Sound card questions.

[Zorgoth]

I don't own a sound card (never have). I just plug into the speaker outs that come off the motherbord. If I got a sound card would that improve my system to reduce lag? Or would it have the reverse effect?

[picachux]

Re: Sound card questions.

Before I got my X-Fi I was using the onboard Realtek sound and my FPS would drop real quick on 64 player servers when artillery was dropped or had more than 2 tanks/apcs attacking my base. With X-Fi all the slowdown is gone completely, so In my case it has certainly helped, plus it sounds kick *** compared to the Realtek.

[Zorgoth]

Re: Sound card questions.

Before I got my X-Fi I was using the onboard Realtek sound and my FPS would drop real quick on 64 player servers when artillery was dropped or had more than 2 tanks/apcs attacking my base. With X-Fi all the slowdown is gone completely, so In my case it has certainly helped, plus it sounds kick *** compared to the Realtek.

I too notice that lag, I thought that it was my video card though. I might have to shell out some money and get a sound card.

Can any computer techs confirm that running the sound on its own card will reduce the stress on the motherbord and increase proformance, or cut down the lag?

[bloodbrood]

Re: Sound card questions.

I too notice that lag, I thought that it was my video card though. I might have to shell out some money and get a sound card.

Can any computer techs confirm that running the sound on its own card will reduce the stress on the motherbord and increase proformance, or cut down the lag?

I get the insane lag when there is arty (no sound card. Ill be buying an xfi anyways.

[turkeybaggins]

Re: Sound card questions.

It will cut it down as a separate sound card will have independant processing, and you should make sure you have 'hardware' selected in sound properties. if you buy a good sound card you can enable EAX too. I can certainley say a good soundcard will help a lot, do it!

[abtomat74]

Re: Sound card questions.

if you buy a good sound card you can enable EAX too. I can certainley say a good soundcard will help a lot, do it!

You can enable EAX using onboard sound too...as long as it isn't an ancient motherboard. All onboard solutions today have EAX 2.0 whereas seperate sound cards like Creative's have EAX 4.0

A seperate sound card will reduce CPU cycles, though the actual fps gain is not going to be more than about 3fps max.

Lagging onboard during arty? Get an updated driver as the one that came with my mobo was garbage...the update is perfect.

I think the guy who bought the X-Fi to fix his lag could have done the same with the right driver and onboard...though obviously the quality of his sound now is superior using the card.

[venny]

Re: Sound card questions.

getting a dedicated sound card helps you to hear your enemy running round the corner or that distinctive grenade landing around you. makes a lot of difference to your gameplay. x-fi rox!

[abtomat74]

Re: Sound card questions.

getting a dedicated sound card helps you to hear your enemy running round the corner or that distinctive grenade landing around you. makes a lot of difference to your gameplay. x-fi rox!

A 5.1 sound system(not card), will do the same using onboard. A sound card will do nothing different in this regard.

[vs._9mm]

Re: Sound card questions.

to improve performance you'll need at least an Audigy 2zs or Audigy 4 as they'll process the sounds on the card. The game sounds great with either. However, if you can fork over the cash apparently the xfi is awesome. I've seen it after rebates for around $80. And I bought my 2zs new off ebay for $45 shipped.