Soundcard recommendation for £30?

[notsobig]

So what's the best soundcard deal right now for around £30? Anything better than SB Live! or Realtek ALC850 would certainly please me. I play a lot of games by the way. Would I be better off going for Creative for compatibility? Or any other makes are generally fine for gaming today? Sorry I have very little knowledge when it comes to recent soundcards(and lot's of other stuffs too) Cheers.

P.S. I don't have multiple speakers just 2 ****ty ones and mostly I play games with my headphones on.

[Agent]

P.S. I don't have multiple speakers just 2 ****ty ones and mostly I play games with my headphones on.

Not wanting to put you off here, but if thats the case, why bother upgrading onboard sound?
Onboard these days is usually pretty good.

You certainly wont get much (if any) of a gain going to another card without a good set of speakers / headphones to back it up.

I was pleasantly surprised by the sound that the Realtek ALC850 gives.

[notsobig]

Yeah, I'm actually quite happy with it also sound qualitywise. But with GRAW, sounds just drop too much somtimes I can hardly hear where enemies are shooting from and got quite frustrated recently. That's my main reason for this upgrade.

[Andaho]

Yeah, I'm actually quite happy with it also sound qualitywise. But with GRAW, sounds just drop too much somtimes I can hardly hear where enemies are shooting from and got quite frustrated recently. That's my main reason for this upgrade.

wouldn't that just be down to the game?

[notsobig]

I don't know...but I don't think many people can actually beat this game if they also suffer from the same problem. And I haven't seen that many complaining about this you see. It's just so hard to play this game without proper ambient sound.

[BUFF]

OcUK have the PCI-E X-Fi for under £30 in this week's specials.

[notsobig]

That sounds good to me, I'll have a look. Thanks.

[notsobig]

How does this card compared to above card? Above card is pci-e and it seems only available space it can go in is above my graphic card but I'd rather keep that space open because I'm thinking of installing extra cooling fan for my GC there. So I'm looking for PCI alternative. Is this card decent performer?
http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/121761/rb/0

[Andaho]

Just out of curiosity - how do cards that only have 4 sockets, provide 7.1 surround sound?

[Agent]

Just out of curiosity - how do cards that only have 4 sockets, provide 7.1 surround sound?

There is 3 connections on each pin.
That makes 2 channels, and one return.
So 4 pins = 8 independent channels.

[Clarky]

He has got a point. Decent sound does make a lot of difference to gaming. Consider upgrading your headphones.

[Andaho]

There is 3 connections on each pin.
That makes 2 channels, and one return.
So 4 pins = 8 independent channels.

oops of course hehehe

while I've caught you... can you go back to my PSU thread, I value your input on the PSU that I've found now

[notsobig]

Maybe I will, yes. But after the soundcard

I should've kept my Audigy 2 zs it's now in my nephew's computer doing nothing

[Pob255]

I'd agree with Clarky, better speakers/head phones.

Also check your settings, game/windows might be running in 4 or 6 speaker configuration, which would explane why sounds drop off.

I know that on my system on BF2 if I'm useing the surround speakers then have to switch the settings on the Realtek manager to headphones/2speakers or I totally lose my own gun shots (they seem to go from the front speaker only) amoungst other sounds.

EDIT: Trust SP-6210 5.1 Surround Speaker Set @£20 I've got the older version of this Trust set, the sound quality is ok, I cannot rattle the neighbours fillings but for playing games with onboard sound they are fine.

[notsobig]

Thanks for the heads up mate. I'll check my speaker setting.

EDIT: It's been set to "Stereo Headphone", so I think it's ok.

[Mad-Max]

What about Creative SB X-Fi Xtreme Audio