High Definition Audio vs. Audigy2 ?

[flexy]

i just read that upcoming via k8t890 boards will have "High Definition Audio".

Any specs on that ? Do they mean "Intel High Definition Audio" ?

I just got a Audigy2 for my next build...would the Audigy 2 be better ?

 

[Odeen]

Well, there won't be anything Intel on a Via chipset motherboard.

Your audigy will perform better, at least in gaming. All chipset-level audio is "software audio" that forces your CPU to a) mix the sounds in software (i.e. listening to an MP3 and hearing the chime from AIM at the same time) and b) compute 3D sound effects in software. Your Audigy2 does both in hardware, and with a minimal CPU hit.

Also, the actual codec utilized by the board will likely be a crappy Realtek unit. In this case, the audio will most likely sound muddy, distant, and without much of a bottom end. You may wonder what the purpose of "high definition audio" is, and, technically, it's a good idea, but, in our case, it'll be like watching HDTV over a 14" SVGA monitor made in 1991. Sure, it's technically HDTV, so the "marketing buzzword" is satisfied, but the experience is still less satisfying than "standard definition" using good equipment.

In other terms: Hardware processed audio = good. High definition audio = good. Software audio = bad. Realtek = bad.

 

[Ryoga]

Of course, unless you've got a 200MHz PC, you won't notice the CPU utilization from onboard audio. And I'm no longer certain that sound mixing is fully software in newer chipsets. Quality-wise, I personally can't tell the difference between onboard and Audigy on either my $200 speakers or my $100 headphones.

So I no longer see any reason to buy an explansion card unless you want RCA jacks or some other feature onboard doesn't have.