7.1 on-board sound, or 5.1 Audigy2

[b6x]

Hi all.

I have an Audigy2 5.1 sound card that's a few years old now, and have recently been forced to buy a new motherboard which has 7.1 sound on-board (Realtek ALC850 I think).
Seeing as occaisonal BF2 is pretty much the only thing I use the computer for I thought I'd ask on here whether you think I'd be best off sticking with the 5.1, or binning it in favour of the onboard 7.1? In the past I've always assumed that onboard stuff is pretty poor... however dont have the greatest of speaker systems so Audigy2 is possibly just taking up a slot??

Thanks in advance,
b6x

[FLIPINOM4D]

Re: 7.1 on-board sound, or 5.1 Audigy2

well if u go 7.1 it will be processing power running it, but if u get a sound card with 5.1 not as badass sound but it helps ur CPU load.

It depends on ur CPU, what kind of CPU u getting? and god get better speakers, depending on what u do go 5.1 or 7.1

[b6x]

Re: 7.1 on-board sound, or 5.1 Audigy2

I already have the PC. It's just I needed to change the mobo for other issues. So I already have the Audigy2 card, but it's a 5.1, and the new mobo has 7.1 onboard. Processor is a AMD64 3400+

[Talus]

Re: 7.1 on-board sound, or 5.1 Audigy2

Do you have a 7.1 speaker setup?

If you feel like shelling out the dough for a 7.1 speaker setup, I'd do that first...then at a later date, get a better 7.1 sound card.

If you're like me, and 5.1 is enough...they get the Audigy 2 if you get it for cheap (otherwise go for X-fi)

[b6x]

Re: 7.1 on-board sound, or 5.1 Audigy2

Hi Talus,

The thing is I already have all the hardware so it's not a case of which I'm best of buying. I have a motherboard with 7.1 onboard, but it's disabled in preference (maybe wrongly) for the Audigy2 5.1. I have a basic 5.1 speaker setup as it stands and not too fussed about changing that.

I guess the question really should have been:- would I be better off with a newish 7.1 onboard soundcard, or a 2 (maybe even 3) year old Audigy2 5.1 - taking into account current 5.1 speakers / processing power (AMD64 3400+) and PCI slot usage.

Are on-board sound cards these days any good? I've always disabled in the past as they've been suspect to say the least.

Regards,
b6x

[Talus]

Re: 7.1 on-board sound, or 5.1 Audigy2

For gamers...Audigy2 for sure.

For everyday users...onboard is fine.

[LoD]

Re: 7.1 on-board sound, or 5.1 Audigy2

The Audigy2 is better for everything, particularly gaming. If you have a 7.1 speaker system then you *might* want to consider the onboard, but since you say your speakers are weak, there is no point using a 7.1 card if you have 5.1, 4.1, 2.1 or stereo speakers etc.....

Just because you have 7.1 onboard does not mean you get 7.1 sound, you need to physically have the speakers.

[socalcaz]

Re: 7.1 on-board sound, or 5.1 Audigy2

Get the X-Fi.