if you are using a set of computer speakers or headphones, you prolly won't be able to tell much difference. i have both of these sound cards. i am running the sound through a harmon kardon receiver and paradigm speakers. i had the pci128, but got a great deal on the sb live 5.1. i can tell ALOT of difference. the best way to discribe it is, with the pci128 you could tell i was playing the music through my computer, but with the sb live, it sounds just as good as playing a cd in my dvd player that's hooked up to the reciever. but, like i said, with games, it's hard to tell much of a difference. hope this helps.