Is there a gaming sound card solution that is not made by Creative? I have read recently that the VIA Envy chipset doesn't buy back many cpu clock cycles. From what I have read audio hardware acceleration is important to taking some of the load off of the cpu. What's out there that's good but not Creative? Does gaming performance matter over sound quality or should it be the other way around?
A gaming sound card not made by Creative?
- Thread starter expostfacto
- Start date
i think a company called M-Audio make sound cards, but they are for music professionals, these cards are fantastic but very expensive
i think phillips make sound cards too, but tbh you cant really go far wrong with an Audigy even tough the drivers are bloated.
on board sound is getting pretty good at the moment too. read some motherboard reviews, they show onboard sound performance etc
i think phillips make sound cards too, but tbh you cant really go far wrong with an Audigy even tough the drivers are bloated.
on board sound is getting pretty good at the moment too. read some motherboard reviews, they show onboard sound performance etc
RussianSensation
Elite Member
- Sep 5, 2003
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With your fast cpu, gaming sound quality is more important than the cpu cycles. Even if your cpu is 15% slower as a result of onboard sound you probably wont feel it. The sound quality from EAX features is a big bonus, but you also would want a decent sound system to enjoy it.
Anubis
No Lifer
get a M-Audio Revolution, much better SQ then teh creative cards, works fine in games, costs about 80$ or so, it lacks EAX and some of those effects that only creative has, however i dont know of anyone that uses them
you could also get a Turtle beach Santa Cruze card for like 30$, many peopel use them as well
you could also get a Turtle beach Santa Cruze card for like 30$, many peopel use them as well
Right now, the retail pipeline is understocked on the Santa Cruz. Turtle Beach has been pushing their newer Catalina in the same price range, and the Riviera as still cheaper. I looked for one recently, and then settled for Creative, although I hate their software, poor support, bad attitude, etc.
And of course the damn software "bit" me once again. Just like so many other times, the install managed to screw up the OS and forced a reinstall!
My internet PC has a Diamond "Monster MX" card, but I think Diamond is out of the add-on card business now. The backup PC/ file server/ old beast in the computer room has an "Aureal" sound card. I never had heard of that one before I got it, and never have since.
why are you so against creative? i have an audigy 2zs platinum and i love it, its much better than onboard sound
YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Moderator<br>A/V & Home Theater<br>Elite member
- Aug 6, 2001
- 31,204
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If you think you need hardware processing, creative is the way to go. Their audigy 2 line is very nice. (Haven't tried it, but have read very positive things about it) If you're getting a gaming only card, I think creative is still the best bet.
What kind of speakers are you hooking up?
If you're not doing surround sound, you can get away with a $25 chaintech AV-710.
If you want a surround alternative to creative, I agree with the M-audio Revolution recommendation. Afaik creative is the only company that offers hardware EAX processing though...
What kind of speakers are you hooking up?
If you're not doing surround sound, you can get away with a $25 chaintech AV-710.
If you want a surround alternative to creative, I agree with the M-audio Revolution recommendation. Afaik creative is the only company that offers hardware EAX processing though...
- May 13, 2003
- 13,704
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http://www.hdaudiovisual.com.au/mcpc/xmgold71.htm
This cardx kicks the sh*t out of anything Creative can come out with. $100 shipped on ebay usually. I paid $81 for mine.
This cardx kicks the sh*t out of anything Creative can come out with. $100 shipped on ebay usually. I paid $81 for mine.
If you are thinking Audigy2 ZS Gamer that is the same card as the regular ZS with some games attached.
Thanks for the input.
I had an Audigy 2ZS and rma'd it. It installed fine, no problems, and it had fairly tight sound. It was a definite improvement over onboard sound even with inexpensive but decent desktop speakers. The reasons I sent it back were:
1. No support for connecting case front audio. Creative requires the use of their "internal drive." I found info. on the pin outs for the card on various forums and considered modifying my case front audio cables to fit Creative's tiny pins. I chose keeping my warranties in place over modification. Maybe some time in the future...
2. No on-board digital optical out which is now seems to be the standard. Again Creative requires the use of their internal drive. I think Audigy 4 may have it.
