Internal Sound Card for MSI Board

[Q-Tex]

Hi
I have a MSI K8N neo 4 Motherboard with onboard sound, and a 5.1 surround setup. I was contemplating purchasing an additional soundcard to improve the sound.
Now a lot of you are claiming that the X-FI cards are they way forward but some of us have mortgages etc and im kind of somewhat on a budget.

From my research i have come up with this
http://www.creative.com/products/pro...&product=14103

Now its reasonably priced, between £30 - £40. But my knowledge on this sort of hardware is limited so here is a couple of questions.

1. Is this Sound Card better than my onboard motherboard sound chip?
Link to Motherboard specs - http://www.msicomputer.co.uk/Product...3538&cat_id=77

2. What other Sound Cards would you suggest that would improve my sound without breaking the bank.

Thanks for your help in advance peeps!

[CaptJordus]

Re: Internal Sound Card for MSI Board

Any sound card will take the load off of your CPU.

and onboard sound chips generally arent anything special.

Id look for an audigy2 and leave it at that. I think they are around 50 now.

[Sir. MatDef]

Re: Internal Sound Card for MSI Board

Try posting those links again, the ones you have are dead. If you have the same board as I do, the sound should be okay. For 50 bucks though, a audigy 2 isn't bad.

[Dethred]

Re: Internal Sound Card for MSI Board

Realtek ALC850 is what it should be... I think... The sound is as good as anything I have heard on anything else. Maybe I'm not picky... Either way it takes up more power and a PCI slot so its not worth it to me. 50 bucks is 50 bucks, if you're not having problems why pee away the money?

[Sir. MatDef]

Re: Internal Sound Card for MSI Board

I got an sb live! 24bit one, but the new msi diamonds have audigy 2 onboard.

[-(PK)-DarkIllusion]

Re: Internal Sound Card for MSI Board

i also got a sb live! not the best, but it does the job done...

[Q-Tex]

Re: Internal Sound Card for MSI Board

Cheers for the help guys! I think i've fixed the links now too.