Sound card confusion...

[Inspector Jihad]

so, I want a sound card but once again, there are like a thousand different things to consider...and i tried searching the forums but couldnt really find something useful.

Ok, I have the Logitech Z-2300, and I need a soundcard for use in this order:

1. Games
2. Music(close second, so I want a card good for music too)
3. Movies(distant third...rarely watch movies on my computer)

I guess creative would be my best bet since they're good for games, and also, what price range could i expect...i would like to stay around $80 if possible, but I would be willing to drop some more money if there was somethign consideralby better.

 

[Away]

An Audigy 2 ZS is still a great card for the money. You can find it for around $75 on Newegg and most of the other online stores.

 

[powerMarkymark]

Please explain to me why everyone recomends Creative cards?

Are there no other worthy manufacturers out there?

I have purchased 2 Hercules cards in the past (Fortissimo III 7.1) and they have given quality sound at a very reasonable price.

After 3 years they are still in service without one single hiccup.

I know that Hercules are pretty difficult to find in North America but my point is that there are other companys that make good sound cards.

M@rc

 

[Inspector Jihad]

Originally posted by: powerMarkymark
Please explain to me why everyone recomends Creative cards?

Are there no other worthy manufacturers out there?

I have purchased 2 Hercules cards in the past (Fortissimo III 7.1) and they have given quality sound at a very reasonable price.

After 3 years they are still in service without one single hiccup.

I know that Hercules are pretty difficult to find in North America but my point is that there are other companys that make good sound cards.

M@rc

but doesnt creative have the gaming market on lock with thier EAX or whatever its called?

 

[powerMarkymark]

Actually I found here in Canada a distributor for the Hercules FORTISSIMO IV 7.1 7.1 CHANNEL PC INTERNAL SOUND CARD.

They don't mention if they ship to the US or not.

M@rc

 

[Inspector Jihad]

Originally posted by: powerMarkymark
Actually I found here in Canada a distributor for the Hercules FORTISSIMO IV 7.1 7.1 CHANNEL PC INTERNAL SOUND CARD.

They don't mention if they ship to the US or not.

M@rc

is this better than the creative cards of the same price range?

 

[biostud]

Other soundcars support up to EAX 3.0 but 4.0 is only supported by Audigy and later cards by Creative and 5.0 only by X-Fi.

Wether or not you will notice it is another thing.

 

[powerMarkymark]

Try it out, this guy has it on sale on Ebay for $24,99!

Item is new in the box and has never been opened. (so he says)

At that price, not much to lose eh?


M@rc


I Am Canadian!

 

[alcoholbob]

You are using a 2.1 speaker set though, how important would a gaming surround card be in this case? I don't know.

 

[orangat]

The big reason to get a creative card is because only creative support eax3/4.
The downside to getting a creative audigy/live/x-fi is the high frequency resampling artifacts but since you are have a z2300 and not a good HT setup, an audigy2zs is perfectly suitable.

The fortissimo III/IV only support eax2 and have no ds3d acceleration so get a creative.

 

[Inspector Jihad]

i'm not big on ebay...

whats the difference between the audigy2zs and the x-fi and is it worth it?

 

[Inspector Jihad]

Originally posted by: Inspector Jihad
whats the difference between the audigy2zs and the x-fi and is it worth it?

 

[seanp789]

Go for the X-Fi, its about $115 , but if u have even semi decent speakers its worth it

 

[Inspector Jihad]

ok, i'm gonna go with the x-fi as it seems to be better. whats the difference between the xtrememusic and the xtrememusic platinum? The platinum is like 75 bucks more

 

[potato28]

Platinum comes with a front panel. Not worth it...

 

[Inspector Jihad]

Originally posted by: potato28
Platinum comes with a front panel. Not worth it...

oh i see...what exactly is that used for?