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Sound Card Recommendation

C

CoBRaXT

Golden Member
Hi,

Currently I have no sound card and am using ingrated sound on my mobo (SiS) and have Altec 4100 speakers.

Would a sound card enhance the sound output of my speakers that much or will it be unnoticable?

If yes, what sound card do you guys recommend? I really don't look forward to spending over $30 on a sound card, so anything below or around that price range would be fine.

Thanks for any help.

CoBRa
 
At that price range, you're really limited to either a SBLive value or Muse XL, with an Fortissimo II OEM as a slightly more expensive option ($32 over at newegg.com).

I've all of them and they all work fine, but I'd get the F2 because of all the input/output options.
 
You could also get a Creative Live! 5.1 OEM sound card for around $30. If you can get it to work right, then it is a good card, but they can be troublesome at times. I've never had any trouble setting up that particualar card, but I have with other creative sound cards.
 
Well if you wanted to spend $59.99 for the Santa Cruz retail sound card its a really good sound card with the best driver support you could ever ask for. Drivers are updated at least ever 3 months if not more. Compusa has the Santa Cruz orginally for $79.99 most of the time but when there is a sale it has a $20 instant rebate sometimes so its $59.99 out of store plus tax. But sense you do not want to spend over $30 then this may not be a good choose. But i know Philps sound cards out there may be a good choose too which should be cheaper.

 
I would also opt for the Turtle Beach Santa Cruz. I got in on the $60 deal at CompUSA even though i work at Best Buy. I love the card. I have never hadany problems. and i really like the way its drivers/control panel is set up. No more notorious Soundblaster compatability for me. Whatever you do, stay away from creative products as long as you are buying now.
 


<< Would a sound card enhance the sound output of my speakers that much or will it be unnoticable? >>

It depends what kind of integrated chip you have now. If you're using AC97 then for God's sake buy a new soundcard ASAP (SB Live Value will be fine). If OTOH you have C-media sound then you probably won't notice much improvement, if any, so stick with the status quo.
 
sorry for the blank message above...

but anyways, I do have AC97 integrated sound...heh...is it really THAT bad?
I guess I'll go with the SB Live, unless what Butch said about Creative products is true,
then I'll think about going with the Santa Cruz...

CoBRa
 
well, creative is okay sometimes, but they are notorious for having compatability problems with certain chipsets. I think the Live! series also has a memory leak in winXP. Unfortunately, they dont update their drivers very often. If you buy a creative product, you wont die. BUT, as long as you are buying new now, why not get something you know has a better track record??

BTW, what imtim83 said about IBM hard drives is true today. however, i have never had any probs with either of my IBM drives, although next time im not getting another one (recent scandal with the 120 GXP scared me off).

Butch
 
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