Dell audio..

[Noobtastic]

Dell mobos come with a standard 7.1 audio chip. I've heard people have had trouble with these in the past.

Should I opt out for a $30 HD audio (which they offer.)

this is the xps 400 btw.

 

[Noobtastic]

Bump.

I need to know now.

 

[Noobtastic]

These are the options:

Integrated 7.1 Channel Audio [Included in Price]

Integrated Sound Blaster®Audigy? HD Software Edition [add $25 or $1/month1]

Sound Blaster® X-Fi? XtremeGamer (D) Sound Card [add $100 or $3/month1]

 

[Ruptga]

I don't know how their standard audio is, but I have their "software" edition on my laptop, and it sounds fine to me, but I'm no audiophile. I remember reading it being derided as mere emulation, but whether that's just an angry purist rant or a real concern I have no idea.

Try the A/V and Home Theater forum, you'll get an answer pretty quickly

 

[Noobtastic]

I can't find it on anandtech.

Link me?

 

[Ruptga]

There on the left of the screen, under Consumer Electronics. All these new forums are hard to keep up with, sometimes I have to scan the list twice to find what I want, but I think I'm slowly getting used to it.

 

[CSS]

I have a XPS 410 with the standard (SigmaTel HD audio) chip and I have no complains. I have used it under both XP and Vista (recently a new driver) and it is working great. Sounds is excellent no problems what so ever. I do not use games alot so cannot comment on performance issues with them but for 'normal' day to day use you do not need anything else.

 

[ViRGE]

Originally posted by: ADDAvenger
I don't know how their standard audio is, but I have their "software" edition on my laptop, and it sounds fine to me, but I'm no audiophile. I remember reading it being derided as mere emulation, but whether that's just an angry purist rant or a real concern I have no idea.

Try the A/V and Home Theater forum, you'll get an answer pretty quickly

My knowledge on this "software edition" is fairly low, but from what I know the $30 simply buys a package that has some of Creative's tools, along with software implementations of CMSS and EAX. It doesn't change sound quality per-say because in the end your DACs and other hardware are the same, so it's inferior and more CPU hungry than a real SoundBlaster Audigy(EMU10k2) card.

 

[TungFree]

the gamers like to hear 3 d above below right left as their enemy crawls about. If you are not a gamer, for music the on board audio is fantastic if it uses ac 97 type drivers.

 

[Noobtastic]

I'm going to be playing battlefield and 2142.

I don't mind onboard sound, I've been using it for 4 years. I just want to make sure nothing is screwy upon shipment.