Question.. Is this good enough reason to hold off for the msi nforce4 board?

[KameLeon]

I'm very picky about sound quality because I listen to music on my computer most of the time, and I'm planning to build a nforce4 based system within this month. I hook up my system to an Onkyo receiver and Ascend CBM-170 speakers through digital spdif.

The MSI nforce4 sli board has onboard creative sblive! audio compared to the realtek on the Asus a8n. I don't really want to buy a separate sound card nor do i have the funds for it. Do you guys think there's a considerable sound quality difference among the two and it would be worth buying the MSI over the Asus board? I can go ahead and order the A8N sli now (Axent Micro, $184 shipped), or wait a couple of weeks or pay $200+ till the msi nforce4 sli board becomes available.

 

[KameLeon]

anyone with experience that has heard the onboard audio and used a creative card?

 

[biostud]

If you're picky about sound quality you will need a seperate soundcard.

 

[powerMarkymark]

"The nForce4 does not mark the return of nVidia?s much beloved SoundStorm technology, although the audio capabilities of this chipset are impressive still. The nForce4 supports AC?97 2.3, which allows for up to eight channels of analog audio output, along with S/PDIF digital output to 5.1, 6.1, and 7.1 speaker setups. The board utilizes a Realtek ALC850 CODEC to connect the outputs of the motherboard to the nForce4 chip. While this solution is still sub-par to an Audigy2 ZS card in terms of 3D positional audio and CPU utilization numbers, it?s more than sufficient for the majority of users out there."

Would be enough for me.

Marc

 

[Mem]

While this solution is still sub-par to an Audigy2 ZS card in terms of 3D positional audio and CPU utilization numbers, it?s more than sufficient for the majority of users out there."

Would be enough for me.

Personally I would use onboard sound for now and wait for the PCI Express soundcards to arrive,I hear Creative have one in the pipeline for around March,you can bet other companies will also jump on the PCI Express wagon,soundcard wise.

 

[Salad]

Just a question...

I loooked at your "RiG SiG" and am wondering why you don't just max out your CPU and add an great PCI soundcard for music? That surely would carry you for a while longer. There seem to be great music cards far cheaper that what Creative offers in the retail channel.

Buying a SLI MB, CPU, & video card will set you back crazy $$ and that seems odd when your settling for onboard sound because you don't have $$ for a soundcard when your into the music.

 

[KameLeon]

Originally posted by: Salad
Just a question...

I loooked at your "RiG SiG" and am wondering why you don't just max out your CPU and add an great PCI soundcard for music? That surely would carry you for a while longer. There seem to be great music cards far cheaper that what Creative offers in the retail channel.

Buying a SLI MB, CPU, & video card will set you back crazy $$ and that seems odd when your settling for onboard sound because you don't have $$ for a soundcard when your into the music.

I have enough $$ for new PSU, MB, CPU & Vid Card.. kinda cutting it close though. The reason I decided to upgrade is because my Ti4200 died, so I have to buy a new video card. It doesn't make sense for me to purchase another AGP card. So, I thought might as well go the nforce4 route for future upgradeability...