Sound Card Question...do I need a new one?

[Cr0nJ0b]

So, I'm struggling with the urge to buy a new sound card. I'm currently running with the onboard Realtek Sound chip on my A8N-E motherboard...which is ok...but It's been a little wierd lately with drivers...cracking out and not working all the time...So from time to time I replace it with my SB Audigy that's laying around. The question is...should I be thinking about investing in a new sound card? The Audigy is really old, but supports EAX...and I think it's a pretty ok card, but I can get a newer one, for aound $60...but is it worth it? Will the new card make any real difference to sound quality or performance? and I don't mean the nominal 5%...I mean something noticeable. My first thought is no, it's not worth it...but i thought I would ask the more knowledgable.

 

[will889]

If you have one of the original audigy's I would hold on to it and definitely use it because it's very comparable to an audigy 2 and will do hardware acceleration with gaming and for $60.00 you won't find anything better (for general gaming-usage) because the lesser priced Xfi Music is nothing but an expanded upon SB live! 24 bit that has xfi software. So if you install the audigy and you have no cracking with the newest drivers (like you do with realtek) I would use it. I also use onboard realtek now (mine is on a MSI-P6N FI) but mostly because of Vista quirks (dual boot) and it runs pretty smoothly (no crackling in any games).

 

[PurdueRy]

What speakers do you have?

http://www.ascendtech.us/itemd...CCRSBXFISB0670&eq=&Tp=

 

[Cr0nJ0b]

I'm just using a headset most of the time. I also have it plugged into my stereo for surround, but I use that rarely.

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: Cr0nJ0b
I'm just using a headset most of the time. I also have it plugged into my stereo for surround, but I use that rarely.

Then the only reason I could see for you to get a new sound card would be to get EAX5