Choosing a sound card.

[Anth83]

Ok i just went out and brough some nice speakers.
Logitech X-230
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16836121123.
Now im using onboard sound. My mother board is Gigabyte GA-8S648. Now it it worth buying a sound card like this for example
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...2E16829102001R

Im planning on building a new PC in a few months using the ASUS A8N-E motherboard or maybe AM2. Haven't decided yet. Just how good is that sound card? I know it will improve my onboard sound i have at the moment. When i plan on building my new pc i was going to take the sound card out of this pc and use it in the new one. I hear that onboard sound in new motherboards is really good these days.

So would it be worth buying a sound card or just wait till i build my new pc then use that onboard sound?

[RuM]

Onboard to an Audigy you'll surely notice a difference depending on how much of an audio junkie you are. I would however spend the extra cash and get a non-open box item, preferably the Audigy 2 ZS (top rated on NewEgg). The Audigy 2 ZS Platinum also has a $100.00 rebate which is like unheard of at the moment as well if you really wanted to buy something tasty.

When you buy a new motherboard, the onboard audio is pretty much the same for every one. All you'll have to do is just transfer the card.

If you really don't use your computer much, don't have a lot of music, don't wish to hardcore game or any like that... stick with the onboard. But if you do want to experience the full power of such a nice set of speakers, treat yourself my friend .

I just wouldn't look to buy an open-box item especially for a PCI card... imagine some guy eating a big bag of Doritos while installing the card backwards wondering why it won't work and dropping the poor greasy thing right back in the box and taking advantage of NewEgg's stellar RMA process.

[Anth83]

yeh i do listen to heaps of music and play games alot. What do you mean by open box?? I was going to go to a computer shop and buy it then install it myself.

So this sound card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16829102178

Isn't that for like full surround sound?? Won't it be too good for the speakers i have??

What would be a sound card that would suit my 2.1 speakers??

[glc]

All of Creative's current sound cards are 7.1 capable - even the $30 Audigy SE.

[Anth83]

yes but would it be worth buying a good sound card for the speakers i have?


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16836121123

[RuM]

Originally Posted by Anth83 yeh i do listen to heaps of music and play games alot. What do you mean by open box?? I was going to go to a computer shop and buy it then install it myself

Although that's a popular model, it may not be available at the computer shop. Any Audigy will suit you just fine... just don't buy a watered down SoundBlaster 24-bit 5.1 for really cheap... it's plagued by poor driver support (at least for me).

And all current SB's are 7.1 compatible. On the back their will be a bunch of ports... for just your 2.1 you'll just have to plug in a green (for front channel only). For 5.1 systems, they hog up 3 ports (orange and black).

[glc]

I'm running an old Live Value 5.1 with some Altec 2.1 speakers - it sounds fine and a LOT better than the onboard intel 2 channel Soundmax codec.

[Anth83]

I can't seem to find the ZS version of the sound card.

Is this card ok??

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Creative-Soun...QQcmdZViewItem

[FireByyrd]

If you have 70 dollars to spend. Just get a brand-new audigy 2 zs platinum here:

http://www.buy.com/prod/Creative_Sou.../10354635.html


With your current speakers setup.. I'm not sure if you'll hear a "big" difference, but I think you'll hear a small one? anyhow, in the future you might decide to upgrade.

with my klipsch 2.1 setup, I did hear things I didn't hear before with onboard.

[Anth83]

I only brought my logitech speakers last week. I might get a refund. What speakers would you reccomend??
I love these ones
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16836119101

Also I live in Australia so if i buy that sound card from an american site will it still work ok in my pc?? And with the speakers i haven't seen them in australia so i would have to buy them from america too. I think you can get an adaptor to plug into the socket so they should be ok i think.
Buy.com or newegg don't ship internationaly. Don't know where else to get them??

Cheers for your help

[glc]

I'd try the onboard sound first - and wait for a deal to come along on a sound card that you can't refuse.

You may have to turn your speakers upside down to work right with an American sound card...............

[Anth83]

Are you serious?? Upside down???

On board is ok but i want it to be better since i always play games
What about those speakers?? If i buy them from america and an adaptor to plug in to the power point and use an aussie sound card will the work ok?

Do you know a good site that ships internationally?

[glc]

By the time you pay for international shipping and import duties/taxes, you are better off buying from an Australian vendor.

That was a joke - as we call Australia the "land down under"......

[Anth83]

lol yeh i got the joke after i posted that last reply.

For that sound card ZS creative over here its $250 US. Im not lying. Do you have an internationa site?? And should everything work ok if i did buy from US?

[glc]

You really don't need a ZS - any Audigy is going to sound good.

[FireByyrd]

250?? ... sorry, I didn't see that you are from Australia.

but I think GLC is right, you can do without a ZS.

[Anth83]

Ok so i took my x-230 speakers back and got these Z-4 ones

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16836121130

I found the ZS card for cheap. Which of these sound card is better??

The audigy 4

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Creative-Soun...QQcmdZViewItem

Or audigy 2 ZS?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16829102178

[BARNEY]

The Audigy 4 has a slightly better DAC adn a slightly higher SNR but i would use onboard until a better deal came along - like a deal on an audigy 2ZS. Newegg has one every now and then they drop it from $74.00 to around $64.00. Usually you can get the Audigy 4 at Circuit City or Best Buy on a $85.00 sale.

[glc]

Barney - Anth is in Australia, as we already discussed.

[Anth83]

its ok i just went out and brought the audigy 4. Should go nicely with my logitech Z-4's

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Creative-Soun...QQcmdZViewItem

Cheers for your help guyz