Can onboard sound be any good?

[SalmonCanyon]

Hi All,

I'm in the process of building a new PC, I've settled on the Abit NF7-S as my motherboard. My question, is the onboard SoundStorm any good? I could reuse my current Videologic SonicFury soundcard, use the onboard sound on this motherboard or buy a new sound card. What do you guys think?

Thanks.

 

[Vette73]

Use the onboard sound. I also have the NF7-S and the onboad sound is GREAT

 

[kage69]

I guess it all really depends on what exactly the mobo maker threw on the board. Steer clear of software run AC'97 codecs, crappy sound and high CPU utilization, yuck. I've got an Iwill KT266A at home that has some great onboard sound courtesy of C-Media, and the Epox nForce2 board I use here at work has onboard sound that continues to impress me. In your case, the onboard is prolly the way to go.

 

[Iron Woode]

Originally posted by: kage69
I guess it all really depends on what exactly the mobo maker threw on the board. Steer clear of software run AC'97 codecs, crappy sound and high CPU utilization, yuck. I've got an Iwill KT266A at home that has some great onboard sound courtesy of C-Media, and the Epox nForce2 board I use here at work has onboard sound that continues to impress me. In your case, the onboard is prolly the way to go.

All onboard sound use AC'97 codecs.

So does my Epox 8RDA+.

 

[DerwenArtos12]

Originally posted by: Iron Woode

Originally posted by: kage69
I guess it all really depends on what exactly the mobo maker threw on the board. Steer clear of software run AC'97 codecs, crappy sound and high CPU utilization, yuck. I've got an Iwill KT266A at home that has some great onboard sound courtesy of C-Media, and the Epox nForce2 board I use here at work has onboard sound that continues to impress me. In your case, the onboard is prolly the way to go.

All onboard sound use AC'97 codecs.

So does my Epox 8RDA+.

not all but most. there is one company who have developed their own that is 7 channel instead of 6 that is less cpu reliant and is better. but the ac'97 is good enough for just about anything.

 

[MDE]

The SoundStorm on my Asus A7N8X Deluxe is great, wouldn't think of getting an Audigy until I upgrade my motherboard which will probably have SoundStorm as well .

 

[Soulkeeper]

what's the diff between the c-media and the realtek sound codec anyways ?

 

[SalmonCanyon]

Thanks for the reply's guys. I think I'll see how the SoundStorm goes as a few of you seem to be using it. Saves 60 quid on a new soundcard anyway

 

[beatle]

Definitely. I went with AMD in part because of the SoundStorm on my NF7-S.

 

[joeld]

i have an audigy sitting on my bed not being used after I got my shuttle sn41g2 w/ soundstorm. I haven't noticed sound quality differences, but sometimes EAX is exagerated (like playing CS and there are echos everywhere). I'm using integrated video though, so the sound card doesn't make too much of a difference in framerate relative to users who have dedicated cards and high framerates.

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: joeld
i have an audigy sitting on my bed not being used after I got my shuttle sn41g2 w/ soundstorm. I haven't noticed sound quality differences, but sometimes EAX is exagerated (like playing CS and there are echos everywhere). I'm using integrated video though, so the sound card doesn't make too much of a difference in framerate relative to users who have dedicated cards and high framerates.

Get the new drivers from nivida, suppose to fix most of that problem.

 

[gistech1978]

on board nforce2 sound is excellent

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Originally posted by: Iron Woode

Originally posted by: kage69
I guess it all really depends on what exactly the mobo maker threw on the board. Steer clear of software run AC'97 codecs, crappy sound and high CPU utilization, yuck. I've got an Iwill KT266A at home that has some great onboard sound courtesy of C-Media, and the Epox nForce2 board I use here at work has onboard sound that continues to impress me. In your case, the onboard is prolly the way to go.

All onboard sound use AC'97 codecs.

So does my Epox 8RDA+.

While true for most boards, you can bypass the AC'97 with the MCP-T by using the S/PDIF out. The Nvidia APU will then be able to produce 2 channel PCM 16b/48khz and 6 channel AC3 20b/48khz directly.