3. The Creative software dumped a bunch of AOL junk on my computer.
I went through much of the same thing a while back working on a rebuild with a Sound Blaster Live Value card and case front audio. I ended up using an inexpensive pass through set up and didn't hook up case front audio.
Creative soundcards as hardware have been good or at least have done the job they are supposed to do. I think Creative has taken advantage of their place in the market at the expense of the consumer which really rubs me the wrong way.
I have no plans right now for hooking up to a good sound system but I will in the future. My new rig is really built for gaming thus my search for a gaming sound solution. I'll do some more research on your suggestions. I had been considering trying Chaintech's AV 710 until I found out it didn't do a lot for the clock cycles. Onboard sound isn't bad but its a little flat which would be more noticeable on a good sound system.
Thanks again!
I had an Audigy 2ZS and rma'd it. It installed fine, no problems, and it had fairly tight sound. It was a definite improvement over onboard sound even with inexpensive but decent desktop speakers. The reasons I sent it back were:
1. No support for connecting case front audio. Creative requires the use of their "internal drive." I found info. on the pin outs for the card on various forums and considered modifying my case front audio cables to fit Creative's tiny pins. I chose keeping my warranties in place over modification. Maybe some time in the future...
2. No on-board digital optical out which is now seems to be the standard. Again Creative requires the use of their internal drive. I think Audigy 4 may have it.
3. The Creative software dumped a bunch of AOL junk on my computer.
I went through much of the same thing a while back working on a rebuild with a Sound Blaster Live Value card and case front audio. I ended up using an inexpensive pass through set up and didn't hook up case front audio.
Creative soundcards as hardware have been good or at least have done the job they are supposed to do. I think Creative has taken advantage of their place in the market at the expense of the consumer which really rubs me the wrong way.
I have no plans right now for hooking up to a good sound system but I will in the future. My new rig is really built for gaming thus my search for a gaming sound solution. I'll do some more research on your suggestions. I had been considering trying Chaintech's AV 710 until I found out it didn't do a lot for the clock cycles. Onboard sound isn't bad but its a little flat which would be more noticeable on a good sound system.
Thanks again!
The AV710 is anything but a gaming card. It sounds great for music, but as far games go, I don't think it sound any better than on-board. Same goes for all the other Envy24HT-S clones I've tried.
I've had quite a few problems with some relatively recent cards made by Creative. It seems like the AWE-era cards from them are much hardier as I still have a few of those that work without any problems. However, I've had quirky Live's, Audigy's, and Audigy 2's. In some cases the entire card died. In others, a particular feature just stopped working. On top of that, Creative's drivers really are bloated and can be a pain to install without having all sorts of other crap tag along during the install.
Creative's cards definitely do their job very well, but I wouldn't miss them for a second if I ran across what I thought was a good alternative.
Creative's cards definitely do their job very well, but I wouldn't miss them for a second if I ran across what I thought was a good alternative.
Well I don't have the AOL problem. I think you get to choose what you install and don't wanna install during the driver setup process.
I do find the internal drive bay quite useful. However if you don't like it, you can always "hide" it inside your PC case, and just run an optical cable from the drive bay through the back of your PC, or somewhere in front
Creative has the best card in terms of gaming. No other cards I know of supports full Advanced EAX HD...
note: i personally like creative... i went from a sb16 to a sb live! to an audigy and am thinking about getting the next gen audigy card in the future... i don't like all the bundled crap that comes with the cards but the sound quality is awesome and tons of games support EAX and all the other stuff.... pair it with some kickass speakers and it really makes a difference...
Unfortunately, I've experienced problems on several games with the Santa Cruz. It's a great card but I wouldn't recommend it as a gaming card.
Audigy 2 ZS platinum
Front connections, remote, best EAX implementation.
Audigy for games, Terratec for music, professional cards for anymore fidelity.
Also, creative has a lower cpu usage while processing sound, so that's another reason why it's a more natural fit for games.
Front connections, remote, best EAX implementation.
Audigy for games, Terratec for music, professional cards for anymore fidelity.
Also, creative has a lower cpu usage while processing sound, so that's another reason why it's a more natural fit for games.
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