Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => Hardware and Software => Topic started by: WhiteHawk on April 30, 2006, 06:51:57 AM

Title: Do sound cards take load away from CPU?
Post by: WhiteHawk on April 30, 2006, 06:51:57 AM

I have on board sound, and it works fine, but do i get anything out of a sound card?

Title: Do sound cards take load away from CPU?
Post by: eagl on April 30, 2006, 07:18:34 AM

you may get back a few percent, but if your cpu is already fast and your sound works ok already, you might just save the cash for a future cpu/mobo upgrade.

Title: Do sound cards take load away from CPU?
Post by: Brenjen on April 30, 2006, 08:56:02 AM

Not all sound cards do. They have to have their own dedicated APU (audio processing unit ) & even some of them still "lean" on the CPU to some extent.

Title: Do sound cards take load away from CPU?
Post by: x0847Marine on April 30, 2006, 09:00:17 AM

In general....

If your on board sound has an APU, Audio processing unit, like most decent sound cards do... it shouldn't be that big of an issue since the APU (not your CPU) will take care of the audio.

Nvidia offers on board APUs using thier soundstorm technology.

You can use a free utility, belarc advisor, that will list in detail exactly what you have.

http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html

Title: Do sound cards take load away from CPU?
Post by: 38ruk on April 30, 2006, 11:19:37 AM

I did a test last year between an audigy2 and AC-97 onboard sound . The Audigy2 gave me between 3 and 5 fps more on average than the AC 97. Sound cards "usually" will give you  smoother gameplay.

Quote

Nvidia offers on board APUs using thier soundstorm technology.

I havent seen a soundstorm board since the nforce 2 days, ive heard a rumor that they might be bringing it back but have yet to see anything .  Do you have a link for any current soundstorm offerings?   thx 38

Title: Do sound cards take load away from CPU?
Post by: Brenjen on April 30, 2006, 12:05:50 PM

The Auzentech boards are using the same soundstorm technology from what I read. It's supposed to be the "manna from heaven" all the soundstorm fans have been waiting for.