Best soundcard for Vista 64?

[Cobra516]

What's everyone running?

[BaldEagl]

What's everyone running?

XP.   

[drdeathx]

Funny Bald Eage!!!!       

I run TurtleBeach 7.1 surround sound. These guys won't recommend it because it plugs into USB but my system can easily handle it. I love it.

http://www.turtlebeach.com/products/soundcards.aspx

They also make sound cards that go on your motherboard.

[Cobra516]

Am trying to find one that the mic will work properly with - I found out after getting this SB X-Fi Extreme, that the problem of the mic being extremely soft is a very common problem with it and Vista - driver issue, non-resolvable.  Taking it back and going to try something else. 

[Fulmar]

I haven't heard anything from Asus and their card for a while.  Creative's drivers have always been a pain, like old school ATI pain.  I run XP so I cant comment on Vista and my sound card.

[Chalenge]

BGears bEnspirer

[drdeathx]

go your volume control and check mic boost in windows

[Cobra516]

Heh, I've checked everything there is to check software / connectivity wise.  It's a driver issue with Vista and Sound Blaster cards (not sure which ones don't have this issue), Creative doesn't seem to care.  Pretty crappy. 

[Denholm]

I know what you're talking about. They had me running the same circle saying it's my fault although I'm the one following all their suggestions. I've still got a soft mic issue with my sound-card. So I just bought a headset and use that as my microphone instead.

[drdeathx]

I just spent 15 minutes reading forums with the same problem. Do a google search and read up. It doesn't sound like the card. many had different problems but it looks like they all resolved them. Here is 1 link:



http://www.miguelcarrasco.net/miguelcarrasco/2006/12/vista_microphon.html

[Denholm]

Don't think that works on a 2000.

[TilDeath]

OK guys some say there is no Mic Boost or adjustments for your mic in Vista.  I say try this.  Open Control Panel  then Open Sound now there are tabs at the top Choose Recording  Hi lite the Mic your using some have more then one.  Now click the Properties Button, this opens the Mic Properties, there is a Levels tab, click that, adjust the Level to about 90 or so.  Click Apply then OK  your mic will be louder now.

NOTE: In some cases you MUST CONFIGURE your mic to work in windows first (i.e. speech recognition)

[smokey23]

Ive been reading alot of other computer nerd forums and that seems to be a continuing problem with Vista is getting the sound bugs worked out. Microsift should have done alittle more debugging before they dumped vista on the market.IMHO

[Denholm]

Microsift should have done alittle more debugging before they dumped vista on the market.IMHO

A little?! More like A LOT.

[Chalenge]

The problem with the cheaper sound cards under Vista is CPU usage. If you are flying AH and get into a heavy furball area you may experience the problem where your sound card uses so much CPU that you begin to experience stuttering frame rates (the dreaded slide show effect) or frame freezes and lockups. If so (more likely WHEN so) you will want to change your sound card to one that offloads the processing of sound to the sound card and not the CPU.

The cards that I KNOW work for Vista (and specifically Vista 64) are the SB XiFi Fatality Titanium or the Xonar or BGears bEnspirer (that I use). The problem may not end there however. Vista suffers from being the new kid on the block and sometimes allegedly sound (efficient) processes/services conflict with one another so depending on how you use your system you may run into a situation that is unique. In that case you are well advised to go through each and every process/service and shut down the ones you do not use and will not need. This will help to eliminate the majority of problems.

The majority of issues with gaming on Vista computers are related to Nvidia drivers followed closely by Creative and other sound card drivers. When installing devices for Vista you are best advised to turn off UAC and installing drivers from the manufacturer of the device in question. DO NOT allow Vista to get its own driver for either sound or video. When updating drivers be careful to thoroughly clean any preexisting drivers off of your system before installing anything new.

Concerning Nvidia drivers always (ALWAYS) go to the manufacturer of the card and not Nvidia (the chipset manufacturer).

If you wish to turn UAC back on for your own peace of mind that is your decision.