Sound: Onboard vs. Discrete

[shbris]

just a quick one

with 2.1 speakers, creative so ok quality, how much difference will i notice in games and music by installing a discrete sound card, say around 40 pounds so maybe http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Creat...24Bit-71Ch-OEM

most of my music is ok quality, mp3's, 320kbps mostly but never less than 196

cheers

[shadowmaster]

I moved from a creative xi-fi xtreme Music sound card to onboard (Asus P5W DH,Realtek ALC882M) and I noticed no difference. My speakers are creative 7.1 T7900.

Whether you will notice the difference depends on the quality of your speakers, what you do and what onboard you have. Since your speakers are normal, and you only seem to game and listen to mp3's I would say its not worth getting a sound card, but thats my opinion.

One thing I can say is that onboard sound has improved a lot over the years.

[Pob255]

I agree with shadowmaster here, however I'm not an audiophile, using a set of cheap trust 5.1 speakers I have no real issue with onboard sound

Some people will complain about onboard sound but at the same time you'd be looking at £60-80 for a high quality sound card and the same again on quality speakers to get noticeable improvement.
On a budget sound card and speakers I doubt you'd get any real benefit.

[shbris]

alright cheers guys, was just checking!! i'll get a new game instead then lol

[Powderhound]

The Xtreme Audio which you are considering would offer absolutely no benefit. One of the real X-fi's might, but it depends on your circumstances.

[Inabus99]

I was under the impression that having a dedicated soundcard took load of the CPU and provided better frame rates in games?

The only reason I ask is that I am going to be buying a core i7 3x system this month and was going to spec it with:

* product.aspx?ProductID=20422 *

If your saying its a waste of cash then I can loose it from the spec and save myself £40 in the process

Regards,
Paul

[PeterStoba]

It will take load off the processor, but not much to warrant a dedicated sound card, and besides, most processors are powerful enough thesedays they can spare a few clock cycles.

I personally noticed a difference coming from an old pci creative card to onboard on my P35, it sounds alot better now

[kalniel]

I was under the impression that having a dedicated soundcard took load of the CPU and provided better frame rates in games?

How many games do you know that are bottlenecked by a CPU and unplayable as a result?

The only reason I ask is that I am going to be buying a core i7 3x system this month and was going to spec it with:

And to take it further.. how many games do you know that are bottlenecked by an i7 and unplayable as a result?

[Inabus99]

Thanks for the answer, tbh I use a PC every day, bit behind the times for what to buy. Basically going for a 3xs System, Corei7, 6gig ram, 1000 watt psu and a 4870x2. The idea being that in 3 or 4 years time all i will need to do is plug in another 48750x2 and my pc will be back up to top end again.

P

[kalniel]

Yup, or more likely chuck out the now 'obsolete' 4870x2 and get a 7870 or whatever instead. But you'll be happy with that system and really won't ever need a discrete sound card.

[vincent.m]

i have a pair of logitec speakers:

http://www.earnyourstuff.com/images/...akers_x230.jpg

do you think its worth getting a sound card? one of the main reasons that i want it is because on Audacity, i cant record "what you hear" because i record a lot of songs from you tube when they are playing. i currently do that on the on board sound. i could on my old pc which has a sound Blaster. i listen to music a lot which would be a plus

[Inabus99]

Thanks Kalniel for that, once I have the 170 for deposit ill be buying my 3xs system hehe, without a dedicated sound car

P

[vincent.m]

whats the 3xm system??

[Inabus99]

Sorry what do you mean? as in what spec am i picking or what is a 3xs system in general???

P

[vincent.m]

oh dont worry, i just googled it

which one are you getting? they are awfully expensive!!!

[Inabus99]

hehe, well im getting a 3XS Intel X58 Core i7 - Custom PC Premium Grade with various changing to the default spec:

coolormaster rc-1000 case
No overclocking
6gig memory
radeon 4870x2
1000 watt psu
No dedicated soundcard

Thats about it on the changes front, other than that its default.

I took the decision to go with a built PC as I get a warrenty and dont have to worry about faulty parts, putting it together etc etc. The last PC I put together, is this one, and tbh it has faults I have no idea how to fix and tbh as its an old AGP, P4 spec monster with a naff case I need a proper NEW PC

P