nForce2 MCP-T Onboard audio vs Sblive value?

[Budman]

Alright I just got this new DFI NFII ultra infinity and I was wondering if my good ole sblive value is better to use or should I use the onboard Nvidia soundstorm?

What do you guys think?

what card would sound better in games & have less cpu usage?

Thanks for your opinions.

 

[Trente]

Run some tests using the onboard sound; throw in the Live! card, rerun tests and see for yourself...

 

[Budman]

Originally posted by: Trente
Run some tests using the onboard sound; throw in the Live! card, rerun tests and see for yourself...

well DUH!!! .

 

[Budman]

I just took my live out after reading a few posts over the net in various forums,looks like the live loses.

last time i tried onboard sound it was pretty crappy,things sure hasve changed!!!

Looks my live will be gathering dust,i can finaly retire it after a lot of years of usage.

 

[jpeyton]

Are you using the analog or digital output on your motherboard?

 

[MDE]

With Logitech Z640 speakers (not the greatest, but good for the money) I can barely tell the difference betwwen my NF7-Ss onboard sound and an Audigy2 ZS.

 

[Megatomic]

Budman, two things:

1. Good luck with that board, bro. I had 2 duds in a row. I had to go back and get a new NF7-S to have a working machine.

2. Go with the SoundStorm/MCP-T. Even if you use the analog out it is still comparable to the first gen Audigy cards and definitely blows away the old Live! cards. And if you are fortunate enough to have a digital receiver or speakers, the digital out from the SoundStorm is AWESOME. I wish I had digital speakers.

 

[txxxx]

Originally posted by: MDE
With Logitech Z640 speakers (not the greatest, but good for the money) I can barely tell the difference betwwen my NF7-Ss onboard sound and an Audigy2 ZS.

Not suprising, as the speakers are the limiting factor.

 

[Mem]

Budman ,welcome to the DFI Infinity club ,that board is awesome,I`m using the onboard sound and find it very good for general use,no problems with sound drivers or in any of the games so far that I`ve tried,so yes use the nForce sound.

Remember that board has the Nvidia APU so CPU usage is very low even when compared to Audigy cards etc..

 

[suklee]

Originally posted by: Budman
Alright I just got this new DFI NFII ultra infinity and I was wondering if my good ole sblive value is better to use or should I use the onboard Nvidia soundstorm?

What do you guys think?

what card would sound better in games & have less cpu usage?

Thanks for your opinions.

I vote for Soundstorm!

 

[jpeyton]

The only problem guys, is that unless you're using the digital SPDIF/optical output on your motherboard, you aren't using Soundstorm. All analog audio on your motherboard is handled by the Realtek ALC650 onboard audio.

 

[Mem]

The only problem guys, is that unless you're using the digital SPDIF/optical output on your motherboard, you aren't using Soundstorm. All analog audio on your motherboard is handled by the Realtek ALC650 onboard audio

We know that ,but it still uses the Nvidia APU so CPU usage is low,as to analogue sound quality ,to be honest I find it ok on my DFI Infinity Ultra board even when compared to my old Audigy card,I agree going digital will improve sound quality even further if you have that option to use it.

 

[Megatomic]

Indeed. That's why I said that on analog is comparable to the older SB cards. I reserved the awesome for the digital out.

 

[Budman]

Thanks for the info guys.

I took out the live & I am using the onboard & it sounds great.:thumbsup:

Mem,thanks I love this board such an easy overclock it's insane runing a mobile at 250mhz fsb now easy. this coming from a IC7/2.4 @ 3ghz

Megatomic,sory to hear about your bad luck with dfi,it's my first & i am very impresssed with it.

Thanks for all your replies & yes the soundstorm is definately better than my very old live value.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Budman went AMD!?! :shocked: Seriously though, I :heart: my SS.

 

[Budman]

Originally posted by: DAPUNISHER
Budman went AMD!?! :shocked: Seriously though, I :heart: my SS.

hahahha yes I did,I was bored with my intel system,had that 2.4c for ages it seemed like & wanted to try something new.

I am not dissapointed & like my new setup a lot.

 

[JackHawksmoor]

I'm completly confused by why SoundStorm only works with digital out. Soundstorm is the name of Nvidia's integrated Nforce 2 sound processor, right? Why does it have to use a seperate external sound processor like that Realtek one for analog? With the external chip in use, is Nvidia's sound chip being used for anything.

(This is all a moot point for me as I'm getting an Nforce 3, but I'm curious)

 

[MichaelD]

Hi Budman.

Sorry for getting to the party so late. As you've already found out, the MCP-T/Soundstorm really kicks @ss. I have a SBLive! MP3 card and I can easily hear the diff b/t the two; the MCP-T being the better of the two.

I'm on my second NF2 board. Currently using an NF7-S, and before that an Epox 8RDA+. It may be my hearing, but the sound on the Abit is slightly better....maybe b/c I had an old version of the 8RDA board?

Ah, who cares!!! I game in surround bliss.

Good luck. :thumbsup:

 

[oupei]

Originally posted by: JackHawksmoor
I'm completly confused by why SoundStorm only works with digital out. Soundstorm is the name of Nvidia's integrated Nforce 2 sound processor, right? Why does it have to use a seperate external sound processor like that Realtek one for analog? With the external chip in use, is Nvidia's sound chip being used for anything.

(This is all a moot point for me as I'm getting an Nforce 3, but I'm curious)

I thought the "external processor" was just a DAC as the soundstorm is just a digital sound processor, though that other dude's post would suggest otherwise...

 

[Megatomic]

The Realtek ALC650 is just there to provide the circuitry from the MCP-T chip to the audio jacks on the board (aside from the digital of course). The ALC650 does no sound processing other than convert the signal from digital to audio. The MCP-T does all the heavy stuff (3D, dolby, etc...).

 

[txxxx]

Originally posted by: Megatomic
The Realtek ALC650 is just there to provide the circuitry from the MCP-T chip to the audio jacks on the board (aside from the digital of course). The ALC650 does no sound processing other than convert the signal from digital to audio. The MCP-T does all the heavy stuff (3D, dolby, etc...).

Shame they dont use better DACs like creative cards do, then it would totally eliminate the Audigy.

 

[Megatomic]

The reference NF2 boards with MCP-T had sweet DACs compared to the crap ALC650 we wound up with. It's the mobo manufacturers fault, they cut corners all the time to save $$$. :|

 

[txxxx]

Originally posted by: Megatomic
The reference NF2 boards with MCP-T had sweet DACs compared to the crap ALC650 we wound up with. It's the mobo manufacturers fault, they cut corners all the time to save $$$. :|

I wonder if any manufacturers are reading this forum.

*HINT* *HINT* *HINT*

 

[JackHawksmoor]

Thanks Megatomic. I'd never seen that explained before.

 

[Megatomic]

No problem. I've been an NF2/SS user since last March, I've done lots of reading on the subject.