View Poll Results: What would You Do/Done?

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  • Stick with on-board Realteck HD 5.1 Sound

    7 53.85%
  • No Way Upgrade to PCI/External 5.1 Sound card for Better Sound

    6 46.15%
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Thread: Stick with Realteck HD On-board Sound? Or Go for Better 5.1 External Sound card?

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    Stick with Realteck HD On-board Sound? Or Go for Better 5.1 External Sound card?

    Hi All,

    I've been meaning to look into this for some time now...

    I have a Shuttle SD39P2
    but by being small and powerful it lacks on space inside.... i.e.> No space for a Good PCI sound card. (As Fat 8800GTS hogging all the space )

    So have to use the on-board "8-channel HD audio via ICH7R and Realtek ALC888 codec"

    I love sound quality and previously had a creative X-FI PCI sound card, but now have to look at external sound cards.

    So here is the Questions,:

    1. What do you think of the Realtek HD on-board sound performance?
    2. Do you think the Realteck HD on-board sound is up to same standards as PCI/External sound cards?
    3. What External 5.1 sound card would you recommend?


    So what external sound card are there, that are as good as an X-FI PCI sound card?
    Would be very Grateful for any recommendations Please!

    Cheers All

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    Re: Stick with Realteck HD On-board Sound? Or Go for Better 5.1 External Sound card?

    Have found this... by creative.


    Sound Blaster Surround 5.1
    Remixes music to 5.1 and has lots of good connection options.....But seems a bit cheep, compared to an X-FI card?

    * Playback: 24-bit Digital-to-Analog conversion in 16 or 24 bit with sampling rates of up to 48kHz in 5.1 mode and up to 96kHz in stereo mode.
    * Recording: 24-bit Analog-to-Digital conversion in 16 or 24 bit with sampling rates up to 96kHz.
    * SPDIF (Sony/Philips Digital Interface) out with up to 24-bit at 96 kHz quality.
    * Inputs: Line In & Microphone In
    * Analog Outputs: Front Left/Right, Rear Left/Right & Center/Subwoofer
    * Digital Outputs: Optical Out & Coaxial Out
    * Front Panel Controls: CMSS On/Off, Microphone Volume, Master Volume/Mute

    Any good?

    Cheers....
    Last edited by malice19; 12-12-2007 at 01:15 AM.

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    Re: Stick with Realteck HD On-board Sound? Or Go for Better 5.1 External Sound card?

    I'm quite happy with my onboard sound and can't tell the difference between that and my mates creative auidigy something or other.

    Nice looking shuttle btw

    What I would say if you truely don't like it or can fault it then look for something else.
    Last edited by staffsMike; 11-12-2007 at 11:56 PM.

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    Re: Stick with Realteck HD On-board Sound? Or Go for Better 5.1 External Sound card?

    realtek chips are actually quite good both hardware wise and and driverwise. i would just stick with that.
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    Beginners guide to raid Beginners guide to raid post edition Hexus.Social - FAQ

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    Re: Stick with Realteck HD On-board Sound? Or Go for Better 5.1 External Sound card?

    Got to agree, was very surprised by the Realtek HD offerings. Very good for the money / mobo sound.
    Quote Originally Posted by Saracen View Post
    And by trying to force me to like small pants, they've alienated me.

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    Re: Stick with Realteck HD On-board Sound? Or Go for Better 5.1 External Sound card?

    Quote Originally Posted by staffsMike View Post
    I'm quite happy with my onboard sound and can't tell the difference between that and my mates creative auidigy something or other.

    Nice looking shuttle btw

    What I would say if you truely don't like it or can fault it then look for something else.
    Quote Originally Posted by alsenior View Post
    realtek chips are actually quite good both hardware wise and and driverwise. i would just stick with that.
    Quote Originally Posted by Agent View Post
    Got to agree, was very surprised by the Realtek HD offerings. Very good for the money / mobo sound.
    I do Agree also that it is very good sound, but one one the big reasons i forgot to mention is that i need a sound card that will remix mps music into 5.1 as the Realtek can not do this....

    Can only listen to mps in stereo....

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    Re: Stick with Realteck HD On-board Sound? Or Go for Better 5.1 External Sound card?

