Sound Card or onboard sound?

[w33tq]

I bought an Audigy 2 ZS for my other computer a while ago since the onboard sound caused lag during games (unless i wanted to turn down the quality)... I was wondering if that sound card would be better than the onboard sound on my A7N8X-E Deluxe? Onboard sound is... MCP-T southbridge integrated Audio Processor Unit + Realtek ALC650 6-Channel audio CODEC.

[kram 2.0]

The Creative SB Audigy2 ZS is one of the best sound cards out there - it will definately give you better sound clarity and such than any integrated sound.

Hope that helps,
kram

[mikezel]

The Creative SB Audigy2 ZS is one of the best sound cards out there - it will definately give you better sound clarity and such than any integrated sound.

I second that. I went from onboard audio similar to the one you mentioned to the the Audigy 2 ZS and the difference is extreme. Definate benefit.

Mike

[w33tq]

when i change to the audigy.. am i suppose to hear better quailty? I don't notice a difference.. perhaps the hardware in my head needs an upgrade :-p

[kram 2.0]

when i change to the audigy.. am i suppose to hear better quailty? I don't notice a difference.. perhaps the hardware in my head needs an upgrade :-p
If you have it, definately go with the sound card. Another minor benefit is sys resources. With integrated sound, it slightly strains CPU usages and memory traffic - with a seperate card, it operates on its own. I definately heard a noticibly better quality in sound since the Audigy2 ZS.

kram

[w33tq]

ok.. i'll do it... Just gotta kick my sis off of it to switch it :-D

[Hi Ho]

It also depends on how good your speakers are. I upgraded to an Audigy ES from onboard and there is an amazing difference even with my Z-640's.

[BloodRoses]

Actually, you're all going to critisize me for this. But the nForce MCP-T *IS NOT* onboard sound. It has it's own dedicated bus, dedicated DSP on the chipset etc. For gaming, use the MCP-T. You'll find the Creative hogs quite a bit more resources than the MCP-T (about twice as much) and it doesn't have real-time DD encoding. Choice is yours, but I'd say keep the nForce sound. :)

Another thing to mention here is that the Audigy ZS isn't any higher quality of a sound card than the MCP-T (if anything, it is worse). If you really want a great sounding card, try a Fortissimo III if you're on the cheap. Otherwise, try an RME, or some of M-Audio's high end cards aren't too bad either (just be weary of their cheaper ones). Also, adding an external real-time programmable DSP to the mix is a great help as well.

[w33tq]

I notice no difference so far with my audigy over the onboard sound... As far as quality goes, i guess it's capped by my labtec headset... I kind of understand what BloodRoses is saying... In my MOBO user manual.. it says "MCP-T southbridge integrated Audio Processor Unit (APU) ..."
So it seems that it has its own processor to use instead of my main CPU.... Am i correct?

[bermuda]

You say you don't hear the difference? This may be stupid, but are you sure your audigy card is now the standard audio card? Go check it in your control panel.

About the cpu...good soundcards have indeed there own processing chips, such as DSP's. I've got an echo audio mia and the audio latency is 11ms (compared to the 180ms of my onboard)

[w33tq]

Yeah.. I'm sure that i'm using my audigy... I had to switch my headset to the audigy port... and i disabled my onboard sound in bios.. so it can't work

[Hi Ho]

The sound quality is certainly capped by your Labtec headset. I don't think it's worth having a premium sound card like that unless you have some good speakers to go with it.