sound card features

When choosing a sound card, what’s the most important features I should look for? What’s the best and reliable manufacture to look at when purchasing. If you know of a particular item I should consider, please don’t hesitate to recommend it.

I am trying to build a computer within the next two weeks, so any help will be welcome.


Ron

On board sound with todays modern boards are pretty good, unless you are doing professional quality sound mixing.

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I am satisfied with my onboard sound RealTec ALC-850 and run it to an amplifier with Bose 201 speakers.
But the Audigy ZS is a good sound card, I have one but do not have it installed.

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if your board has S/PIDF and you have an accessible receiver, you might want to consider using that, especially if you watch a lot of movies. even if you don't pass through to a receiver, the nForce maybe be able to decode DD. as far as music, your onboard can probably do the job adequately.

however, if you're going to be doing a good amount of gaming, digital out won't work so well since most game audio ends up as analog. in that case, an Audigy 2 (i think even the value, which is considerably cheaper than the ZS) can do the job in the gaming department.

i say factor in how much gaming you're going to do into the equation.