On-Board Sound vs Sound Card? MSI Gaming Z170A M9

[KieranValmont]

I am looking at a computer build for around the end of the year / beginning of next year and whilst I know tech will doubtless advance by some degree the base (current,) motherboard that I'm looking at is the MSI Gaming Z170A M9. Am I better off using the on-board sound (one of the motherboard's selling points,) or a <£100.00 dedicated sound card like the Creative Sound Blaster Z High Performance Gaming sound card (30SB150200000)

 

[geofelt]

Onboard HD 8.1 sound is very good these days.
Unless you are an audiophile with high end speakers, I suggest you try onboard first.

You can always add a discrete sound card later.

 

[Jim90]

+1

Try out onboard.
It's been quite a number of years since we actually required a dedicated sound card for gaming purely due to the big advances in motherboard solutions. EAX did make a big difference back in the days, nowadays the extra effects are coded by the games themselves, or, added to the game sound samples during their creation.

The dedicated market is still here but it's a market most of us haven't looked at for a long time.