best sound card?

[matty-hodgson]

simple question..
got upto £70 to spend on a sound card, must have 5.1 sound..
doesn't need digital or anything.
any suggestions?
gonna be running some Logitech X-540's

[Bill_Bright]

I love my Revolution 7.1 - I would expect the Revolution 5.1 to be nearly as fine!"

M-AUDIO - Revolution 5.1 - High-Definition 5.1 Surround Sound Card

(I have less than 5 posts here so cannot post links - you will have to connect the dots!)

(Edit add: Now have 6 posts, so took spaces out)

[DDY]

The Creative X-Fi gamer is a great card for around £50.

[matty-hodgson]

cheers guys
there's an X-Fi on ebuyer for a decent price, might go for that..
equivalent processor to a 3.6GHz P4 :S
is this true?!
that's 1 hell of a processor on it if it is.

[SiM]

cheers guys
there's an X-Fi on ebuyer for a decent price, might go for that..
equivalent processor to a 3.6GHz P4 :S
is this true?!
that's 1 hell of a processor on it if it is.

Not true, only a pwned 16 year old would believe that

[matty-hodgson]

Not true, only a pwned 16 year old would believe that

leave me alone SiM!!
i'm not turning gay for anyone!
it says equivalent to a 3.6GHz P4, does this mean it can carry out the same amount of sound-type calculations in the same amount of time? but it's much cheaper 'cause it can only carry out this type of calculation and not all sorts of types?

[SiM]

i'm not turning gay for anyone!

Not even for your ex-gf?

[matty-hodgson]

Not even for your ex-gf?

no, 'cause then i defo won't get her back!
unless it's some kind of very strange relationship.

[DDY]

Oh by the way, avoid the X-Fi "Xtreme Audio" version, it doesn't have the chip that's equivalent to a P4 3.4, i.e. it doesn't have the X-Fi chip just an X-Fi brand.

[matty-hodgson]

Oh by the way, avoid the X-Fi "Xtreme Audio" version, it doesn't have the chip that's equivalent to a P4 3.4, i.e. it doesn't have the X-Fi chip just an X-Fi brand.

i'm looking at an extreme music edition here
Creative SoundBlaster X-Fi Xtreme Music OEM Soundcard - Ebuyer
is that a good 1 to go for?

[TooNice]

Yes, do pay attention to what was just said. It's a bad habit of Creative (they do it at every generation). Still, I'll vouch for a proper X-Fi as an all rounder (music, games and movie) - there are better cards for music only, but they are not as versatile IMO. Edit: The Xtreme Music is fine, but given that they are mostly the same price (under £52 at Scan, not checked on Ebuyer), I would go for the Extreme Gamer. The Xtreme Gamer is basically an updated version of the Xtreme Music that's half the height (same features otherwise). Actually, if you shop around you may find the Xtreme Music for cheaper (since it's actually discontinued goods).

[Bill_Bright]

Understand that speakers are usually the weak link in any audio system - it costs a lot of money to design and build a electro-mechanical device that will reproduce relatively distortion-free, digital quality sound from multiple speakers at "normal" sound pressure levels (volume) across the full audible frequency range.

It costs little money to make the low voltage, low current components in the audio circuits of motherboards, and even add-in cards. Remember, all the electronics for the amplifier circuits are an integral part of the speaker "system" - typically housed in the sub-woofer.

The Z-540 speaker system, while nice, is a low-end system. That's just the plain and simple. And it will sadly become your weak link in your listening pleasure when you get your new card. In fact, depending on your current sound solution now, your speakers may already be your weak link and you may see, or rather, hear little or no improvement with the new card!

Something to think about.

[SiM]

Understand that speakers are usually the weak link in any audio system - it costs a lot of money to design and build a electro-mechanical device that will reproduce relatively distortion-free, digital quality sound from multiple speakers at "normal" sound pressure levels (volume) across the full audible frequency range.

It costs little money to make the low voltage, low current components in the audio circuits of motherboards, and even add-in cards. Remember, all the electronics for the amplifier circuits are an integral part of the speaker "system" - typically housed in the sub-woofer.

The Z-540 speaker system, while nice, is a low-end system. That's just the plain and simple. And it will sadly become your weak link in your listening pleasure when you get your new card. In fact, depending on your current sound solution now, your speakers may already be your weak link and you may see, or rather, hear little or no improvement with the new card!

Something to think about.

Thats a very good point... Unless you have mid to high end speakers, generally sound cards offer little over the onboard sound...

[matty-hodgson]

Understand that speakers are usually the weak link in any audio system - it costs a lot of money to design and build a electro-mechanical device that will reproduce relatively distortion-free, digital quality sound from multiple speakers at "normal" sound pressure levels (volume) across the full audible frequency range.

It costs little money to make the low voltage, low current components in the audio circuits of motherboards, and even add-in cards. Remember, all the electronics for the amplifier circuits are an integral part of the speaker "system" - typically housed in the sub-woofer.

The Z-540 speaker system, while nice, is a low-end system. That's just the plain and simple. And it will sadly become your weak link in your listening pleasure when you get your new card. In fact, depending on your current sound solution now, your speakers may already be your weak link and you may see, or rather, hear little or no improvement with the new card!

Something to think about.

so should i just stick with the current set-up and save my money?
go and buy some clothes

[SiM]

so should i just stick with the current set-up and save my money?
go and buy some clothes

Yeh, buy yourself a tight leather outfit and then march up to your ex-gf demanding another chance...

[Bill_Bright]

...or the best speaker system your budget will allow.