C-Media onboard Sound Vs Creative Audigy 2 ZS

[mystvearn]

No, not a direct comparison, of course the ZS will win.I have this onboard C-media sound, is it wise to upgrade to the ZS? Considering this ZS is OEM, cost $65.
What benefits will I get/hear from the sound card? Do I need a 5.1 system to get the effect? Now on 2.1.
Another thing is The ZS has THX, Dolby, DTS, what governs the sound output. The speakers supporting the formats, or the software, or the hardware(sound card).
EG:
NFSU: is THX, but my speakers are not.
F-22 lighting 2/3 is DD, but the speakers are not.
Creative megaworks is THX,
and the ZS seems to support all. Do I need all itmes for one codec to function? Or its just a matter of if I have one, its enough?

Also the CPU utilization, since onboard sound, so the utilization should be lower/higher?
So what do you think of the C-media Vs ZS

[Hi Ho]

If your speakers are anything near decent you will hear a tremendous difference. I upgraded from C-Media onboard to an Audigy ES and it made a worlds difference with my Z-640's. Going to an Audgiy 2 ZS would be even better. There is more to it than 5.1 sound. If you don't have a 5.1 system you will hear the difference in audio quality and clarity. My speakers get much louder when connected to the Audigy ES.

THX is really more of a certification than anything else. It means a product meets the requirments to be THX certified. HERE is a good article about THX. Of cours you wouldn't be able to use the surround sound formats such as DTS and Dolby Digital without surround speakers but the difference in audio quality should be reason to upgrade if you care about it and have decent speakers.

[mystvearn]

Thats why I'm weighing on changing the sound card. Its not that I don't want to change better speakers, just that there is not enough room for it. I sometimes move the pc into my room, where I have a hifi set. Combining the AL 221 with the hi-fi I get 4.1.