Sound Card Question

[slickvic000]

What sound card would you recommend for gaming? I am mainly concerned with squezing out a few more FPS and making them more stable. My current onboard sound is very finicky and low quality. I am looking to stay around or under $100.

 

[ncage]

audigy 2 value. Cheap and good. Enough Said.

 

[slickvic000]

Thanks, from what I have heard the whole audigy line up is good, I just haven't used any aftermarket sound cards before.

 

[orangat]

The x-fi won't offer any more fps improvement over the audigy's. The A2 value looks good but the drivers aren't compatible with the A2ZS and some complained about driver issues. Unless you can pick up the x-fi with a nice rebate, I'd look at the A2ZS.

 

[jimbob200521]

Originally posted by: orangat
The x-fi won't offer any more fps improvement over the audigy's. The A2 value looks good but the drivers aren't compatible with the A2ZS and some complained about driver issues. Unless you can pick up the x-fi with a nice rebate, I'd look at the A2ZS.

 

[Ike0069]

For your budget, the ZS would be great, but since you have been using on-board sound, even the Value version would be a very nice improvement.

 

[Slammy1]

Your sound card choice depends on a few other factors, mainly how you ouput your sound. I hate how audio gets upscaled to 48-kHz on my Audigy 2 (running to a receiver), as well it has some jitter issues and questionable filter implementation. For gaming and with computer speakers, the A2 is a good solution (you have to install their sound fields, but you can always disable autostart to get around some bugs) but for me, this is my next card:
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=234502

 

[ncage]

audigy 2 zs for $40 AR:
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=290223

 

[drpootums]

I've heard stories about the value version kiling computer components. Though i'm not sure how valid this is, is that an issue with the audigy 2 ZS?

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

X-Fi for $75 is another good deal

 

[obeseotron]

I bought an audigy2 value off ebay and had a lot of problems with it in terms of drivers. Bought an audigy 2 zs from newegg and never had a problem again. Creative sucks, but there really isn't another option. Don't buy less than a a2zs, if you can get a deal on the xfi consider that if you have nice speakers.