Yes or No to a soundcard?

[jkeaton88]

For my new build I am planning to purchase Asus Rampage III Formula Motherboard with SupremeFX X-Fi 2 as onboard audio chipset. I currently use M-Audio Studiophile3 as my speakers. These speakers are actually built for studio/monitoring so they offer high quality sounds (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16836127010). However, most of what I will be doing will be listening to music and gaming. Do you think getting an audio card will make any noticable difference vs using the onboard audio chipset? If so, which audio card do you recommend?

 

[MEgamer]

they are built for such prupoe, however they arent exactly classed as say... excellent... not excellent enough to resolve the difference between an onboard and a soundcard.

however if you are doubting what im sainyg, try a soundcard for a test, and make some BS excuse when you want to return it- that is if you arent satisfied... worked for me...

 

[kajabla]

Those speakers aren't good enough to distinguish, I think. Also, you'd need excellent sound output files.

 

[blackhawk1928]

Those speakers are not good enough to be able to do better with a soundcard. Your built in sound card should do just as well IMO.

 

[Chuckels550]

If you are going with Win7 64 bit as the OS, then don't waste your time with a soundcard. Soundcards using Win7 64 bit often have DPC Latency issues that the onboard audio can ignore. The DPC Latency issue shows as a stutter in the audio output and is very annoying. WinXP doesn't have this issue.

 

[MEgamer]

i havent heard any poeple, with soudncard regarding stutter and lag issues.

 

[someguynamedmatt]

I don't have any clue what you're talking about, Chuckels. Being an absolute audio enthusiast, none of my sound cards have ever given me any 'stutter in the audio output'.

But despite what everyone else is saying, I disagree. If you were to get a decent audio card right now, you'd have a minor improvement in sound quality (those speakers aren't all that precise), but to go along with that you'd already have what you need then when you decide to get a better sound system. Get what I'm saying? If you were to upgrade your speakers right now, you'd still be held back by onboard sound...

Just my $0.02.

 

[sykozis]

first I've heard of any audio stutter....I've had static and buzzing issues, but never stuttering... I vote for dedicated audio card though, just cuz I feel like it....lol. Difference between my VIA integrated garbage and my Xonar DG was like night and day, even with cheap headphones.

 

[someguynamedmatt]

I'd say he was having typical Creative driver issues (or similar, so you don't quote me on specifying Creative) and just figured that all sound cards are the same. Oh well...

 

[Guest]

I just purchased a Creative Sound Blaste X-FI Extreme Audio soundcard vs. my Realtek HD onboard, and the sound is way better. I use it for gaming and listening to music. I'm using Creative's Sound Blaster Tactic3D Sigma headphones, and although I can hear a difference in both gaming and music the most vital change has to be the music. It just sounds so awesome I almost cried first time I heard music. I know nothing about sound specifically, but I know enough to say there's a definite change of sound quality here. I just wonder what a more expensive soundcard would do since this one was only 60-80 bucks.

 

[sykozis]

Higher price, doesn't necessarily mean better sound.... My Xonar DG was only like $30 but, to me, it sounds better than my $100 Creative X-Fi XtremeGamer....

 

[MEgamer]

neither does different sound mean better...

 

[someguynamedmatt]

Higher price, doesn't necessarily mean better sound.... My Xonar DG was only like $30 but, to me, it sounds better than my $100 Creative X-Fi XtremeGamer....

Hah, well, there's your problem. The XtremeGamer isn't exactly a card known for amazing sound quality. Get yourself an Asus Xonar D2X or Essence STX and you'll see that it's newer technology that means better sound, and newer technology generally means higher price.

 

[sykozis]

Now you're implying that price and sound quality scale together. The Xonar Essence STX and D2X are both $200...the X-Fi TitaniumHD is $162 and according to reviews produces excellent sound quality...even for a Creative product.

 

[king smp]

My vote is for soundcard
I have a Asus DG
I use analog surround sound so sounds much better
I also record keyboard,guitar and vocals the extra
inputs with better sampling are necessary

 

[MEgamer]

no to the soundcard at your situation, get some better speakers first.