2 channels: Onboard sound & PCI Sound Card @ the same time

[Brickster]

I own the Gigabyte GA-K8NSNXP-939 that has Onboard sound (currently manually disabled in BIOS). I think it's Realtek.

I also have a SB Audigy 2 ZS sound card. I use this to game with in 7.1 surround sound.

I also want to get a microphone/earbud for voice communication, and use this as a separate sound and voice channel to communicate with.

Outside of some clunky USB offering, I wanted to ask...

Is it possible to enable the Onboard audio, using that for the microphone headset, while still utilizing the SB audigy 2 for the 7.1 surround?

I.e., is it possible to have both sound processors running at the same time (onboard and PCI card)?

Basically, I just want to separate the channels out so I don't have my buddy screaming at the top of his lungs out of my 7.1 speakers -- I want to reserve that for enemy footsteps.

Anyone doing this on their board?

Thank you,

 

[Thoreau]

Yup, sure is possible. I have the same setup for Skype. Altho ever since I switched to my current motherboard (Asus K8V SE Deluxe) I haven't been able to get onboard sound working... only the Audigy works. Probably just a driver issue tho and an OS reload probably wouldn't hurt either.

 

[Brickster]

That's good to hear. Anyone else have a setup like this?

 

[Sideswipe001]

I've never tried it, but it sounds like a good idea! I'll have to try it tonight.

Have you attempted it yet?

 

[whattaguy]

Originally posted by: Brickster
That's good to hear. Anyone else have a setup like this?

Well, I had 3 PCI sound cards in my system running all at once. You'll be fine.

 

[Brickster]

Originally posted by: whattaguy

Originally posted by: Brickster
That's good to hear. Anyone else have a setup like this?

Well, I had 3 PCI sound cards in my system running all at once. You'll be fine.

Wow! That is cool!

Do you know if there are any implications to running multiple sound cards?

When you download the EXE file for driver updates, how does your computer know which card to update?

 

[whattaguy]

Originally posted by: Brickster

Originally posted by: whattaguy

Originally posted by: Brickster
That's good to hear. Anyone else have a setup like this?

Well, I had 3 PCI sound cards in my system running all at once. You'll be fine.

Wow! That is cool!

Do you know if there are any implications to running multiple sound cards?

When you download the EXE file for driver updates, how does your computer know which card to update?

Well my 2 soundcards (http://www.aardvarkaudio.com/products/2496/) had drivers that were pretty specific to them, and my SB Live 5.1 was pretty much the same. You shouldn't have any problem with updates.

 

[Brickster]

Thanks, whattaguy.

Yeah, I have an SB Audigy 2 ZS and an SB Audigy Gamer. My feeling is that if I download the driver executable for the Audigy Gamer, it may get mixed up with the Audigy 2. I.e., the Audigy gamer drivers may overwrite the Audigy 2 ZS drivers?

I may try it, but I am a bit afraid as I hate driver clean-up.

We shall see. I may just enable my onboard sound.