cheap sound blaster 24bit pci sound card vs my onboard audio

[darkflames]

I was wondering if a cheap 24bit soundblaster pci card would better than my onboard audio. My motherboard is the P5K-Premium.

 

[PurdueRy]

What are your speakers?

 

[Tiamat]

Does your motherboard's onboard sound output any sort of bleeps/noises during CPU activity?

 

[moonboy403]

I'm pretty sure nobody has an answer. You might just have to see it for yourself and be the judge.

 

[darkflames]

Ill just see when i get back into town, but as for my speakers, there just cheap 10watt 2.1 speakers i believe. I do not hear any noise during cpu activity.

 

[Tiamat]

Originally posted by: darkflames
Ill just see when i get back into town, but as for my speakers, there just cheap 10watt 2.1 speakers i believe. I do not hear any noise during cpu activity.

If you do not hear any weird noises, then you do not have much to gain especially on inexpensive speakers.

 

[moonboy403]

I agree with Tiamat. You should always upgrade your speakers/headhpones before you upgrade your source.

 

[darkflames]

well do you think it will have a gain if i turn up the sound quality in game and turn on all the other sound features?

 

[yh125d]

You would gain a LOT more with a decent set of speakers than a dedicated sound card. Onboard is usually quite good

 

[darkflames]

even if i turn up the sound settings in a game such as sound channels to high etc..?

 

[moonboy403]

Your speakers are the limiting factor here.

 

[Tiamat]

yeah, your processor won't even notice the added workload from the onboard sound when you crank up in-game sound effects. Maybe if you had a Pentium II 166mhz mmx technology processor you would be concerned. But with modern processors, no way.

The next upgrade (that would make audible differences) would be your speakers.