Sound card

[DLBlank]

Ok im going to be getting some Z-5500's and am wondering if and what sound card i should get. Right now im just useing the onbored sound from my Abit AN8-SLI bored, I know a sound card will help fps cence it prosses the sound insted on the cpu whitch is nice but what i was wondering is on the AN8 dose the cpu prosess the sound? And is it worth the money to get a sound card? Theres a nice program that came with the mobo for sound. Ill have about 100 for the sound card. And one more thing should i get a sound card with digital out? Thanks

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

A soundcard isn't going to make a huge difference in gaming performance, but it will help some.

I think you missed the really great deals on the Audigy2 zs line ($40 or so) but an A2 value or a zs would still be a good choice I think if you're doing this mainly for gaming.

If you do digital out, you'll be using the control pod to do dac conversions and sound processing. If you get a decent soundcard, analog for everything would probably be a good way to go.

 

[DLBlank]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
I think you missed the really great deals on the Audigy2 zs line ($40 or so) but an A2 value or a zs would still be a good choice I think if you're doing this mainly for gaming.

Link?

Also i dont play to many games. I do play music all day thow from a radio throw line in or just off the computer, Only time i dont have music playing is when im playing a game whitch in the last week i have played just about non of, But some times i do play as much as 3hr's a day.

 

[DLBlank]

Can some one please exsplain SPDIF to me? Dose it use only one line? And what way of imput would i get the most out of the z5500's

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=40&threadid=1690070&enterthread=y

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=40&threadid=1684318&enterthread=y

etc

I think the deals are all dead

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: whatever6750
Can some one please exsplain SPDIF to me? Dose it use only one line? And what way of imput would i get the most out of the z5500's

SPDIF would be outputting digital to your control pod.

This would be in the form of a single digital optical cable of a single digital coaxial cable. Either way would get you the same results.

For a source like a game or music, you would get a stereo signal to your speakers. This would play out the front L, front R, and the sub. If you wanted it to play off more than that, then you could use the surround modes from your control pod (PrologicII etc)

You wouldn't get true surround sound in games from that method, but you could still get output from all your speakers.

If you do digital you will get DD or DTS from your speakers though as the control pod can decode those.

So, surround sound from DVDs, stereo/fake surround for music and movies.

If you do analog, you'll get true surround sound from games, stereo for music (that you can still use surround modes on I believe), and your soundcard would do the decoding from DD sources like DVDs.

There's a few really long threads over in peripherals about the different connecitons techniques.
http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=30&threadid=1478323&enterthread=y

 

[monster64]

A sound card will help as much as 15% in games if your sound is set to high. If you don't have a sound card, yes the processor will process the sound. On some boards, the sound chip is better than on others and it uses less of the cpu, but unless you have a sound card, the cpu will always be used from around 2-10% on sound. Even if you are not listening to music while playing a game, the actual sound from the game is still pretty demanding. However, as long you have a sound card, the cpu usage will be at a minimum no matter the card, unless its a very bad card of course. Any of the Audigy 2 series (value, ZS) should be enough for you.

 

[DLBlank]

The thing i dont get is how would i get sorround sound from anolog whent theres only 3 imputs on the control pod?

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: whatever6750
The thing i dont get is how would i get sorround sound from anolog whent theres only 3 imputs on the control pod?

There's three analog stereo connections, a digital coaxial, and a digital optical. There might be more, but i know there are at least that many.

Analog stereo #1
Left Front, Right Front

Analog stereo #2
Center, Sub

Analog stereo #3
Surround Left, Surround Right

 

[DLBlank]

Ahh ic, well hows this card http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16829102178

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: whatever6750
Ahh ic, well hows this card http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16829102178

If you're ok with rebates, gamer might be a better choice.

For cheaper an A2 value will also work.

 

[DLBlank]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16829102171 $2 more worth it?

EDIT: ahh damn to slow

 

[AmberClad]

Ugh...$70 for a OEM Audigy 2 ZS . I think Directron or eWiz might have the OEM for a bit cheaper.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: whatever6750
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16829102171 $2 more worth it?

EDIT: ahh damn to slow

Just gets you extra software though I think. (Cards are pretty much the same thing)

Also, I was just informed today that you can use the zs drivers on the value card and get the same functionality out of it.
http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=30&threadid=1701556&enterthread=y

 

[ChiBOY83]

WHATEVER....i have your exact same setup... had the AN8 SLI w/ the onboard, and i just upgraded to the audigy2 ZS Platinum (the one w/ the front bay)..... I am happy i got it. HTe sound quality is a little better. I haven't noticed a performance difference yet, but im just playin UT04 w/ a 6600GT and amd 64 3000, not a big challenge for my system.. HOWEVER< look for better deals, don't buy an audigy2 card at regular price.. my platium cost 75 After rebate

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: AmberClad
Ugh...$70 for a OEM Audigy 2 ZS . I think Directron might have the OEM for a bit cheaper.

I almost got a few zs cards when they were around $35 just so I could sell them to friends. It was amazing the number of people that would dismiss the idea of getting the cards for under $40 when the X-Fi came out too. Just a month ago the A2 cards were what everyone was putting into their systems and were very happy with... then creative comes out with some new ones and suddenly people were avoiding the A2 cards like the plague.

 

[McPudd]

Hi:
Since you don't game much, here are 2 places to look:

http://www.turtlebeach.com/site/products/soundcards/

http://www.bluegears.com/soundcard_xmystique.html

Happy trailz,