Onboard sound vs. PCI card

[MX2]

Currently running 5.1 digital out on my NF7-S. If I buy a PCI 5.1 card, will I see some big improvement related to CPU/memory usage taking the load off of the onboard sound and my mobo???

Thanks

 

[quackerww]

I would like to know this also....

 

[insename2]

not a big difference but notacible... and better quality

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Keep in mind that not all cards are going to do 5.1 digitally and the ones that do aren't going to have as low CPU usage as say an A2 or something.

What are you hooking up to?
Are you still planning on using a digital connection?

 

[MX2]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Keep in mind that not all cards are going to do 5.1 digitally and the ones that do aren't going to have as low CPU usage as say an A2 or something.

What are you hooking up to?
Are you still planning on using a digital connection?

Yamaha TSS-1's. Yes, keeping it digital through FO is a must.

 

[GeNome]

I'm wondering the same thing, actually.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: MX2times

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Keep in mind that not all cards are going to do 5.1 digitally and the ones that do aren't going to have as low CPU usage as say an A2 or something.

What are you hooking up to?
Are you still planning on using a digital connection?

Yamaha TSS-1's. Yes, keeping it digital through FO is a must.

If you still need surround sound in games, then check out cards with Dolby Digital Live.

HDA X-Mystique, Turtlebeach Montego, etc.

On the HDA at least it seems like DDL doesn't really give much of a performance hit vs 6channel. http://www.nvnews.net/reviews/x-mystique/page_3.shtml

Have you thought about hooking up via 6-channel direct if you have that option?

 

[Slick5150]

You're using soundstorm via digital, which is really quite good already (about as good as onboard sound can get).