Sound Card (is it worth it? / will I benefit?)

2008-03-05 22:19:29

#1

mtb0minime: minimember; +2,418|6932

First, here's my current setup:
Intel Core 2 Duo E6750 Conroe 2.66 GHz
Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L
ATi Radeon HD 3850 512 MB
4 GB A-Data RAM
2 x 250 GB HDDs
ASUS CD/DVD ROM
ASUS DVD Burner

Things you should know:
-I'd prefer not to spend too much on this (preferably ~$100)
-My current speaker setup: 2.1; just a cheap Logitech setup that cost me $30 or $40 (~3 years old)
-My motherboard can handle 5.1 surround sound
-I don't listen to music or movies at very loud volumes

So if I were to get a mid-range sound card, would it be worth it? Would I really notice that big a difference in sound? (Especially if I don't blast anything or play games with high volumes). This computer is only a few months old, and I don't know what else I could upgrade aside from spending a lot of money on a new graphics card or processor, so I'd like to keep the components the same.

Thanks for your advice!

2008-03-05 22:22:11

#2

Reciprocity: Member; +721|6859|the dank(super) side of Oregon

if they've fixed all the compatability issues I'd recommend an x-fi. which OS are you running?

2008-03-05 22:28:16

#3

Freezer7Pro: I don't come here a lot anymore.; +1,447|6475|Winland

mtb0minime wrote:
Things you should know:
-I'd prefer not to spend too much on this (preferably ~$100) -You get most mid/high (Not top) cards for that.
-My current speaker setup: 2.1; just a cheap Logitech setup that cost me $30 or $40 (~3 years old)
-My motherboard can handle 5.1 surround sound - 80% of all soundcards can. Integrated 5.1 is often not of very high quality, thouh (If it's analog, at least)
-I don't listen to music or movies at very loud volumes - Doesn't matter unless you're using passive headphones or speakers.

So if I were to get a mid-range sound card, would it be worth it? Would I really notice that big a difference in sound? (Especially if I don't blast anything or play games with high volumes). This computer is only a few months old, and I don't know what else I could upgrade aside from spending a lot of money on a new graphics card or processor, so I'd like to keep the components the same.

- Any sound card will improve on an integrated one, as long as you're using analog output. And even if you use digital, newer sound cards come with better features and performance. I know for fact that my SoundBlaster Live! From 2001 kicks the ass of my integrated one (on a GA-P35-DS3) in almost every way. I'd say it's worth it if you want a little better sound quality and better features.

Thanks for your advice!

The idea of any hi-fi system is to reproduce the source material as faithfully as possible, and to deliberately add distortion to everything you hear (due to amplifier deficiencies) because it sounds 'nice' is simply not high fidelity. If that is what you want to hear then there is no problem with that, but by adding so much additional material (by way of harmonics and intermodulation) you have a tailored sound system, not a hi-fi. - Rod Elliot, ESP

2008-03-05 22:29:26

#4

CommieChipmunk: Member; +488|6848|Portland, OR, USA

I noticed a difference with shitty 2.1 speakers.. like 8 year old Gateway 2.1 speakers with no sub.

Then I got 7.1 surround sound... if my ears could orgasm, they would.

Without surround sound (at least 5.1) though, if you're not cranking the tunes, you'd probably be better off getting some nice speakers now and get a sound card later

2008-03-05 22:32:13

#5

Freezer7Pro: I don't come here a lot anymore.; +1,447|6475|Winland

CommieChipmunk wrote:
I noticed a difference with shitty 2.1 speakers.. like 8 year old Gateway 2.1 speakers with no sub.

That makes it 2.0

The idea of any hi-fi system is to reproduce the source material as faithfully as possible, and to deliberately add distortion to everything you hear (due to amplifier deficiencies) because it sounds 'nice' is simply not high fidelity. If that is what you want to hear then there is no problem with that, but by adding so much additional material (by way of harmonics and intermodulation) you have a tailored sound system, not a hi-fi. - Rod Elliot, ESP

2008-03-05 22:38:33

#6

mtb0minime: minimember; +2,418|6932

Reciprocity wrote:
if they've fixed all the compatability issues I'd recommend an x-fi. which OS are you running?

I'm running XP 64-bit. But I'm going to switch over to Vista 64 eventually (got a free copy from school). And I was considering the x-fi, seems like everyone has it and it's a good one.

Also, since I don't want to spend much money, should I just save up and buy a nicer one? I imagine the "you get what you pay for" is especially true with sound cards.

2008-03-05 22:40:27

#7

geNius: ..!.,; +144|6720|SoCal

X-Fi.

https://srejects.com/genius/srejects.png

2008-03-05 23:37:44

#8

kylef: Gone; +1,352|6771|N. Ireland

There's no point in having a great sound card if you have rubbish speakers!

2008-03-06 00:11:18

#9

mtb0minime: minimember; +2,418|6932

kylef wrote:
There's no point in having a great sound card if you have rubbish speakers!

That's true. Once I move out of this cramped dorm room and into an apartment, I'm going to get a 5.1 setup. So by getting this card, I'll be motivated to get better speakers sooner

2008-03-06 00:16:18

#10

CrazeD: Member; +368|6951|Maine

It depends. For me, my onboard is better than my sound card. I have a Turtle Beach 5.1 sound card, and my onboard is 7.1 HD and sounds sooooo much better.

Just grab an X-FI XtremeGamer if you want a sound card.

2008-03-06 13:24:39

#11

Moo? Si!: Tall, Dark, Antlered; +39|6406|817---->907

geNius wrote:
X-Fi.

2008-03-06 13:53:39

#12

Volatile: Member; +252|6982|Sextupling in Empire

X-fi works fucking wonders on XP. It's a different story with vista.

I still can't enable highest settings on 2142/bf2 with vista(128 voices = huge difference), and the EQ is still absent.

2008-03-06 17:26:32

#13

CommieChipmunk: Member; +488|6848|Portland, OR, USA

Volatile wrote:
X-fi works fucking wonders on XP. It's a different story with vista.

I still can't enable highest settings on 2142/bf2 with vista(128 voices = huge difference), and the EQ is still absent.

http://us.creative.com/support/downloads/

everything works for me.

BF2S Forums Sound Card (is it worth it? / will I benefit?)

mtb0minime wrote:

CommieChipmunk wrote:

Reciprocity wrote:

kylef wrote:

geNius wrote:

Volatile wrote:

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