onboard sound versus a 20 dollar sound card

[cyanide]

i have soundmax digital intergrated sound

i have no idea if this affects my computer's performance in bf2, but i would really like to find out

does onboard sound hinder performance noticeably? even at low settings? if so im gonna go pick up a cheap sound card

[pancakes]

Im curious too.

[BurnTheWeed]

Onboard sound will use CPU, a dedicated card like a SB!Live, Audigy, or TBSC would use less CPU. Given that most modern intergrated sound solutions don't use that much cpu and you main gain as much as 10% increase in FPS by going to a dedicated solution. With a dedicated card you might also get better features, like EAX3, which will improve the sound quality of the games you play or you might get 5.1 support.

If I were you I wouldn't get a cheap $20 card to replace your onboard, instead wait and save a little more for an Audigy 2 or TBSC or some decent gaming related sound card.

[prodigal]

I've got the nforce4 on my mobo running 3800+ 64 bit. the sound had a light crackle in the backround and the computer would lag every couple of minutes. put in my olv sblive 5.1 card and its good now, other than every 15 seconds or so it'll get really choppy. i think thats a bug within bf though, many people are gettings it now. ran smooth for about 1 week and now choppy.

[cha0tic]

Sound Cards are always better than integrated. Better sound quality and, like said above, less CPU usage.

[Eliminator]

i'm about to get a really good PC A64 4800, gig or Corsair XMS, etc... but i think i will save $$ on a sound card and just use either the 7.1 onboard that comes with Asus A8N SLI Deluxe or what ever comes on newer Crossfire Boards. Since i'm not a musician i doubt spending an extra $80 on an Audigy 2 ZS would improve my experience that much. I would rather use the money to get better speakers

[DimmuBorgir]

i dont use intergrated anything, except for my usb devices. mouse, keyboard and joystick

[Mazstermind]

i also mave on board sound...i was thinking of getting this LINK What difference would it make?

[Eliminator]

i think if you have an expensive motherboard then you probably have a good onboard sound. This is not true for an onboard vid card. Never get a mobo with one of those.

[BurnTheWeed]

i also mave on board sound...i was thinking of getting this LINK What difference would it make?

If you have an nforce board or something newer than probably no difference, except like I mentioned some better cpu usage.