Sound card question

[phillyman36]

Hey right now this is my setup
amd x2-3800
Asus A8n5x
1 gig ram
Sound blaster audigy 2 zs

how is the quality of the sound on motherboards that com with built in sound cards vs my current card?

I see some mobo come with
AC97 Codec
Realtek ALC882M
Intel high def audio

Am i going to notice a difference? Mind you im not super picky when it comes to audio. as long as it sound good and i dont get any noise nor skipping in the audio. i dont need surround sound. Any suggestions on what is or isnt good or should i just use my soundblaster since i have it? Does using onboard audio put more work on cpu (noticable work load)

 

[ojai00]

For basic audio uses, onboard audio will do just fine. When you start getting into games and surround sound, then hardware sound cards do the job better. Onboard sound cards generally use your CPU to process audio so the load depends on what you're doing. If it's just listening to music, then you should be fine. However, if you're doing hardcore audio work, then you might notice your CPU working harder.

 

[loafbred]

The Audigy2 ZS is far superior to any onboard sound that I know of. Most, or all, onboard audio relies very heavily on the cpu, while the Audigy has its own processor on the card doing the work. It makes a real difference in some games, mostly by eliminating stuttering, but also by sounding quite a bit better, even with two speakers.

I have the same motherboard, and my Audigy2 ZS works well in the next-to-bottom slot.

 

[Geomagick]

It is going to really depend on what speakers you use.

There is no point at all in pairing up cheap speakers with expensive add in cards.

Likewise to get the most out of expensive speaker systems you will want to use more than just on board audio.

 

[loafbred]

Originally posted by: George Powell


There is no point at all in pairing up cheap speakers with expensive add in cards.q]

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I disagree, though I'll agree with the "expensive" part. There is a real performance advantage in gaming. I've tried both onboard and Audigy on my second machine, which has $15 speakers, and the difference is noticeable, especially the elimination of video stuttering. I put an Audigy2 Value, which I found cheap, in that machine. I would use on old SB Live! before I settled for onboard for gaming.

 

[phillyman36]

Originally posted by: loafbred
The Audigy2 ZS is far superior to any onboard sound that I know of. Most, or all, onboard audio relies very heavily on the cpu, while the Audigy has its own processor on the card doing the work. It makes a real difference in some games, mostly by eliminating stuttering, but also by sounding quite a bit better, even with two speakers.

I have the same motherboard, and my Audigy2 ZS works well in the next-to-bottom slot.

Hey did you have any problem with playing internet clips? When im watching video on th internet if i fast forward the video the sound goes. i have to close the video(wmv) then reopen it

 

[loafbred]

Originally posted by: phillyman36


Hey did you have any problem with playing internet clips? When im watching video on th internet if i fast forward the video the sound goes. i have to close the video(wmv) then reopen it

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I'd guess that it's a bug in the player you're using, or a codec issue. I've been using the "BS player" included in this codec pack:

mega codec pack

I'm not codec literate, I just installed most of the codecs. The BS player plays any kind of video without problems.

 

[Geomagick]

I should have clarified myself in terms of sound quality.

 

[phillyman36]

Originally posted by: loafbred

Originally posted by: phillyman36


Hey did you have any problem with playing internet clips? When im watching video on th internet if i fast forward the video the sound goes. i have to close the video(wmv) then reopen it

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I'd guess that it's a bug in the player you're using, or a codec issue. I've been using the "BS player" included in this codec pack:

mega codec pack

I'm not codec literate, I just installed most of the codecs. The BS player plays any kind of video without problems.

would it matter what slot i have my card in? i usually put it in the bottom right now its in the top pci slot. If it was a codec problem wouldnt it happen with everything i play? its only video from the internet if its on my hard drive it no problem