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Help me get a sound card

D

d3lt4

Senior member
I just had onboard sound and it was fine for me, but I got a new Mobo and it only plays sound on 3/5 speakers.

EDIT: I listen to music 65% and play games 30%, and some movies 5%
please recommend some good sound cards.


(I did research first, but didn't find everything I wanted to know)
 
Since a sound card lasts forever (ie. probably as long as a power supply), i'd get X-FI Music for $95 or whatever it is after mail in rebate on newegg. Its crystalizer function is considered really good and it will be unmatched for gaming as well.
 
What about the auzentech cards? are they any good? It looks like the Xplosion doesn't have any drivers for Windows XP. WTF is up with that?
 
Originally posted by: d3lt4
What about the auzentech cards? are they any good? It looks like the Xplosion doesn't have any drivers for Windows XP. WTF is up with that?
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It does, they come on the CD

Its a bad idea unless you have a receiver.
 
The problem with getting the Xthingy thing now, at least to my understanding is that few games or audio files use the format yet. This will change in a year or so and so has speculation about a price drop on the X cards.

You want the Audigy cards because the Audigy 1, 2, 4 and X have their own APU that relieves the CPU of some duties.
 
Originally posted by: Luckyboy1
The problem with getting the Xthingy thing now, at least to my understanding is that few games or audio files use the format yet. This will change in a year or so and so has speculation about a price drop on the X cards.

You want the Audigy cards because the Audigy 1, 2, 4 and X have their own APU that relieves the CPU of some duties.
Click to expand...

Maybe you are talking about Xram? The xtrememusic does not have any so no worries
 
I my opinion, it appeals to snob value for most users and simply is not worht it. It has capabilities most won't use and power simply not needed or even desired by most PC speaker setups.
 
Originally posted by: d3lt4
how good is the audigy 4 vs. the audigy 2 zs?
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That is not the real A4, its the cut down A4 np. It doesn't use the same components as the more expensive pro version. Since it costs about as much as the A2zs, it can't be too bad.
 
I recommend getting a SB Live or better. Unless you're hooking it up to a Surround Sound system or using it for your primary stereo, save your money and invest it elsewhere in the computer (like maybe save it for a new system in a year or two) Sound card technology doesn't change all that much except for the surround technologies and the midi engines. For general gaming and cds/mp3s, you won't be able to tell you have a $100+ sound card unless you have $200+ speakers to back it up. That's just my experience.
 
I have the Audigy 2 ZS and it's been great.

I do a lot of games & listen to music & TV with it.

People are adamant not to get the Value card but the retail one.

I got it for $35 (?) a while back after rebates from buy.com I think.
 
The X-Fi XtremeMusic would probably be your best bet. It's a notch or two short in output quality over similarly priced entry level pro cards, but games much better than anything else.

The Audigy2 isn't a bad option, but the X-Fi is a fair improvement all around, worth that extra bit.
 
Originally posted by: galbicake
I have the Audigy 2 ZS and it's been great.

I do a lot of games & listen to music & TV with it.

People are adamant not to get the Value card but the retail one.

I got it for $35 (?) a while back after rebates from buy.com I think.
Click to expand...


so do you have the value version or the retail version?

Originally posted by: NanoStuff
The X-Fi XtremeMusic would probably be your best bet. It's a notch or two short in output quality over similarly priced entry level pro cards, but games much better than anything else.

The Audigy2 isn't a bad option, but the X-Fi is a fair improvement all around, worth that extra bit.
Click to expand...

I was happy with my onboard sound untill it started using one of five speakers. Is it really worth over $100 dollars to get an X-Fi?

I'm looking at used audigy 2 ZS's for the moment. for ~$40
 
I am using an Audigy 2 Value. It is by far a decent sound card and delivers good sound but if you want even better, then you should try the X-Fi. Those I've heard sound really good.
 
Originally posted by: d3lt4
I was happy with my onboard sound untill it started using one of five speakers. Is it really worth over $100 dollars to get an X-Fi?
Click to expand...
There are certain things it does that the Audigy2 cannot do. The X-Fi has MIT HRTFs to 'externalize' the sound when playing on headphones or stereo speakers. It's far from perfect, but headphone and 2 speaker mode should be plenty better on the X-Fi. It has 'real' occlusion processing, it has a significantly better SRC which gives you better output quality... and I probably missed something... oh yes, proximity effects by Sensaura. I'm not too sure about the benefits of that one. If you're using surround speakers, there's certainly less reason to get one, but still some things to benefit from.
 
As sound cards upgrades are relatively rare it is better to buy the best card at the moment and have it for a few years. That's why I got X-Fi Fatal1ty. Alternatively you can get Audigy 2ZS and ebay it for X-Fi or whatever in a few months or years. I just do not bother and prefer to get things right from start.
 
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