Tom's Hardware > Forum > CPU & Components > Sound Cards > Time to upgrade?

Time to upgrade?

Forum CPU & Components : Sound Cards - Time to upgrade?

Tom's Hardware: Over 1.4 million members in 6 different countries available to answer all your high-tech questions. Sign up now! Its free!
Ask the community Add a reply
Word :    Username :           
 
10Mhz8086   06-09-2002 at 02:33:08 AM

I'm still using my old 16-bit ISA CT SB 16 Vibra Pnp card. Should I upgrade to something newer? I imagine sound quality would be better but would also a newer card use less CPU?

I have a PIII800 and Windows XP.

Who ever made up the phrase, "If it aint broke why fix it" just didn't get it...

Add a reply
Sponsored Links
Register or log in to remove.
4ryan6   06-09-2002 at 03:00:22 AM
- 0 +

It really depends on what you do with your computer upgrading your sound card will definitely be an improvement over what you're running if you're a gamer or audiophile, you've been seriously missing out on performance, and the ability to move up to something like 5.1 surround sound speakers, with the card you have you can't run those things. However unless you've actually heard the quality from the higher end cards with a really good set of speakers you really don't know what you're missing.

Reply to 4ryan6
upec   06-09-2002 at 05:48:57 AM
- 0 +

What do you using your computer for?

Reply to upec
Crashman   06-09-2002 at 06:43:08 AM
- 0 +

Well, the sound quality won't be a LOT better, but it would have such features as 3D sound and Dolby 5.1. You would need a really good set of speakers to hear the wider dynamic range. And those old SB16/SB32 cards didn't make much noise. A new card would also INCREASE CPU load, because your old card is almost 100% hardware controlled, while new cards use software for many of their fuctions.

What's the frequency, Kenneth?

Reply to Crashman
10Mhz8086   06-09-2002 at 04:51:42 PM
- 0 +

I mainly use my PC for games (CS, UT, Empire Earth, Oni various Racing games, Etc) and doing homework. When it comes to music I just burn stuff from it and play it on my sterio, I don't really play any MP3s on it (waste of elect. if you ask me).

So upgrading would acutally tax my CPU more? If thats the case then I'm sticking to my acient sound card. I recieved a set of Creative 5.1 5300 Insprire speakers and I was thinking of pickup a OEM SB Audigy. Pricewatch has a few that are in my pricerange.

Bah, I'll give up quality and features for speed...

Who ever made up the phrase, "If it aint broke why fix it" just didn't get it...

Reply to 10Mhz8086
Crashman   06-10-2002 at 02:28:18 AM
- 0 +

Yes, those old cards had a minimal tax on the CPU, in fact they would work fine on a 386, whereas the Live for instance has a high system requirement, like a Pentium II or higher i think.

What's the frequency, Kenneth?

Reply to Crashman
upec   06-10-2002 at 03:57:13 AM
- 0 +

My SB Live works fine on old Pentium 166.

Reply to upec
pc2_c   06-10-2002 at 04:12:36 AM
- 0 +

maybe you can keep the card and downgrade the cpu to a 286 or a 486.

Reply to pc2_c
williamc   06-10-2002 at 06:00:13 AM
- 0 +

Bottom line, you got two choices, Turtle Beach Santa Cruz or Audigy. Pick one, be happy.

My personal favorite and recommened is the TBSC. But some people will swear by audigy till they die...pick one, be happy.

The itsy bitsy spider climbed up the empires state building, along came goblin, wiped the spider out

Reply to williamc
Crashman   06-10-2002 at 08:26:26 AM
- 0 +

No, he has an even better choice-keep what he has, because sound isn't a high priority to him.

What's the frequency, Kenneth?

Reply to Crashman
Crashman   06-10-2002 at 08:27:49 AM
- 0 +

But it's not SUPPOSED to. Systems as powerfull as last years best were still seeing as much as 5% to 10% of the CPU power being used up by these cards.

What's the frequency, Kenneth?

Reply to Crashman
williamc   06-10-2002 at 04:44:47 PM
- 0 +

well okay, i mean assuming he's going to upgrade, those are his options. I kinda figured he was posting because he WAS going to upgrade. Its no problem to run a live, audigy, or TBSC on a p3 800. I ran my live on my p2 400 for over a year just fine. IT played games great and sounded great. The newer audigy and tbsc use less processing power than the live did. I'd defnitely upgrade if i were him. I think upgrading is the best choice in this case.

The itsy bitsy spider climbed up the empires state building, along came goblin, wiped the spider out

Reply to williamc
10Mhz8086   06-11-2002 at 12:31:48 AM
- 0 +

My main concern was system performance. I'm ok with the quality of the output, my freind has a Audigy and I can tell is has a better S/N. But I'm not that concered with quality, I don't sit on it for hours and listen to music. Nor do I need my bullets and gun fire to sound better to help me play better :)

I figured since PCI was better than ISA that I would have gained some performance. But if my hardware based sound card uses less PC cycles, them I'm sticking to it. TIA

Who ever made up the phrase, "If it aint broke why fix it" just didn't get it...

Reply to 10Mhz8086
williamc   06-11-2002 at 04:21:15 PM
- 0 +

Not sure i get what your saying either....

I do know this, An audigy will run fine on your system...

The itsy bitsy spider climbed up the empires state building, along came goblin, wiped the spider out

Reply to williamc
Ask the community Add a reply
Tom's Hardware > Forum > CPU & Components > Sound Cards > Time to upgrade?
Go to:

There are 503 identified and unidentified users. To see the list of identified users, Click here.

Forum map
Bestofmedia Forum ©
2000-2009 Bestofmedia Group
Page generated in 0.264 seconds
Please mind

You are about to answer a thread that has been inactive for more than 6 months.
If you still wish to proceed, please ensure that your posting is original and does not duplicate or overlap any prior responses to this thread.

Add a reply Cancel
Sponsored links
  • Ask the community now
  • Publish
Ad
Related Topics
See all relatives topics
They won a badge
Join us in greeting them
How do I win badges?