Sound Card

[Sam1990]

I currently have the MSI K9N4 nForce 500 motherboard, that supports up to 8-channel sound or surround sound, have no idea which. If anyone can find out, that would be great. Anyway, to the point:

I'm thinking about buying a sound card for my PC, I only have the built-in sound at the moment. Problem is, I know absolutely nothing about sound cards and that's why I need your help.

What I'm looking for, is, a nice sound card for under $100 that will improve my sound. I was thinking about buying the Creative X-Fi Xtreme Audio one, but there's several different kinds and I don't know which is better than the other.

Is this upgrade worth the money? Will it improve my gaming experience? Will it reduce lag?

[Sniper1432]

Re: Sound Card

I would recommend this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829102006

If your PC has a PCI slot, you're good to go.

Your FPS won't really change but your sound will improve a lot especially in BF2, 2142.

[Iwantcable]

Re: Sound Card

Be wary of 2 things:

1) Avoid the Xtreme Audio

X-Fi Xtreme Audio

The entry-level model of the X-Fi series, the Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio, does not actually have the EMU20K1 chip but is a re-branded Audigy SE, using the same family of chips (CA0106-WBTLF), and even the same drivers.[12] Thus, not only is all of the X-Fi–related processing performed in software, but it also lacks basic hardware acceleration just like the SB Live! 24-bit, the Audigy SE and other budget Soundblaster models. The X-Fi Xtreme Audio does not use the same drivers as the rest of the X-Fi family, some games do not recognize it as being "X-Fi capable hardware", and the device's hardware profile resembles that of older Live! and Audigy cards.

Furthermore, users have reported that it slows down some applications and games, and that rear sound in games (all) is muffled and of profoundly low quality.[13][14][15] Thus, even if the card is marketed as part of the X-Fi line, it does not belong to it technically, just like the Audigy SE doesn't technically belong to the Sound Blaster Audigy series. The card is not marketed as supporting the "X-Fi Gaming Mode" (but is still marketed as "X-Fi"), and there are no official implicit or explicit statements regarding its having hardware acceleration or not.

2) Creative has the absolute worst driver support ever.


But, if you can get it to work, you will definitely be satisfied; sound quality increases drastically. About reducing lag, chances are it won't be noticeable.

[Sam1990]

Re: Sound Card

I have Windows Vista.

I might have problems with a sound card though. The first picture shows the PCI-e slots and the second shows the PCI slots. As you can see with the second picture, adding the sound card to the first slots blocks the fan for the GPU, adding it to the second slot reduces air flow to the sound card because it will be close to the bottom of the case.

Now, if I were to move the GPU up to the first PCI-e slot, it would pretty much block the fan to the CPU cooler. So, any suggestions? I'm thinking of just adding it to the bottom PCI slot, it should be fine there. But man, I sure need a full tower case and modular PSU.

[media]http://img241.imageshack.us/img241/2308/0609082153tm7.jpg[/media]
[media]http://img241.imageshack.us/img241/3149/0609082154qw5.jpg[/media]

[StoneCold313]

Re: Sound Card

I would recommend this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829102006

If your PC has a PCI slot, you're good to go.

Your FPS won't really change but your sound will improve a lot especially in BF2, 2142.

I've been planning to get one of those for so long...

Soon i have to, because my intergrated one is starting to piss me off...

[=98=]

Re: Sound Card

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829132006

Get that. It can run EAX 5.0/HD and doesn't have Creative's crap drivers.

[Sam1990]

Re: Sound Card

Ok, I don't really mind about driver support, just trying to find a good card for a low price. I mean, I've never really had any problems with driver support from any company that I've bought things for.

But, I can get the Creative Labs Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Fatal1ty Platinum for $59.99 with free shipping right now, should I go for it? Need quick response, it might get sold out. This card:

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3175961&CatId=2771

[Sam1990]

Re: Sound Card

Wait, it's not the Fatal1ty series. Is it worth paying the extra $ for the Fatal1ty series one? The only thing thats different from it and the regular Platinum is the 64MB on-board ram.

[=98=]

Re: Sound Card

Not worth paying extra for fatality.

[Sam1990]

Re: Sound Card

Refurbished Creative Labs Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Platinum though, should I get on the deal or not worth it?

[Sniper1432]

Re: Sound Card

just get the Xtreme gamer for $99 at best buy/circuit city. The drivers aren't crap either, well at least for me they' re not.

[StoneCold313]

Re: Sound Card

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16829132006

Get that. It can run EAX 5.0/HD and doesn't have Creative's crap drivers.

The XtremeGamer costs here around 60€(93usd)... Im not even sure if i can find that sound card from here anywhere...

And i haven't ever had any driver troubles with my hardware. The rare problems i've had, has been because of an faulty part(my old graphics card and bad hard drive)..

[sava700]

Re: Sound Card

on my newest gaming rig..I stayed with onboard.... it was just as good if not better than many of the add in cards right now. And with Creative sucking so bad here lately I wouldn't recommend you piss on one of their cards if it was on fire.

[=98=]

Re: Sound Card

on my newest gaming rig..I stayed with onboard.... it was just as good if not better than many of the add in cards right now. And with Creative sucking so bad here lately I wouldn't recommend you piss on one of their cards if it was on fire.

Lol, for a proper audiophile, it is no where near as good. The quality simply isn't there and the advanced options are really useful when playing stuff loud or through earphones.

[Vash2051]

Re: Sound Card

A good sound card is nothing without a set of semi-high quality speakers and/or headphones.