Sound card advice

[TheDrake]

I am looking for some advice on a sound card for a gaming/HTPC. I have a Onkyo S790 and it would need to be capable of connecting to it. Am I just better off using the on-board Optical/Coax on my Asus P5B Deluxe? I would really like to see if there is a card that can connect to my receiver to take advantage of the 7.1 in games.

Any advice is appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Roguestar]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the P5B-Deluxe already has 8-channel HD audio. I'd say to hell with external sound cards and hooray for great onboard stuff.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=30&threadid=1940133&enterthread=y

For surround sound in games, you'll want to connect to your multichannel analog input on the 790 set.

If you're really concerned with gaming performance, getting a basic X-Fi next time they're on sale might be the way to go.

Try the analog out from the onboard for now though.

To connect, you just need some 3.5mm stereo to dual RCA adapters and then some regular RCA cables to connect to the multichannel analog input on the receiver.

 

[oynaz]

I would simply use the digital out as the OP suggested. Let the Onkyo do what it does best.

 

[TheDrake]

Yeah, I am leaning more toward that as its just easier and cheaper to do it that way. Use the money toward a better video card since I have my computer hooked up at 1920x1080 on a 47" LCD monitor. Cant wait for nvidia and ATI to release their new stuff. My X850XT struggles at that resolution in Oblivion. :'(

 

[Operandi]

Originally posted by: oynaz
I would simply use the digital out as the OP suggested. Let the Onkyo do what it does best.

Because games are not encoded in DTS or Dolby Digital thats not a viable option. You'll have to follow YOyoYOhowsDAjello and use the analog outputs for gaming.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

If you don't mind fake-surround, then yeah, you can use digital.

Prologic IIx or DTS Neo:6 can be applied to the stereo PCM signal you'll get from your integrated sound.

Unless you have a card that can encode DD or DTS, then you're not going to get true surround from a digital connection.

 

[Ghouler]

DDL would be an option but as far as I know cards with DDL they do not support higher versions of eax and do not process effects in hardware. So it is either-or.
Basic X-Fi, as yoyo says, would be the best option. If you have choice go for xtreme music or gamer.

 

[Operandi]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
If you don't mind fake-surround, then yeah, you can use digital.

Prologic IIx or DTS Neo:6 can be applied to the stereo PCM signal you'll get from your integrated sound.

Unless you have a card that can encode DD or DTS, then you're not going to get true surround from a digital connection.

The C-Media Oxygen HD can do it but its lack of EAX and high CPU utilization doesn't make it a very good choice as a gaming sound card sadly.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Operandi

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
If you don't mind fake-surround, then yeah, you can use digital.

Prologic IIx or DTS Neo:6 can be applied to the stereo PCM signal you'll get from your integrated sound.

Unless you have a card that can encode DD or DTS, then you're not going to get true surround from a digital connection.

The C-Media Oxygen HD can do it but its lack of EAX and high CPU utilization doesn't make it a very good choice as a gaming sound card sadly.

You're right. With all the different motherboard versions and integrated audio solutions, I forgot that it does feature a chip that can do DTS interactive.

You can get true surround from it, but like Operandi says, you're not getting the best performance or quality you could.

Creative is the only option for EAX higher than 2.0 afaik, so if that's important to you (along with low CPU utilization), then it would be a good idea to keep on the lookout for an X-Fi deal. (but not the XtremeAudio)

 

[Spydermag68]

the X-Fi fatality extreme gamer is on sale this week for $99.00 at CUSA after rebate. Text