Recommendations for a sub $50 sound card?

nick1985

Lifer
Dec 29, 2002
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I want to upgrade from my onboard audio to a somewhat decent sound card. I have a set of logitech 2.1 speakers.


Im such a sound noob :eek:
 

phaxmohdem

Golden Member
Aug 18, 2004
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www.avxmedia.com
The audigy 2 Value is a decent sub $50 card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16829102179

I've got the Audigy 2 ZS Plat. and it kicks ass for my purposes. HOWEVER be aware, that you will likely NOT notice a difference between most sound cards in normal playback. I can't really tell a difference with my A2 ZS from my older SB Live 5.1 and Audigy 1 cards. The difference for me lies in the recording quality. My audigy 2 is noticable better here than the last two cards.

If you just want good quality playback Just get a Sound Blaster Live 5.1.... It will save you a little money. However, most onboard audio is nothing to sneer at these days.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16829102176

Also check the For Sale/Trade forum, you can find Audigy 2's for under $50 a lot of times there.
 

firewolfsm

Golden Member
Oct 16, 2005
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the reason i want a sound card is for the processor built in that takes the sound processing load off the CPU, it there a difference between the SB live 5.1 and the Audigy value?
 

phaxmohdem

Golden Member
Aug 18, 2004
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AFAIK Both the SB Live series as well as the Audigy Series are all based on the same EMU10K Processor. The Audigy Processor has more options tacked onto it I think.

One wiered annomoly I noticed was when I installed my Audigy 2ZS (upgrading from an Audigy 1 ) My 3DMark 2003/2005 scores dipped about 100 points as a direct result of the new sound card. Granted these are just benchmarks and don't mean much, but I've never figured out why that happened.
 

DaveSimmons

Elite Member
Aug 12, 2001
40,730
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buy.com has the Turtle Beach with Dolby Digital Live (5.1 over digital, creative cards don't do this), but DDL uses a lot of CPU time for encoding.

For low CPU use and decent analog sound for gaming, a Creative card is the best choice.
 

YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Moderator<br>A/V & Home Theater<br>Elite member
Aug 6, 2001
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Chaintech AV-710 would be a good music card, but for gaming I think you've got good advice here going with something from the A2 line.
 

OdiN

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Mar 1, 2000
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Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Chaintech AV-710 would be a good music card, but for gaming I think you've got good advice here going with something from the A2 line.

what chip is on that AV-710?
 

YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Moderator<br>A/V & Home Theater<br>Elite member
Aug 6, 2001
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Originally posted by: OdiN
Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Chaintech AV-710 would be a good music card, but for gaming I think you've got good advice here going with something from the A2 line.

what chip is on that AV-710?

It's the via envy24HT-S