Author Topic: Do I need a sound card or not? (Read 744 times)

Blagard · « **on:** August 30, 2006, 06:05:28 PM »

I am building a new PC (routine 3 yearly event!). This time around I do not need the gameport I usually provided by getting a cheap soundblaster card. So I have never used onboard sound chips that seemed very poor quality (tried one once didn't like it!).

The question is, do the onboard chips now provide reasonable sound without upsetting the rest of the system. Likely motherboard will be a Asus A8N-SLI Premium (socket 939).

Or is it still best to get a cheap sound card.

Consider that I do not need high quality sound - I'm nearly deaf anyway! Apologies to all those that call me up on the radio and get no reply!

Regards
Blagard - once Taff many years ago, ex firebird, ex krait etc etc

Roscoroo · « **Reply #1 on:** August 30, 2006, 07:27:25 PM »

the Asus A8N-SLI Premium board has 8 channel audio built in .. it works great on my work pc .

Schatzi · « **Reply #2 on:** August 31, 2006, 03:51:46 AM »

Im also using onboard sound for now successfully. But a sound card is *always* bwtter.

Krusty · « **Reply #3 on:** August 31, 2006, 09:50:24 AM »

Actually the processors are getting to the point that they're so fast they can play any game and STILL have a bit of extra power to run the sound chip on the motherboard.

PCI sound cards are better because they process the sound on the PCI card, not the CPU. However with Conroe chips now (and in the future) you're not really going to need a sound card at all. The CPU can handle it without a dip in performance

If I didn't need the firewire plug in my SB Audigy I don't think I'd be using it. It also gives me a second gameport (one game with the motherboard).

I don't need 2 gameports, but it's cool to have 2.

StarOfAfrica2 · « **Reply #4 on:** August 31, 2006, 11:56:41 AM »

Actually the CPU still handles all the hardware operations on most PCI sound cards too, they have no built in buffers. Except the Audigy series cards that is. I'm not even sure about the new Soundblaster line, I've not had the need for one.

Skuzzy · « **Reply #5 on:** August 31, 2006, 01:56:42 PM »

The X-Fi cards have a huge onboard buffer.

And that is where the CPU time is saved. As long as the buffer is in system RAM (all onboard chips) there is interruptions to the CPU every time a sound is played.

Krusty · « **Reply #6 on:** August 31, 2006, 02:11:30 PM »

Is the same true of the Audigy? And is that the Audigy2 only, or also the Audigy1?

Skuzzy · « **Reply #7 on:** August 31, 2006, 02:28:44 PM »

The Audigy 2 series all have good sized hardware buffers. The Audigy 1 line is a mix of old repackaged SBLive! cards (have very little buffering and lousy drivers) and SB PCI cards.

The Audigy 4 is an abortion. Even Creative wish they had not done those cards.

Krusty · « **Reply #8 on:** August 31, 2006, 03:11:26 PM »

No kidding on the drivers. I got a second hand Audigy1 I've been using for a while. It doesn't have any of the CD-ROM software with it, and the only way to get drivers for it is to run the Software AutoUpdate on the creative labs webpage.

(Actually I think they added some downloadable drivers in the past 3 months or so, but only after 2-3 years of me using auto update)

I was just wondering if it was worth it to keep this card. I'm only using it for the firewire and second gameport plug. Well I can get a standalone firewire card with 3+1 plugs and I already have the one gameport.

StarOfAfrica2 · « **Reply #9 on:** August 31, 2006, 04:08:13 PM »

I keep my SB Live! 5.1 card for a few reasons:

1. I need the gameport.

2. While the Nvidia onboard sound seems to work ok, I've NEVER had vox issues while using the SB Live! card. Since I needed the gameport anyway, why change something that works well?

3. Upgrading to an Audigy2 card was cost prohibitive for me, when I might only gain a few fps anyway, and wasnt having any problems from my Live! card.

4. Upgrading to a X-Fi card is even more cost prohibitive.

5. I'm cheap and I'm lazy.

I think that about covers it.

Krusty · « **Reply #10 on:** August 31, 2006, 04:57:55 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by StarOfAfrica2
5. I'm cheap and I'm lazy.

When did you join the club?! Did they teach you the secret handshake yet?

[Sg]ShotGun · « **Reply #11 on:** August 31, 2006, 08:36:01 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Roscoroo
the Asus A8N-SLI Premium board has 8 channel audio built in .. it works great on my work pc .

I second this

GunnerCAF · « **Reply #12 on:** August 31, 2006, 10:42:47 PM »

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by Roscoroo
the Asus A8N-SLI Premium board has 8 channel audio built in .. it works great on my work pc .
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Quote

Originally posted by [Sg]ShotGun
I second this

I third this. I have the A8N-E with same built in sound.

Gunner

Schatzi · « **Reply #13 on:** September 01, 2006, 03:06:25 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by GunnerCAF
quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by Roscoroo
the Asus A8N-SLI Premium board has 8 channel audio built in .. it works great on my work pc .
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I third this. I have the A8N-E with same built in sound.

Gunner

Can you "fourth" something without damaging it?

Skuzzy · « **Reply #14 on:** September 01, 2006, 07:19:25 AM »

Onboard sound can work fine, but it will always use more CPU cycles to play a sound than a good PCI sound card will.