Author Topic: Skuzzy or someone else - soundcard recommendation needed (Read 491 times)

jpeg · « **on:** March 23, 2007, 08:45:56 PM »

Hi,

I'm building a new system soon but need advice on what sound card to get.

I was thinking of turtle beach model, but open to any good ideas.

Thanks

Skuzzy · « **Reply #1 on:** March 24, 2007, 06:04:46 AM »

Turtle Beach use to be a good sound card. They are not any longer. They simply repackage other low end cards made by other companies now.

There are only a couple of companies making DixrectX compatible sound cards these days.

Creative Labs and Auzentech (sp?). Both have pluses and minuses. If you have any thoughts about moving towards Vista, Creative is probably the best bet. They have resurrected the DirectSound 3D API, which Microsoft decided to kill in DX10.

Trog · « **Reply #2 on:** March 24, 2007, 11:35:04 AM »

Creative 70SB046A00000 7.1 Channels 24-bit 192KHz PCI Interface Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer Fatal1ty Professional Series - 134.99 (newegg)

I bought this sound card a few months back.

It is a very good sound card, has x-ram 64mb is clear had no problems with install and can't go wrong with Newegg.

Unless someone knows of something better thats cheaper?

By the way i had a soundblaster audigy 2 zs at one time and don't think it sounded any better and for the price wasn't worth it. Unless maybe doing some amateur recording which my son was into at the time.

For gaming X-Fi rocks.

llama · « **Reply #3 on:** March 24, 2007, 01:42:13 PM »

Don't forget that if you ever plan on going with a 5.1 (or more) surround sound setup, but the right card now. No need to double-buy.

That say, my Audigy 2 LS has been totally trouble-free with all the OSes I throw at it...

-Llama

Flatbar · « **Reply #4 on:** March 24, 2007, 02:08:31 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Trog
Creative 70SB046A00000 7.1 Channels 24-bit 192KHz PCI Interface Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer Fatal1ty Professional Series - 134.99 (newegg)

I bought this sound card a few months back.

It is a very good sound card, has x-ram 64mb is clear had no problems with install and can't go wrong with Newegg.

Unless someone knows of something better thats cheaper?

By the way i had a soundblaster audigy 2 zs at one time and don't think it sounded any better and for the price wasn't worth it. Unless maybe doing some amateur recording which my son was into at the time.

For gaming X-Fi rocks.

I just got this card 3 weeks ago, it helped in large furballs or attack situations where there are numerous audio events.

I've had cheap SB cards before and decided to finaly get a good one, it's worththe money. IMO.

OOZ662 · « **Reply #5 on:** March 24, 2007, 03:02:58 PM »

I love my SoundBlaster Audigy 2 ZS. I'll keep it until it dies or PCI completely goes away.

Blagard · « **Reply #6 on:** March 24, 2007, 05:16:23 PM »

On the same subject I would like to know what sound cards suggested here have on board connections for front panel leads. At one time creative did not seem to have these and I don't know if that has changed.

Reschke · « **Reply #7 on:** March 24, 2007, 06:02:57 PM »

Big question for me is does having a separate sound card eliminate VOX getting dropped? It seems to me that way back in the past my Aureal based soundcard helped or eliminated that altogether but since going to onboard sound I have had nothing but problems with VOX.

OOZ662 · « **Reply #8 on:** March 24, 2007, 09:03:37 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Blagard
On the same subject I would like to know what sound cards suggested here have on board connections for front panel leads. At one time creative did not seem to have these and I don't know if that has changed.

The Audigy doesn't have connectors for a standard front panel. You can buy one separately though (of course).

Quote

Originally posted by Reschke
Big question for me is does having a separate sound card eliminate VOX getting dropped? It seems to me that way back in the past my Aureal based soundcard helped or eliminated that altogether but since going to onboard sound I have had nothing but problems with VOX.

Not always. It all depends on how the drivers for the system are written, I think.

jpeg · « **Reply #9 on:** March 25, 2007, 01:37:47 PM »

Thanks for the suggestion guys.

I currently have a sb live that I have been using from my last system but I guess it's time to leave it for the new system.

Blagard · « **Reply #10 on:** March 25, 2007, 02:45:21 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by OOZ662
The Audigy doesn't have connectors for a standard front panel. You can buy one separately though (of course).

Can you rephrase that, I don't understand.

For clarity, most PC cases with front panels for mic, headphones etc come with the leads to plug onto your motherboard pins or if your soundcard has them, the relevant pins on the soundcard. The problem is you disable the onboard chip with a sound card installed, so presumably the motherboard pins no longer serve a function and the front panel for mic and headphone will be useless unless you can plug the leads onto the soundcard.

Blagard · « **Reply #11 on:** March 25, 2007, 02:51:31 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by jpeg
I currently have a sb live that I have been using from my last system.

jpeg, I have one of those in my old PC and did not reuse it because of the lack of internal connections. I currently use the onboard chip of my asus m/b which seems to work fine. Having said that, I would prefer a dedicated sound card if I could find one with the internal connections!

38ruk · « **Reply #12 on:** March 25, 2007, 04:26:03 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Reschke
Big question for me is does having a separate sound card eliminate VOX getting dropped? It seems to me that way back in the past my Aureal based soundcard helped or eliminated that altogether but since going to onboard sound I have had nothing but problems with VOX.

Ive lost vox with my X-FI , and ive used just about every driver out there . It's not a big issue thou , for me it happens rarely . ~~Rukee~~

OOZ662 · « **Reply #13 on:** March 25, 2007, 07:35:59 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Blagard
Can you rephrase that, I don't understand.

For clarity, most PC cases with front panels for mic, headphones etc come with the leads to plug onto your motherboard pins or if your soundcard has them, the relevant pins on the soundcard. The problem is you disable the onboard chip with a sound card installed, so presumably the motherboard pins no longer serve a function and the front panel for mic and headphone will be useless unless you can plug the leads onto the soundcard.

The panel connectors (wires) that come with computer cases won't fit an Audigy II card. You have to buy a unit that fits in a CD drive bay that's made by Creative with special connectors that fit the card's pins.

Blagard · « **Reply #14 on:** March 26, 2007, 03:31:47 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by OOZ662
The panel connectors (wires) that come with computer cases won't fit an Audigy II card. You have to buy a unit that fits in a CD drive bay that's made by Creative with special connectors that fit the card's pins.

Ah great! Thanks OOZ662, got it now:aok