BF2S Forums Soundcards

The point of a Sound card is to improve the audio output quality of your computer. Not to mention those super-cool effects like EAX, the digital-analogue converter of a "real" sound card is miles (and I mean MILES) better than an integrated one. The result is less noise (shhhhhh sound), lower bass and clearer treble.

This only applies for analogue systems, though, as digital ones use the integrated DAC, so the only gain from an extra sound card would be just those EAX effects and such.

Good manufacturers are ASUS with their Xonar range, and Creative. Creative are however having some issues, and have been rather hated recently, so I would recommend an ASUS Xonar DX over any creative card. It can do everything a Creative can, and some more on top of that. Due to powerful software emulation capabilities, the Xonars handle much better in Windows Vista and 7 than their Creative counterparts, too.

Gives you better quality audio and takes load off of CPU (Anything more than a dual-core will not really be noticeable with performance)

Personally I've used the Creative 7.1 X-Fi XtremeGamer Fatal1ty Professional Series. Performed well, didn't notice a difference in FPS.

You should definitely invest in one if you're using surround sound speakers.

Stimey wrote:

My Logitech X540's do just fine on my integrated.

I'm running a high qual surround, not PC speakers

Stimey wrote:

Oh alright.
Then get a Xonar.

I want a proper eval!

Pros, Cons and price

Xonar for gaming
Auzen X-fi or any HT Omega card for music/movies

liquidat0r wrote:

.Sup wrote:

Xonar for gaming
Auzen X-fi or any HT Omega card for music/movies

What's the difference between games and music/movies that would make you choose one brand of sound card over another?

(Genuine question - I don't know anything about sound cards.)

Well xonar is focused on gaming- all the latest EAX effects, not long ago Omega's cards only went up to EAX 2.0. Auzen and Omega use high quality parts which produce high fidelity sound, sound not needed as much for gaming as it is needed for quality audio listening.

What I'm trying to say is why get a more expensive card (in this case the Auzen X-fi) if you don't care how good music sounds but you only want good gaming effects. Get the cheaper card (Xonar in this case).

Not saying Auzen X-fi isn't a good gaming card-it is an excellent gaming card but it is also more expensive than the sonar. So if you only care about gaming, get the cheaper Xonar.

Asus is aiming for not so demanding public while Auzen is aiming for those who want the best. (but still on the consumer level not pro)

I still stick to my opinion that external DAC's are better than internal ones- none to minimal interference while with internal DAC's theres a lot of noise coming from them through speakers.

And btw if you're not so much into gaming sound effects than you are in music listening the market of available quality cards gets a lot bigger. Its not just Asus/Creative world

This is extremely affordable atm: http://us.creative.com/products/product … duct=16069
Best performance for the price. And Daniel K is back if anyone didn't know that yet. Making better drivers for Creative the users as never before

Also I never had any issues with Creative drivers. A list of only the Creative cards I had (I had loads of other cards as well-no issues with them either) Audigy NX, Audigy2 ZS (EMU manufactured the sound processing chip), X-Fi extreme gamer and now 0404 EMU (EMU is a sound hardware manufacturer for professionals and is part of Creative)

As Freezer mentioned earlier a DAC would be ideal for music listening but for gaming effects (EAX) and movies (DTS & THX decoders and such) you would need either a sound card or an additional external decoder. But let me tell you, a DAC can produce an amazing, clear sound when I game, true I don't have a surround sound but I can hear that AK clearer than any EAX will provide.

Last edited by .Sup (2009-01-26 17:17:29)

Im_Dooomed wrote:

.Sup wrote:

This is extremely affordable atm: http://us.creative.com/products/product … duct=16069

holy shit!

I'm buying this NOW

http://us.creative.com/products/product … duct=16071

$60? X-fi EAX HD 5.0? Remote control? Front 5.25 hub? SWEeeeet, I don't care if its refurbished man its $140 less then new

Would the other card be better for gaming though? Hell i dont care, i want that remote thats so cool

If with the other card you mean extreme music then no, both are the same for gaming. Whats cool with the Platinum version you're getting is optical out so you can hook up your PC on a receiver.

I would get this though
http://us.creative.com/products/product … mc_id=8867

Last edited by .Sup (2009-01-27 03:00:46)

Flexy jack is for mic OR if you buy an additional cable it lets you connect through optical but since you have the externel rack you won't need to get that cable. AD connector connects your sound card with the 5.25 bay rack. You won't need other connectors.

If you want a Creative X-Fi, get one of the shielded Titanium ones. All sound cards have their problems at the moment. The entire industry has shifted in a rather lackluster fashion to graphics obsession. If you want an all-in-wonder setup (gaming and work), you're probably going to have two sound cards...or a PC and a Mac/tons of external hardware.

O SHI-

newegg review wrote:

Careful w/ nForce4 Mobos!!

Comments: This card has problems with nForce4 based AMD motherboards... Creative has acknowledged the problem and is offering a free firmware update if your BIOS is not compatible with the card. Do some research before you buy, I didn't and now I have to wait for at least 2 weeks while Creative goes through the RMA process. The card works great with other motherboards though and it sounds excellent. I am a fan, but the compatibility issues are a bummer.

Yaaaaa thats me...

the review WAS from 2005 though, fawk im tired. g'nite yall

Last edited by Im_Dooomed (2009-01-27 03:25:29)

.Sup wrote:

unnamednewbie13 wrote:

If you want a Creative X-Fi, get one of the shielded Titanium ones. All sound cards have their problems at the moment. The entire industry has shifted in a rather lackluster fashion to graphics obsession. If you want an all-in-wonder setup (gaming and work), you're probably going to have two sound cards...or a PC and a Mac/tons of external hardware.

That shielding doesn't really help much as its in the PC, so close to other components. I've seen shielding mods from users who have done it better. You will still be hearing hiss

Depends on how close it is to your other components and if it's getting interference directly from its port. I've heard and read about hit and miss results with the 'Titanium upgrade,' but if it's wedged between video cards, you'll probably need to mod it.

Us audiophiles are pretty much offered a choice between turd sandwiches and giant douches when it comes to internal sound cards nowadays, but it still (usually) beats onboard.

There's a buzzing of another kind which I find to be more irksome than anything, and that is having speakers pick up modulated cellphone bullcrap right in the middle of Rocky IV.

Last edited by unnamednewbie13 (2009-01-27 03:30:20)