Audigy 2 ZS or Onboard?

[Tiger5792]

I have the following motherboard http://www.newegg.com/app/view...=13-127-178&DEPA=0 and was wondering If I would be able to hear a significant difference in sound between the onboard sound I have which is AC-97 Codec and the 24 bit audio that I would get from an Audigy 2 ZS, I'm not good with sound and would appreciate some opinions because they have an audigy 2 on sale at my local Best buy for $49.99.

 

[globalcitizen]

You will only notice a difference with a good set of speakers. I am talking Logitech 5300 or the newer 5500 or the Klipsch Ones. Very few people can detect differences on headphones or a budget speaker set.

 

[Azndude51]

using onboard will also hurt your gaming performance a bit, i think.

 

[Trashman]

Like stated above, if you have decent speakers and game...audigy is a no-brainer, 49.99 nice deal.

 

[Tiger5792]

Well,I use a headset, but I cant pass up the price.

 

[WuGahCha]

i've heard M-audio has cleaner sound compare to creative
probably not much difference, but u might wanna check the price on those

 

[beatle]

I'd spend the money on a headphone amp (or better headphones) over a soundcard if I was only using headphones.

 

[islandtechengineers]

hey other than gaming i also work with music as a hobby, so i'd get the platinum edition of the audigy because i need it (along with a couple of other creative produtcs). hey if you need it, get it and if you belive you can survive and your on board makes you haapy, then stick with on board.

 

[RampantAndroid]

Just to give a warning: I have heard from MULTIPLE sources that a batch of Audigy 2 ZS cards were bad....I would think they are all bought out by now, but there was a whole batch. Creative REFUSES to assume responsbility, and they are fighting replacing my card, yes, I am one the unfortunate victims. I will NEVER buy from creative again.

The cards cannot handle hardware acceleration, especially 3d (such as in raven sheild, EAX stuff...) They pop and crack. All creative wants to do is blame it on a bad proc, or mobo, or PS, or anything but themselves. They are fricking A$$HOLES!

 

[WuGahCha]

M-Audio

 

[wseyller]

I got the audigy 2 zs and I think works great and would buy it again. I saw a big difference from my Asus K8V deluxe mobo's onboard sound. I could tell the difference with $20 speakers and with my headphones. I upgraded to much better speakers later on and got superb quality.

 

[Philippine Mango]

You go with audigy 2 ZS because it uses less cpu cycles than onboard...

 

[machintos]

I've never used onboard sound so I have nothing to say about that. But I did use audigy 2 and now I use audigy 2 ZS. The difference between these two is pretty noticeable for me. ZS is much better than the older audigy. So I'm guessing the ZS will be way better than onboard sound.