtek AC97 Audio
 Default Sound Playback: Yes
 Default Voice Playback: Yes
            Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_00EA&SUBSYS_75851462&REV_A1
        Manufacturer ID: 65535
             Product ID: 65535
                   Type: WDM
            Driver Name: ALCXWDM.SYS
         Driver Version: 5.10.0000.5620 (English)
      Driver Attributes: Final Retail
            WHQL Logo'd: n/a
          Date and Size: 6/21/2004 04:53:20, 626204 bytes
            Other Files:
        Driver Provider: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
         HW Accel Level: Full
              Cap Flags: 0x0
    Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 0, 0
 Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 0, 0
              HW Memory: 0
       Voice Management: Yes
 EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: Yes, Yes
   I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: Yes, Yes
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): No
               Registry: OK
      Sound Test Result: Not run

---------------------
Sound Capture Devices
---------------------
            Description: Realtek AC97 Audio
  Default Sound Capture: Yes
  Default Voice Capture: Yes
            Driver Name: ALCXWDM.SYS
         Driver Version: 5.10.0000.5620 (English)
      Driver Attributes: Final Retail
          Date and Size: 6/21/2004 04:53:20, 626204 bytes
              Cap Flags: 0x0
           Format Flags: 0x0

      Device Name: CH PRO PEDALS USB
         Attached: 1
    Controller ID: 0x1
Vendor/Product ID: 0x068E, 0x00F2
        FF Driver: n/a

      Device Name: Saitek X52 Flight Stick (USB)
         Attached: 1
    Controller ID: 0x0
Vendor/Product ID: 0x06A3, 0x0255
        FF Driver: n/a

[JB73]

Originally posted by Skuzzy
You have over-extended the 4800 with those settings.  But its AA will shut down with that texture size so it will not have an effect.

"AA will shut down"

im a bit confused by that comment if you could clarify please....


does it mean in really laymans terms the card says "whoa dude" thinks and says "i cant do this dude" then doesn't? meaning would that cause a studder or something, or just fry mycard in the long run?

thanks

[Skuzzy]

The card will simply not do AA.

[68DevilM]

i was not aware that if i ran aa id have to turn ah down to 256?

is this for all systems or just low end cpu's