Sound card recommendations?
By
Bluemeanie,
Posted on: 2010-04-02 05:53 in ALL ACCESS Gameplay Technical Issues Bugs
Quote:
Stay away from the xi-fi cards from Creative. I've banned Creative since the last issue I had with sound popping and crackling. Apparently a known issue from years ago that was never fixed.|
Originally Posted by IanTheM1
Howdy, Tech Forum. Finally, the time has come - I'm getting a new computer.
 The only detail still up in the air, due to relative lack of knowledge in that particular department is sound cards. Does anyone have a recommendation for a specific card (presumably a Sound Blaster of some kind)? Or do the newer motherboards have good enough on-board sound support? Is there really any big difference between the various SB cards? Thanks in advance! |
I went back to the onboard and it's good enough for me.
So anything but a Creative card is what I'd suggest.
It wasn't that long ago I was wondering the same thing. I was tired of the crackling that my soundblaster was doing. Did some research and found that alot of people have that problem. So I settled on this card, not top of the line by any means, but very affordable and clean sound (no crackling).
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16829118109
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What are the capabilities of the various onboard chipsets? I know that Realtek ALC888/9 chipsets show up on some of the mid-to-high-end boards, but how does it differ from an ALC662? Or the VIA or ADI chipsets?
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Originally Posted by IanTheM1
Or do the newer motherboards have good enough on-board sound support?
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The ALC 662 is six channel (5+1), the 888/9 is 8 channel (7+1). Better SNR. The ALC 885/889 also support content protected audio aka (Blu-Ray audio formats).
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I think most of your questions have been answered, but for practical usage the built in sound is just fine for most situations. It's been two system upgrades since I used an add-on sound card.|
Originally Posted by IanTheM1
Howdy, Tech Forum. Finally, the time has come - I'm getting a new computer.
The only detail still up in the air, due to relative lack of knowledge in that particular department is sound cards. Does anyone have a recommendation for a specific card (presumably a Sound Blaster of some kind)? Or do the newer motherboards have good enough on-board sound support? Is there really any big difference between the various SB cards? Thanks in advance! |
Now, if you're doing professional audio editing and processing then it's a different story altogether, but for general use and gaming with multi-channel surround sound the built-in audio's fine. My gaming machine uses the built-in Realtek sound with no problems. My WORK machine on the other hand has an 8 input $2,000 card. I can't tell the difference on the output to speakers of that over the built-in... there's a huge difference on input quality though
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TBH, onboard today for the most part is just fine.
I did purchase a X-FI card about 5 years ago to use with the Battlefield Games but meh, regretted it every day, way way to much hassel
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It's the link at the bottom of that page labeled Product Comparison.
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Originally Posted by Human_Being
The link didn't work. Is this what you were pointing to?
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Father Xmas - Level 50 Ice/Ice Tanker - Victory
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Quote:
That's helpful; thank you.
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Originally Posted by Father Xmas
It's the link at the bottom of that page labeled Product Comparison.
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Howdy, Tech Forum. Finally, the time has come - I'm getting a new computer.
The only detail still up in the air, due to relative lack of knowledge in that particular department is sound cards. Does anyone have a recommendation for a specific card (presumably a Sound Blaster of some kind)? Or do the newer motherboards have good enough on-board sound support? Is there really any big difference between the various SB cards?
Thanks in advance!
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