soundblaster live soundcard

[Fistandantilis]

I got this card from a freind, I am wondering if it is compatible with my mobo, it is a AN8X5 asus, the mobo has onboard sound but I hear that having a soundcard will give better performance in games.
so would it be beneficial to install it? I would like the save myself the hassle of tinkering around with it if I can, I have a thermaltake Xasrer III case and it is a real pain in the ass to get the side back on after I take it off.

thanks

 

[pkme2]

If its a PCI card, you shouldn't have any problem using it. If you're not satisfied with the onboard sound, try the card. If sound is not a problem, you can always experiment. Only you can decide if the soundcard is a plus to your system. otherwise whatever.

 

[Peter]

The SB!Live (not the later 5.1 series) has a nasty PCI compliance problem. It hung the SiS chipsets of its time, VIA chipsets did weird things unless a BIOS workaround was applied. Whether or not your NVidia chipset is going to like it, well, good luck.

Given Creative's track record of bandwidth wasting drivers, and the fact that the PCI bus is a much slower connection than the chipset internal sound engine is on ...

I wouldn't.

I've tried, btw ... on an ECS NForce4-A939. I have no actual benchmark numbers, but the gamer who got the system said that his games felt smoother when using the onboard sound.

That was after he insisted his SB!Live was to be carried over, and I showed him how to switch to and fro. You don't have to disable the onboard sound when adding the SB!Live - that gives you a quick way of using either of the engine for any games you play.