Most sound cards you could buy, with the exception of the X-Fi would not provide a noticeable improvement over modern onbard sound. If you do have the money for a sound card, you would be much better off to it towards a better pair of speakers.
For the price you pay, the x-530's are good entry level speakers. If you want a nicer set that isn't too much more, check out the logitech Z-5300e's, should be about 150@.
I tend to disagree with that, believing you have it in reverse. Most sound cards, including the X-Fi will provide a noticable improvment in sound quality when paired with anything but the cheapest of PC speakers. A SoundBlaster Live! paired with those X-530's will likely sound better than those X-530's paired with SoundMax or Realtek onboard sound, especially if using the onboard sound's analog outputs that are highly susceptible to noise infection from other components on the motherboard.
Is onboard sound passable? Absolutely, IMO. Would I ever consider using it? No. Not when some of the most capable sound cards can be had for ~$25 (Chaintech AV-710:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16829120103 ). Even if you're into gaming a dedicated soundcard like the Audigy SE 7.1 can be had for ~$30 :
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16829102002 ).
I don't believe that the majority of onboard audio chipsets can successfully compete with either of these.
Speakers, likely gaming speakers @ ~ $100? As Stealth wrote, I'd say spend $15 more and consider these:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16836121121 . They likely offer a noticable improvement over the X-530 set.
Edit: This made me want to listen to my SB Live! (not Live! 5.1 or 24, just flat SB Live! ...an old card). With it plugged into the outboard SpitFire DAC and using the Sennheiser headphones I can't tell the difference between it and the X-Fi, at all (with pure stereo audio). When using the Live!'s DACs with the headphones plugged directly into the card's Front outputs it's really hard to tell the difference, the X-Fi is just a little smoother with more detail. ...but certainly not $100 smoother. Still, either card outpaces onboard sound in areas like S/N ratio and THD as far as DACs are concerned. If the onboard offers digital output and
that output is used, Stealth_Blade, you may indeed be correct, perhaps there is no audible difference.
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