Building a new system ... quandry re soundcard?

[Iam]

I'm mid build, just put in the HD, DVD drive, PSU, going to start on the CPU & m/board manana.

Slight query re on board sound tho - the m/board (ASUS A7N8X Deluxe) comes with onboard Nvidia SoundStorm, but I've got a Creative Audigy card from my old system (not an Audigy II bw).

Is the onboard SoundBlaster better than my old Audigy, or should I be looking at installing the Audigy & (somehow) disabling the onboard sound?

When I built my last system (2 years ago) onboard sound was considered a bad idea as it took up CPU capacity, but I'm told by my supplier that this is no longer an issue?

Also, what on earth is that pack of silicon gel (granules more like)doing in my HD packaging?

[5cupa]

the audigy will be on par if not slightly better i would think, but if it were me I would sell it and put the cash to something else. also depends what speakers u running?

the silicon gel is to dry out moisture

[Agent]

Soundstorm is better than Audigy 1

Audigy 2 is better than soundstorm

[Trickle]

Originally posted by Iam
When I built my last system (2 years ago) onboard sound was considered a bad idea as it took up CPU capacity, but I'm told by my supplier that this is no longer an issue?

It is still an issue with most onboard sound solutions apart from Nvidia Soundstorm.

I dont know if the Nvidia sound has the Audigy1 beat in all areas, but it takes up less CPU cycles than the first Audigy.

[Zak33]

This is a moot point.

Audigy 1 in my opinion is better than Sound Storm. And it has virtually no cpu use...sorry guys, it really is low overheads.

BUT it takes up a space and frankly you dont need it.....the IRQ can be left clear, the actual physical space is freed up and the case will be cooler with one less thing running.

You can easily sell that Audigy for £25 so all in all use the Soundstorm....

but in music the Audigy rules the roost.....use some nice headphones and you'll hear it on most music...MP3 or CD.

my £.02

I had Audigy 1, have used Soundstorm and now have Revolution 7.1

[unrealrocks]

For sound quality I would have to go with the soundstorm prob although the surround effects and EAX support the Audigy2 is better (Audigy1 prob better than SS for EAX).

Although don't forget, you can't hook an Audigy (1 or 2) upto a decoder and play a DD5.1 game, you have to use analogue out ... unlike the SoundStorm which can add the EAX and reencode into AC3 and send it as a fully fledged 5.1 signal

[Trickle]

This link is not particularly authorative and does not go into how the Audigy 2 can handle higher numbers of channels better and also doesnt really cover enough up to date games with 4+ speakers.

However in all the reviews of the time the Nforce MCP-T had the Audigy1 slapped down in most CPU diciplins.

[Enverex]

You can install the Audigy 2 ZS drivers for the Audigy 1 which gives you DD:ES and DTS:NEO decoding and 64 hardware acellerated channels (same as the A2ZS).

The Audigy 1 also supports EAX3 and 4 which the Soundstorm doesn't....

NS

[Zak33]

Originally posted by NightShade737
You can install the Audigy 2 ZS drivers for the Audigy 1 which gives you DD:ES and DTS:NEO decoding and 64 hardware acellerated channels (same as the A2ZS).
NS

Didnt know that......thats cool if it works

I'll get Russ......he had my Audigy off me....

*SHOUTS FOR RUSS*

[Russ]

OI! dont shout im still slightly drunk.

cheers for heads up, i'll have a bash and see.

right, which drivers do i want?
Audigy2 ZS
" " Platinum pro
" Platinum/platinum ex

[Russ]

ok, it wont let me install the drivers for zs? any ideas?

[MrFlibble]

What about latency for the likes of cubase and reason? Does soundstorm still win? I noticed lastnight the nvidia drivers include ASIO (nice), but haven't checked to see what the latency's like

[atifds9]

not sure if you really care now mate but i believe the granules with your hdd packaging are there to absorb moisture from the air around usually used when something is shipped via sea to somewhere . although i never realised they were silicon unless it's something completely different and i'm babbling nonsense

[td5]

Originally posted by Agent
Soundstorm is better than Audigy 1

Audigy 2 is better than soundstorm

Please explain

[Agent]

Originally posted by td5
Please explain

Google the spec's for each card.
Soundstorm can also do Dolby digital on the fly - Aug. can not.
Of course im talking generaly, but its about ritght for most users.

[td5]

Originally posted by Agent
Google the spec's for each card.
Soundstorm can also do Dolby digital on the fly - Aug. can not.
Of course im talking generaly, but its about ritght for most users.

1. Dolby digital on the fly is only useful if you HAVE a external decoder

2. The AD/DC units on the SoundStorm DO NOT approach Audigy levels. There is an noticeable difference.

3. SoundStorm is not avaliable on a card.

There are many more, too. nForcersHQ can list lots of driver issues. To get crystal clear sound you have to feed speakers via optical out, in which case your pricing for speakers starts at £150+

Having said that, the SoundStorm is good for free, although if you have an Audigy too, id choose that.

Please get your facts right