Author Topic: Motherboard Onboard Sound (Read 351 times)

Replicant · « **on:** May 04, 2002, 12:55:27 PM »

Hi again

Is onboard sound any good or should I still with a Soundcard? The reason I ask is that the new system I'm looking at just has onboard sound only.

Regards

bloom25 · « **Reply #1 on:** May 04, 2002, 02:13:03 PM »

I avoid onboard sound for three reasons:
1. Much greater CPU utilization than a standalone card. (AC97 codec based onboard systems are totally driven by the CPU.)

2. Generally poor sound quality as compared to onboard cards.

3. Onboard systems generally lack 3dsound support (EAX, A3D, AC3) and do not have front and rear speaker support or any additional interface options.

(There is one exception, the onboard sound on Nvidia nForce boards is pretty good and has very low CPU usage. It is 5.1 capable and some boards even come with a SPDIF interface. This system compares pretty well with the SB Live 5.1. )

-ammo- · « **Reply #2 on:** May 04, 2002, 06:35:10 PM »

Nexx, I gotta agree that the Nforce boards have really good sound quality. I built a computer for my brother based on a Nforce board (MSI).

In addition, I am using the OB sound that came with my MB, EPoX 8KHA+. I dumped my SBlive platinum for it too. I aint going back.

AKIron · « **Reply #3 on:** May 05, 2002, 10:32:30 AM »

I agree that for sound quality many add-on sound cards (especially Creative Labs) beat integrated sound.

However, many (I've heard from several) with the SBLive and Audigy boards (myself included) are having trouble with xmit quality in Aces High. The transmissions are distorted (very in some cases). The boards record fine to disk so it doesn't appear to be microphone problems.

My integrated AC 97 works great for Aces High, though I sure wish I could use the Audigy.

funkedup · « **Reply #4 on:** May 05, 2002, 06:34:01 PM »

Epox's KT333 board (8K3A) has 5.1 onboard sound as an option.

Lephturn · « **Reply #5 on:** May 07, 2002, 09:05:14 AM »

I'm looking at one of these:

http://www.msicomputer.com/product/detail_spec/k7n415pro.htm

After repeated issues with my SB Live Value, I never want to see another one as long as I live. On the flip side, AC97 is toejamty... but any decent onboard 5.1 works for me.

My other option is:

http://www.asus.com.tw/mb/socketa/a7v333/overview.htm

I'm leaning towards the Asus based on overclockability and superior gaming performance from the VIA 333 chipset. Also, USB 2.0 = good.

Any thoughts guys? Anybody try this c-media sound chip?

Eagler · « **Reply #6 on:** May 07, 2002, 09:21:08 AM »

just hooked up one of these with a XP2000

http://www.asus.com.tw/mb/socketa/a7v266-e/overview.htm

using onboard sound, seems to work aok for me

Skuzzy · « **Reply #7 on:** May 07, 2002, 10:39:04 AM »

The C-media sound chip seems to be fine, but I have noted stability problems in every OS, except for XP Pro. In W2K, when running DX8 apps, it was causing lock-ups.
MS has released another driver update for the C-media chip, but I no longer use it, so the problems may be corrected.

Lephturn · « **Reply #8 on:** May 07, 2002, 11:26:40 AM »

Hmmm, I'm leaning more and more towards NForce. It's pure performance may not be as good as the VIA 333 chipset, but after all the problems with VIA's chipset drivers over the last couple of years, I'm ready to give somebody else a shot.

Intel still makes far and away the best chipsets, but the newest P4's are the first ones I think are worth purchasing and they are still too much $ in comparison to the AMDs for me. At least for gaming where stability is not my #1 concern, but performance/$ is.