Should nForce4 Ultra Onboard Sound Be A Factor?

[absj]

In the latest nForce4 Ultra Roundup on AT there were a few graphs comparing the CPU utilization of onboard sound from various boards. here I noticed that the Realtek ALC850 has a cpu utilization of 31.24% compared to just 5.51% from onboard SB Live! (3d audio). This seems like a huge difference, are the real world effects of such a disparity significant enough to be a cause for concern?

 

[Bona Fide]

It might be, since most games nowadays use 3d sound. Go for the DFI board; the Karajan module seems to be good about sound.

 

[overst33r]

just buy a sound card for $26 Chaintech AV-710

 

[ryanv12]

I would never use onboard sound unless it was like that MSI with the SB Live! on it. Sound is one of the most important parts of gaming to me, and I sure as hell wouldn't want it using 31% of my clock cycles when it's going to sound crappy anyways. That Chaintech should be decent, and if you wanted EAX sound effects (which most games support nowadays, and it's very nice imo), you can get this CREATIVE card.

If you don't like creative, you're likely going to have to settle for less sound features. I suppose that's the problem with the sound card market at the moment.

 

[Fallengod]

I would say, it shouldnt be a factor unless you watch movies or game. In which case you wouldnt want an onboard sound anyways. People who do high end audio things like gaming, use audigys. Audigy2 zs platinum = yummy.

 

[absj]

really... I thought onboard sound had improved alot in the last few years. I don't have audiophile quality spakers (4 year old klipsch 4.1), would I really notice the difference in every day movies/mp3/casual gaming?

 

[SynthDude2001]

Originally posted by: absj
really... I thought onboard sound had improved alot in the last few years. I don't have audiophile quality spakers (4 year old klipsch 4.1), would I really notice the difference in every day movies/mp3/casual gaming?

Those are actually pretty nice speakers, I'd recommend getting a discrete sound card (you could probably find a basic Audigy or Audigy2 for not too much money). Not to mention that the onboard audio's CPU utilization sucks, as you already noted.

 

[delroy]

just buy a sound card for $26 Chaintech AV-710

exactly