Need soundcard so I can do away with onboard sound

[kreidel]

From what I understand onboard sound uses some of the processor so to free it up I want to get a card. My biggest and only concern is one that will not use much of the cpu. I only use headphones so quality of sound is of no concern.

 

[Mem]

Even the best dedicated sound card will use some cpu cycles,however I would recommend an OEM Audigy sound card ,btw onboard sound can also have very low CPU usage(example being those those that use the Nvidia APU on nForce boards).

 

[boyRacer]

Doom 3 and HL2 use cpu-based sound processing I'm guessing more and more games will start doing this?

 

[Dragonbate]

Just posted on this subject Here.

 

[Zap Brannigan]

Originally posted by: bR
Doom 3 and HL2 use cpu-based sound processing I'm guessing more and more games will start doing this?

I hope so!

 

[boyRacer]

Originally posted by: Zap Brannigan

Originally posted by: bR
Doom 3 and HL2 use cpu-based sound processing I'm guessing more and more games will start doing this?

I hope so!

That would make your $oundcard pretty much useless if the game isn't using the onboard DSP... unless that's what you want.

 

[LED]

You didn't state which type of onboard sound nor mobo or problems you may have, but if sound quality is no concern just CPU usage then as long as there are no skips, hangups or locks while playing games stick with what you got and save the cash...

 

[kreidel]

Originally posted by: LED
You didn't state which type of onboard sound nor mobo or problems you may have, but if sound quality is no concern just CPU usage then as long as there are no skips, hangups or locks while playing games stick with what you got and save the cash...

I hear ya. I have an Asus p4c800E and I do not have any issues whatsoever with it. The only thing is I read something here and there and think I might as well do it since I don't spend money on anything else and that a faster computer is always cool.

 

[Cerb]

Originally posted by: bR
Doom 3 and HL2 use cpu-based sound processing I'm guessing more and more games will start doing this?

Probably, as Creative is getting as close of a monopoly as they can. This sort of design will mean that the CPU use difference between a Audigy2 and AV710 will be practically nil. With increased importance on multiple platform support, proprietary technologies like EAX and DirectSound will only get less popular. Hopefully an open but powerful DSP standard will arise in the next few years.