icycold

Distinguished
Apr 24, 2009
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18,510
I'm new to hardware, so sorry if this question may seem obvious or dumb...

I was wondering if my motherboard could handle a sound card.

My motherboard is an Intel G33, looks similar to this (but isn't exactly this board):
http://www.foxconnchannel.com/product/motherboards/detail_spec.aspx?ID=en-us0000319

Here is the sound card I'm thinking about getting (it's on sale at Best Buy, so yea...):
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8948703&type=product&id=1215819593081

Here're my problems:
1. Here's a picture of the inside of my computer:
http://i686.photobucket.com/albums/vv226/xGzuz/100_0082.jpg

Will the sound card fit in there, below my Nvidia GeForce 9800 GT? Will there be enough room?

2. I can't find if the card needs a connector directly to the card, or will the card get the power from the motherboard itself.

Thanks in advance to any and all that helps!

P.s. I'm new to building computers, and only know very little, please help me...
 

halcyon

Splendid
It doesn't look like you're going to have room for that PCI-E X-Fi Titanium, obviously due to the graphics card.

I've always been partial to sound cards but today's onboard sound has improved dramatically over what it once was. With that, have you auditioned your onboard sound and decided that the quality is below what you'd like? If so, and you definately want a sound card go with something PCI and you'll be fine.

Sound cards don't really benefit from the PCI-E bus (unless something has radically changed) so a PCI audio card would do you justice:

http://usa.asus.com/products.aspx?l1=25&l2=144

or

http://www.auzentech.com/site/products/x-fi_prelude.php

Again, check your onboard sound and see if you really need something better (didn't think I'd ever be saying that), ...and if you don't have really decent speakers or headphones than you may not even be able to hear what you've paid for in a discrete soundcard.

 

icycold

Distinguished
Apr 24, 2009
7
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18,510
The reason why I want to buy a sound card is because I have the same speakers as a friend of mine, his computer is sort of like mine. The only difference is that he has a sound card, and his speakers sound AMAZING compared to what I hear on my computer.

Since the Titanium won't have room in my computer, will this card be able to fit in?
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8014935&type=product&id=1156203598230

By the looks of the connectors, the card seems to be able to fit in properly, right?

Thanks again, I really appreciate it! :D