Soundcard for $25, will it do the trick?

[CreepieDeCrapper]

I'm currently using the Realtek onboard audio that came with my ASUS P5W DH Deluxe (link to full system specs in my sig). However, I do get some occasional hisses and pops when gaming so I'm thinking I should just go ahead and buy a separate sound card.

Here's one I found at CompUSA nice'n cheap.

I realize that's it's probably not going to sound better than my current onboard device, but as long as it doesn't sound worse, and as long as it resolves my sound glitching, I don't really care.

Any thoughts as to whether or not it's a really bad idea, etc? I'm pretty lame when it comes to sound cards. It's the one component I didn't research at all when building my new PC.

 

[pukemon]

Most low end sound cards don't offer much or any hardware acceleration and use AC97 software codecs, so you won't necessarily be any better off than using the onboard mothersound sound in terms of saving CPU cycles. The quality of the DAC (digital to analog converters) can make a huge difference but your mileage may vary there.

 

[Gautama2]

I have this for my 2.1 speakers http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16829102003
I love it.

 

[Seekermeister]

I wouldn't buy any CompUSA brand hardware, because there is NO support for them. Spend a little more and get a good sound card.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

This is a very good one for music

http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=292003

 

[Parasitic]

Check out FS/T and pick up a first gen Creative Audigy or even SBLive!.
For less than $25 you get decent audio and hardware-assisted playback.

edit: by the way, I remembered having similar problems with the onboard Realtek AC97 codec...sometimes setting your audio acceleration under the Performance tab in Audio Properties from "Full" to "Standard" or "Basic" could alleviate some of that problem.

 

[sniperruff]

i've seen SB Live's go under $20. grab one of those.

 

[Brian48]

I'm familiar with sound card. You're better off using the on-board.

 

[hurtstotalktoyou]

Onboard audio can be terrible, yes. Just about any cheap piece of crap PCI card will work better than what you have right now, including that CompUSA unit.

However, for ~$25 ($22.99 + tax) you can do a lot better. For $30 or $35, you can do much, much better. For $24.68, you can get this SoundBlaster. If you need 5.1 audio, you can either go super-cheap with this one, which is on par with the CompUSA card you mentioned but costs only $13.17 shipped, or this Turtle Beach number for $30.33. As long as you're spending double digits for a sound card, though, my personal recommendation would be something like the SoundBlaster Audigy SE, which goes for $33.68 from NewEgg.

 

[JEDIYoda]

Originally posted by: Brian48
I'm familiar with sound card. You're better off using the on-board.

Foe what the OP wants the soundcard to do the OP is better off following the advice of those who are telling him to get a SB Live card!!

 

[zephyrprime]

Just pick up an audigy 4 on ebay for cheap.

 

[CreepieDeCrapper]

Thanks for all the replies, it's much appreciated! I really like this Chaintech on ZipZoom:
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=292003

Does anyone know, will I still be able to use my frontside audio ports with this card? Obviously I would have to remove the connections from the mobo and then plug them into the card somehow, just not sure if this card supports that or not.

The suggestions to buy used are well taken, but I'd rather not do that with sensitive components like PC parts. You never know how they've been handled and there may be some electro-static damage done.

On eBay, I can always find a used one that's also 'new in the box and factory sealed' for kind of cheap. So I may look there as well. Bottom line price for me is to be between $25-$35 ideally. If I'm going to spend more than $50, than I'll hold-off altogether and save up for something with a front-side breakout box and just go balls-out! Right now, I just want CLEAN, solid audio and will let my speakers and EQ settings do the rest.

I've also tried lowering the hardware acceleration as per Parasitic's suggestion and had strange results. When I lowered the settings, it did 'clean-up' the hisses and pops, but then when I bumped the acceleration back up to 'Full', the hissing/pops seemed to disappear. Now a couple weeks later, and the noise is back again. That's why I'm looking to just buy a dedicated sound card at this point. Although I hoped that my C2D would be able to handle the audio playback without an issue, guess I was wrong :-/

 

[stars]

Hey Creepie, I just ordered one of these Friday from zzf for a Linux box. It looked like the best choice I had for the low price based on my research.

 

[CreepieDeCrapper]

Cool, thanks for the info, stars. How do you like it?

 

[stars]

Originally posted by: CreepieDeCrapper
Cool, thanks for the info, stars. How do you like it?

I'll let you know once it arrives and is installed. Hopefully mid week or so.