Sound card benefits?

Hey, i'm running 6 channel AC97 which is on the mobo, obviousely. Performance wise when it comes to gaming, will a X-fi music card or a X-fi platimum bring benefits? any quick replys will be appreciated.

Proper sound cards (creative etc) use less cpu power (which then can be translated into higher frame rates) ASWELL as putting out clearer sound and higher quality - there is a diffrence in quality, i came from a range of onboard sound cards to an audigy and the diffrence is huge.

One example is the UT2004 logo intro - onboard sound will distort with the nvidia logo sound rumble where as even my old soundblaster128 will push out more bass and trebble and clearer, no distortion.

Its worth it.

Even an old SB Live! will likely give you perceptibly better sound than that offered by onboard chipsets...and as PCI cards take less of a hit on the CPU than onboard...if anything your performance will increase.

Seeing as how you can get an Audigy 4 SE for $35 US.... I'd divorce onboard sound and turn it off on m'mbo.

Heck, if you pay shipping I'll be more than happy to give you an SB Live!

I've just learned that the Sony MDR V6 Studio Monitors headphones are still available after more than 10 years of thinking they were not! I guarantee that if you mate a set of these to the X-Fi you will be ...I'll just say, you'll be more than satisfied, their bass is deep and their highs are clean, way past human hearing. I'm about to order these practically free ($70 for that quality, equates to being practically free IMHO) just so I can experience the bliss I envision this combo will create.

I just cannot beleve they're still making the Sony MDR V6. Audiophiles-on-a-budget rejoice!