What about a soundcard

[Gaucho]

Still putting my system on paper before I start shopping it.
I'm stuck on soundcards.
What do you guys think of the SB XFI Xtreme.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16829102007
Can I use this one for games and music?

[shadowpr]

Most people will suggest that you stick with the onboard sound at first and see how that works for you.

I personally went with a sound card, not sure if it makes a difference though. I think it's the same one you linked to. I like it, sounds nice and clear.

[Gaucho]

Im not of using the on board soundcards. It could save me 70bucks

[Lespaul20]

Which is why most people prefer to use onboard.

[hitchface]

it really depends on your application...you can get some heavy gains in gaming with one, music can become something totally new and alive, same with movies. Really, it is your pick.

Stay away from that one though. The reviews aren't good enough. Try something with hardware acceleration. More expensive, but you get some awesome sound after tweaking the software a bit. Find the right card and you get some good stuff bundled in.

[Gaucho]

The last system I build (3 years ago) I picked up a bundle package for $70 and it came with 4 games and the bundle package if I purchased it by itself could have cost me 150 for just the games. I need to look into the MOBO i pick which is the Asus P5k.

[pam123]

Try out the on board, if you're OK with it then save the cash.
I installed a $30 Audigy SE and consider it money well spent but I'm not sure I'd feel that way if I'd bought one of the more expensive sound cards.

[hitchface]

I wasn't really thinking games, but more like Creative's own sound utilities.

[Gaucho]

My main use for this PC will be games and Music. Not so much watching movies. I might try and get away with the onboard chip then see what happens.

[arthur666]

I really like having the option to use EAX hardware accelaration. On certain games, it can make the sound effects very impressive. Example: Armed Assault is an infantry warfare FPS. When fighting in a town, gunfire sounds muffled if it is coming from far away, or from behind a solid object, but sharp if it is from a direct line of sight/sound. The effect is very realistic and makes the game more immerssive.

[tomster2300]

My Audigy 2 made a difference when I added it to my old computer, mainly in game performance. Like most people here are saying though, try out the onboard first and see what you think. I only added that Audigy after years of using onboard, and it was on sale for an unbeatable price.

[Hi Ho]

The problem with "try onboard and if it's good enough keep it" is that when it comes to audio it's really impossible to know until you hear something better. The onboard chip might sound great but throw in a good sound card and you can be blown away. Audio is very subjective. If you don't have decent speakers and don't really listen closely to music then you may not see any benefit with a sound card other than performance increases for games.

[NastyNative]

gaucho i never use the onboard sound cause there is always problems with it and since i have a great sorround sound hooked up its a waste of great speaker .

I purchased the Audigy card which gets hooked up to a an external control which contained volumes and inputs for the mic and head set since i game alot online and use a head set its probably the best thing i ever did cause i dont have to reach around the system to plug things in and also the volume is right there at hand. Also its come with a remote so when i play music on my comp and the games will run the sound card processor and really make great use of it.. You will hear things u wont normally hear on an onboard sound

make sure u get a 24 bit sound and install the software and update it... You wont be dissapointed..

[Icyman23]

what motherboard do you have? (or going to buy?) i can look up the audio codec

AC97 sucks (in my opinion)

I like the boards with the Realtek ALC888 codec. (Hi-def sound)

I have seen a review that said it blew away an Audigy SE...($25)

It'l do 7.1@ 96 khz I love it for gaming

[TwoRails]

Originally Posted by Hi Ho The problem with "try onboard and if it's good enough keep it" is that when it comes to audio it's really impossible to know until you hear something better. The onboard chip might sound great but throw in a good sound card and you can be blown away. ....

How true. If you have a halfway decent ear and hear onboard sound with crappy to mid range speakers, then hear the same on a better setup you'll never know what you're missing. You'll hear people say, "I never heard that before!" or "I didn't know that was in there!"

[Icyman23]

Originally Posted by Hi Ho The problem with "try onboard and if it's good enough keep it" is that when it comes to audio it's really impossible to know until you hear something better. The onboard chip might sound great but throw in a good sound card and you can be blown away. Audio is very subjective. If you don't have decent speakers and don't really listen closely to music then you may not see any benefit with a sound card other than performance increases for games.

I second that, but: if you have a half-decent sound card and have a high-end gaming motherboard with nice sound...the onboard might blow that sound card away

I recently had aopen 3w speakers on my old heap-o-junk and the AC'97 onboard...I bought new Logitech X-230's for my gaming comp but got them before it was done being built. So I pluged in the X230's and got blown away then I finished my gaming comp and plugged them in and was REALLY blown away! they had an ALC888...

[Lespaul20]

Icyman23 has point. If you don't have the speakers to hear the difference it doesn't matter. It's like hooking an HD source to a 13" Black and White TV.

[Icyman23]

Originally Posted by Lespaul20 Icyman23 has point. If you don't have the speakers to hear the difference it doesn't matter. It's like hooking an HD source to a 13" Black and White TV.

Right. I listened to a song on my old AOpen junk pc..AC'97 onboard...then then bought mid-range speakers. Still on the same pc, I plugged the speakers in, did some eqing...and was fully blown away.

Then my parts came...eventualy I got my gaming pc together...and it had a 590 SLi mobo...

Realtek ALC888 HD onboard...the sound quality was about 3x better than my old AC'97...(even with the new speakers...)

You see, if you motherboard has decent-mid-to-upper-range audio...and you buy a midrange $30 to 50 soundcard...It might even be worse