Recommendations for a sub $50 sound card?

[nick1985]

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

 

[phaxmohdem]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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