754 Motherboards, which has the best onboard audio?

[SalientKing]

Im going to be putting together a 754 system soon, I'd like to get a mobo with the best possible onboard sound. But my budget is very limited, so i dont want to spend much more than $80 on a mobo. So right now im looking at these 3 boards.

Chaintech VNF-250 (Cmeida?)

Epox
EP-8KDA3I (Realtek ALC65X)
EP-8KDA3J (Realtek ALC850)

On the anandtech review of the Chaintech VNF-250, it says that it has the cmedia apu on it. But when i look at the product link specs it doesnt mention anything about it. In the future id like to buy a 5.1 sound system, id like to be able to use it with the onboard audio. My PC is my primary source of entertainment, I play games, watch movies, and listen to music on it.

So which would i be the most happy with?

 

[ChineseDemocracyGNR]

In my opinion the C-media CODEC on the Chaintech is the best. Also, ALC658 > ALC650 > ALC655=ALC850.

 

[Vette73]

Yea the C-Media is better IMO BUT the EP-8KDA3J board is better as it uses the 250gb

So get that board and spend the $25 later and get a VIA Envy sound card

 

[SalientKing]

besides the gigabit ethernet connection, what other benefits does the 250gb give over the 250?

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: SalientKing
besides the gigabit ethernet connection, what other benefits does the 250gb give over the 250?

Its not that its giga, BUT that is does not run on the PCI bus and offers a hardware firewall.

 

[ts3433]

I'd just get a Chaintech AV710 ($25, Envy-based) or something later on and get the better board now, because typically there isn't a whole lot of variation between onboard sound chipsets (except Soundstorm and that new Intel High Definition Audio or whatever in the 9xx chipsets).

 

[SalientKing]

Ok, ill go with the epox EP-8KDA3J. Later on ill get an Audigy 2 or 2ZS. Hopefully by then there will be a cheap version of the audigy 4. Ive been hearing good things about it.