need sound card info

[SDB100]

I'm going to be buying the Logitech z-680 5.1 speaker system. I had "planned" on using the onboard audio from my Asus K8V motherboard, but im hearing that it's really not that impressive.

My other option is to buy a PCI sound card. Now, ive looked at the SB Audigy2 cards and they look to be good, however, they are all only 7.1. My question is, if I use a 7.1 sound card on a 5.1 speaker system, will this create a problem with sound since I wont be using all of the available channels? Ive noticed there is a "digital out for 5.1 (6ch SPDIF). If I use this option does it degrade the sound?

Lastly, I was just reading that you dont need to use the audio cable that normally runs from your CD-ROM to your sound card? If this is true, how do you enable the digital sound with WinXP? I'm using WinXP home edition with SP1. Also, how does this work if you dont have the audio cable and does it become more CPU intensive if you use the windows digital audio option?

 

[Andyman53]

Soundblaster Audigy 1's are just as good, get the best price. If you use a 7.1 sound card on a 5.1 speaker system you'll have two slots empty...no big deal, creative (maker of soundblaster) will give you a program that'll let you configure all of this from amount of speakers to which input you're using. It does not degrade the sound, digital out will work if your speakers support it and you have the right cables. You need to hook everything into your soundcard if you want CD's to play in that drive. You don't get digital sound from your cd rom drive thats an option for speakers. If you want to play around with some settings wait for the soundcard, you'll presented with much more options with their software suite. You need the audiocable to run from the cd rom drive to the soundcard or else when you play CD's you won't hear anything. It will become more CPU intensive.

PHEW...LOTS OF QUESTIONS = LONG POST.

Glad I could help.

-Andrew

 

[xSkyDrAx]

Audigy would be good for games, but M-Audio Revolution 7.1 would be better for music. (just to let you know, creative isn't the only company out there)

 

[SDB100]

Yeah, there are alot of viable sound options out there, just that Creative is one of the most prominent and seems to be ahead of the game in most cases.

 

[fireontheway]

go to device manager, right click on the appropriate drive. then select properties, on the properties tab check " Enable CD
digitial CD audio for this CD-ROM device".

 

[UMfanatic]

go with a audigy 2 ZS, no having 5.1 wont cause a problem I run a 5.1 surroundsound home theater system on my Audigy 2 ZS platinum and it sounds as sweet as ever