    I have no experience with usb sound cards but I trust creative. I seem to remember seeing that one years ago though so i'd make sure if it has been replaced now.

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    Re: Stick with Realteck HD On-board Sound? Or Go for Better 5.1 External Sound card?

    Also i am stuck, What is the difference?

    Creative Sound Blaster Live! 24-bit External


    Amazon.co.uk: Creative Sound Blaster Live! 24-bit External: Electronics & Photo


    Sound Blaster Surround 5.1

    Amazon.co.uk: Sound Blaster Surround 5.1: Electronics & Photo
    Last edited by malice19; 12-12-2007 at 01:16 AM.

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    Re: Stick with Realteck HD On-board Sound? Or Go for Better 5.1 External Sound card?

    the live one is only available second hand? (which suggests it is an old product) and has a bit of black on the bottom

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    Re: Stick with Realteck HD On-board Sound? Or Go for Better 5.1 External Sound card?

    Could i connect my MP3 player to it to get it remixed to 5.1?

    Also i take it there is no way to get the Realtek to remix MP3's to 5.1?

    Cheers

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    Re: Stick with Realteck HD On-board Sound? Or Go for Better 5.1 External Sound card?

    888 is a pretty good codec. Sound really benefits from decent speakers and cables.

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    Re: Stick with Realteck HD On-board Sound? Or Go for Better 5.1 External Sound card?

    That doesn't seem to be one of the features I think you would need the PC to do it. Maybe it would convert them off the player rather than your hard drive though.

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    Re: Stick with Realteck HD On-board Sound? Or Go for Better 5.1 External Sound card?

    Quote Originally Posted by malice19 View Post
    I do Agree also that it is very good sound, but one one the big reasons i forgot to mention is that i need a sound card that will remix mps music into 5.1 as the Realtek can not do this....

    Can only listen to mps in stereo....
    Are you sure? Does it have 5.1 output? If so you should just be able to tell it to mirror the front two with the back two. Its a fairly basic feature on all cards in the last god knows how many years
    Quote Originally Posted by Saracen View Post
    And by trying to force me to like small pants, they've alienated me.

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    Re: Stick with Realteck HD On-board Sound? Or Go for Better 5.1 External Sound card?

    If you use TOSLINK/spdif connection to an external 5.1 speaker system with it's own dsp there's no concernable difference worth speaking of, if you still use analog there'll be a little difference, but nothing massive, especially while using Vista.
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    Re: Stick with Realteck HD On-board Sound? Or Go for Better 5.1 External Sound card?

    TOSLINK/spdif kills 5.1 ability though on anything other than non pre-encoded 5.1 streams unless you have a DD/DTS card and an amp that supports it
    At least with analogue you can normally just mirror it to the other speakers.

    Major pain in the ass, given that I can only think of two cards with that ability - both being internal of course
    Quote Originally Posted by Saracen View Post
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    Re: Stick with Realteck HD On-board Sound? Or Go for Better 5.1 External Sound card?

    Quote Originally Posted by malice19 View Post
    Hi All,

    I've been meaning to look into this for some time now...

    I have a Shuttle SD39P2
    but by being small and powerful it lacks on space inside.... i.e.> No space for a Good PCI sound card. (As Fat 8800GTS hogging all the space )

    So have to use the on-board "8-channel HD audio via ICH7R and Realtek ALC888 codec"

    I love sound quality and previously had a creative X-FI PCI sound card, but now have to look at external sound cards.

    So here is the Questions,:

    1. What do you think of the Realtek HD on-board sound performance?
    2. Do you think the Realteck HD on-board sound is up to same standards as PCI/External sound cards?
    3. What External 5.1 sound card would you recommend?


    So what external sound card are there, that are as good as an X-FI PCI sound card?
    Would be very Grateful for any recommendations Please!

    Cheers All
    I have an Audigy 2ZS which I love. When putting together the system for my gf we tried out the realtek HD that came with her motherboard - we were both blown away. You would be very hard pressed to notice the difference, and dare I say it, in somethings like movie playback, it was actually better than the Audigy. I'd still take the audigy for gaming, but only just.

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