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  Tom's Hardware Forums » CPU & Components » Sound Cards » Worth Upgrading to a Sound Card for 5.1?
 

Worth Upgrading to a Sound Card for 5.1?

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 Thread : Worth Upgrading to a Sound Card for 5.1?
 
frenchbread
Profile: newbie
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n°1740731
08-22-2007 at 05:14:44 AM

I am currently using the integrated sound on my PC, which is by Sigma Tel Audio, and I have 5.1 Creative speakers. I do play some games on my computer [AoEIII, AA, Flight Simulator and possibly more] and though I do love to game, I am playing on my 360 a lot more these days, so I'd say I'm and intermediate gamer on the PC. I am wondering if there will be a noticeable sound difference considering this card [Creative 5.1] is only $27 it's not gonna be a big set back in money. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6829102010 So I'm wondering if it's a good idea, or since I'm not using 7.1 surround with the best quality speakers. This is pretty much the last item to upgrade with this PC [not that it's top of the line, but I might as well buy a new PC after this].

If it helps current computer specs are:
P4 3.0GHz dual core
2G RAM
XFX's Nvidia7950GT
PS: 620w Corsair

Thanks in advance!

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smokedyou911
Profile: addict
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n°1740806
08-22-2007 at 04:52:30 PM

I wondering the same thing. I think im gonna go buy that se in a while when my dad gets better. If you wear headphones it will ake all the difference. If by AA you meen America's army i would say it is deffinatly worth it. Back when I used to play AA the differance from a live! and onboard was huge! SO if you play America's Army and wear headphones I would say buy it.

Sailer
Sailing in my Dreams
Profile: Forum Veteran
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n°1740808
08-22-2007 at 05:14:43 PM

frenchbread wrote :

I am wondering if there will be a noticeable sound difference considering this card [Creative 5.1] is only $27 it's not gonna be a big set back in money. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6829102010 So I'm wondering if it's a good idea, or since I'm not using 7.1 surround with the best quality speakers. This is pretty much the last item to upgrade with this PC [not that it's top of the line, but I might as well buy a new PC after this].



Simple answer, yes, the separate sound card is worth it. It will both off load the cpu so that the frames rates are a bit higher and provide much better sound. If you are planning to use Vista in the future, though, I would get a X-Fi card, as the Audigy series is not supported in Vista. At the same time, $27 is not a big setback, money wise, so if you're going to keep using the present machine for a year or two more, its definately worth it in moy opinion.

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Evil lurks in the databanks as it lurked in the streets of yesteryear. But it was never the streets that were evil.

Over 50. Seen it, done it, can't remember it.
frenchbread
Profile: newbie
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n°1740921
08-23-2007 at 03:12:09 AM

thanks for your replys

kpo6969
Faded to Black
Profile: nimble knuckle
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n°1740969
08-23-2007 at 06:50:18 AM

Sailer wrote :

Simple answer, yes, the separate sound card is worth it. It will both off load the cpu so that the frames rates are a bit higher and provide much better sound. If you are planning to use Vista in the future, though, I would get a X-Fi card, as the Audigy series is not supported in Vista. At the same time, $27 is not a big setback, money wise, so if you're going to keep using the present machine for a year or two more, its definately worth it in moy opinion.


Incorrect. Yes it is:

http://us.creative.com/support/dow [...] &x=24&y=14


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P35-DS3L Rev 2 bios F9b l E8400 @ 3.6Ghz @ 1.216v l OCZ Vendetta 2 /LGA775 Bolt-Thru l 4GB G.Skill 8800PI@1000mhz 4:5 @ 1.87v l WD3200AAKS 320GB l Evga 8800GTS 512 l Creative SB X-Fi Xtreme Music l Corsair HX520 l Antec Sonata III 500 l Vista32 SP2 v113
Sailer
Sailing in my Dreams
Profile: Forum Veteran
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n°1740976
08-23-2007 at 09:56:41 AM

My Mistake. Thank you for the information. Earlier, Creative had said it would not support Vista in the Audigy series, but I guess they changed their mind.


---------------
Evil lurks in the databanks as it lurked in the streets of yesteryear. But it was never the streets that were evil.

Over 50. Seen it, done it, can't remember it.
kpo6969
Faded to Black
Profile: nimble knuckle
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n°1741466
08-25-2007 at 11:07:41 PM

I don't know how good it works but worth a shot. I'm having enough fun getting my Xtreme Music and Vista right.
Good luck.


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P35-DS3L Rev 2 bios F9b l E8400 @ 3.6Ghz @ 1.216v l OCZ Vendetta 2 /LGA775 Bolt-Thru l 4GB G.Skill 8800PI@1000mhz 4:5 @ 1.87v l WD3200AAKS 320GB l Evga 8800GTS 512 l Creative SB X-Fi Xtreme Music l Corsair HX520 l Antec Sonata III 500 l Vista32 SP2 v113

  Tom's Hardware Forums » CPU & Components » Sound Cards » Worth Upgrading to a Sound Card for 5.1?

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