Sound Card or On Board Sound?

[socalcaz]

I recently purchased this Epox EP-9NPA + Ultra motherboard:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813123236

The motherboard has 8 channel on board sound. I also have an old Creative SB Live! Value (CT4780) Sound Card. I want to hold off buying another sound card for now.

Questions:

1. Should I use my sound card or the onboard sound?

2. What should I set my audio settings to in BF2? (ie EAX, software vs. hardware, sound quality)

Thanks!

[Snake101]

Re: Sound Card or On Board Sound?

I would say to use your soundcard for now as I also have a SoundBlaster Live! and it works fine for me. If you get a new one purchase the X-FI...

[djstubbs]

Re: Sound Card or On Board Sound?

I would use your onboard and then upgrade to X-fi.

[lil_jimmy_norton]

Re: Sound Card or On Board Sound?

I don't reccoment the X-fi. I still can't justify spending that much on a sound card, especially when you can get a Audigy 2 ZS for about 1/2 the price.

[socalcaz]

Re: Sound Card or On Board Sound?

I would use your onboard and then upgrade to X-fi.

If I use the onboard sound how should I set the audio settings in BF2?

[jbean7457]

Re: Sound Card or On Board Sound?

I use my onboard sound and it sounds great. I'm not much of an audiophile, but I do pump my computer through my home stereo system. I love cranking up the volume, makes me feel like i'm in battle.

What do you mean how should you set it up? Just turn the volume up and go

[lcplsickoll]

Re: Sound Card or On Board Sound?

If you're using your onboard sound set it as Software and Low, then move up to Medium if it plays well. Onboard sound relies on the processor for rendering and a PCI card does not. If you have a sturdy processor you probably will have no problems running onboard audio.

[imported_bosx2]

Re: Sound Card or On Board Sound?

I used an onboard ac97 for a long time but after I switched to an audigy ZS card, I will never use an onboard again. The quality increase is so immense, I get 5.1 in game in realtime, I get EAX in BF2 and other big titles, I have performance boost in games by using that card and and and

I´m very happy with it

[socalcaz]

Re: Sound Card or On Board Sound?

If you're using your onboard sound set it as Software and Low, then move up to Medium if it plays well. Onboard sound relies on the processor for rendering and a PCI card does not. If you have a sturdy processor you probably will have no problems running onboard audio.

I don't understand the difference between software and hardware rendering. If you are using the onboard sound isn't that considered hardware? If I use my SB Live Value card for the sound will my processor be spared for other gameplay computation? Thanks!

[lcplsickoll]

Re: Sound Card or On Board Sound?

Software rendering uses the CPU to process the sounds, Hardware rendering would use the onboard chip of a PCI soundcard to process the sounds. Yes if you use a Creative SB live then your CPU will be freed up for other things.

[socalcaz]

Re: Sound Card or On Board Sound?

Software rendering uses the CPU to process the sounds, Hardware rendering would use the onboard chip of a PCI soundcard to process the sounds. Yes if you use a Creative SB live then your CPU will be freed up for other things.

Thanks! Do you think my 3500+ is enough to handle the load with high settings for audio and video, or should I go with my SB Live? By the way I am a not rocking surround sound speakers.

[lcplsickoll]

Re: Sound Card or On Board Sound?

You'll be fine letting the CPU handle the sound if you want. That processor is plenty capable of handling it.

[jbean7457]

Re: Sound Card or On Board Sound?

audio work done on your CPU only takes about 2 fps off of your games, not really enough to care about.

[Sir. S.A.S]

Re: Sound Card or On Board Sound?

I use AC-97 sound and it sounds very nice so i aint got a problem with it i highly recommend it!!!