Sound Card: Gaming w/ Headset

[SitrukFlow]

I am in the market for a new Sound Card. I'm currently using a Steelseries Steelsound v2 USB Headset. I mainly want this card for online gaming, and mild music listening. I am not too worried about music, but I do listen to it while I play sometimes.

The headset is a virtual 7.1 headset, and the USB connection can be detached and the headset can be used like a normal headset.

I mainly play Counter-Strike Source and a few other online games and I'm looking for the most accurate/best card I can get on a budget of $50-100. I do not want anything overkill, just something that will get me excellent in game sound. I was looking at the Creative Line, and the Azuntech, but I honestly have no idea what I "need". I don't want to over spend on features that I will not take full use of.

I'm running a Dell Optiplex 745 w/ Core Duo 6700, 1 gig of ram, 160g 10,000 RPM HD, Nvidia 8600gt on Windows XP 32 bit. Just incase you need any of my system specs...

Thanks in advance,
Sitruk

 

[w00t]

the USB side of it probably already has a built in sound card. If your looking for a gaming card the most obvious choice is the Creative X-Fi line take a look into those as they support EAX which a lot of games support.

If you think this sound card is going to enable you to hear across the map think again only thing I've heard to do that is A3D and that is considered cheating in most leagues and it's hard to determine what is close and far.

btw cs:s is for nubs the good kids play 1.6 😛

Good Luck

 

[SitrukFlow]

Yeah, the usb attachment has some C-Media soundcard built in, but I'm not sure how good it is. I don't need to have ungodly sound across the map, but I know people with good sound cards and decent headsets that can hear things that I cannot.

I'm not sure this C-Media USB supports Dolby Digital 5.1 or whatever which I've heard is support by HL2.

BTW: CS:S is for nubs w/ good computers the good kids w/ bad computers play 1.6 😛

Thanks for your help, I appreciate it.
Sitruk

 

[Sdiver2489]

I don't believe you can bypass the sound card in the headphones...so unless you buy some new ones...you are SOL

 

[w00t]

Originally posted by: Sdiver2489
I don't believe you can bypass the sound card in the headphones...so unless you buy some new ones...you are SOL

it's actually a separate cable that you plug the headphone jack into that goes to your computer thru usb. so he will have no problems.

for the record I own a nice PC as you may see and I play 1.6

CS:S for kids who need good graphics instead of good gameplay 😛