soundcard questions?

[ncage]

Hey everyone...im in need of a new video card for a HTPC because my onboard sound is starting to cut out. I have it hooked to my reciever now with a coaxial video cable/spdif. I know the different brands of creative cards go from 5:1 for say sb live to 7:1 on the audigy 2 zs. I guess my question is for home theater does it really matter which one you get? I mean all the digital processing will be done by the home theather reciever so does it really matter. Shouldn't a sb live be just as good as anything or is there something im missing here or is there a cheap solution i should get? Id rather have at least a hardware based solution but i won't be playing games or any thing on this computer. This pc is in my living room and doesn't even have a keyboard or a mouse hooked to it. Any advice would be appreciated.

thanks,
ncage

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

"im in need of a new video card for a HTPC because my onboard sound is starting to cut out" 😕 😉

Chaintech AV-710 is a great card for doing digital out. For about $25 it will do everything very well except games which it sounds like you're not going to be playing.

 

[ncage]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
"im in need of a new video card for a HTPC because my onboard sound is starting to cut out" 😕 😉

Chaintech AV-710 is a great card for doing digital out. For about $25 it will do everything very well except games which it sounds like you're not going to be playing.

Do you know if its a hardware based card?

 

[TheRyuu]

Wait, what do you need a new video card for if your onboard sound just cut out?

Anyway, if you game go for x-fi/audigy 2, if not, go for Chaintech.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: ncage

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
"im in need of a new video card for a HTPC because my onboard sound is starting to cut out" 😕 😉

Chaintech AV-710 is a great card for doing digital out. For about $25 it will do everything very well except games which it sounds like you're not going to be playing.

Do you know if its a hardware based card?

I'm not really sure what is handled by hardware vs software on it, but it worked very well for passing AC3 and PCM to my receiver with low CPU-usage.

 

[ncage]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Originally posted by: ncage

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
"im in need of a new video card for a HTPC because my onboard sound is starting to cut out" 😕 😉

Chaintech AV-710 is a great card for doing digital out. For about $25 it will do everything very well except games which it sounds like you're not going to be playing.

Do you know if its a hardware based card?

I'm not really sure what is handled by hardware vs software on it, but it worked very well for passing AC3 and PCM to my receiver with low CPU-usage.

Didn't newegg use to have these? I just went to see if they still carry it and they don't. I wonder if its still being sold

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: ncage

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Originally posted by: ncage

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
"im in need of a new video card for a HTPC because my onboard sound is starting to cut out" 😕 😉

Chaintech AV-710 is a great card for doing digital out. For about $25 it will do everything very well except games which it sounds like you're not going to be playing.

Do you know if its a hardware based card?

I'm not really sure what is handled by hardware vs software on it, but it worked very well for passing AC3 and PCM to my receiver with low CPU-usage.

Didn't newegg use to have these? I just went to see if they still carry it and they don't. I wonder if its still being sold

Yeah, newegg used to sell them. I imagine you can still get them somewhere.

EDIT: ZZF was the first place I checked. Not as great a price as before, but still there http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=292003

 

[ncage]

thanks for the help. I ordered one

 

[suicidalpigeon]

brilliant choice for a new avatar, jello!

 

[alcoholbob]

I like how you can simultaneously output through all 3 outputs: VIA line-out, Wolfsen DAC, and optical out. Specifying the output sampling rate in digital mode is also nice.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: wafflesandsyrup
brilliant choice for a new avatar, jello!

😀

 

[stevty2889]

I have the AV-710, I got it because the onboard sound on my Asrock motherboard was always getting feedback through the speakers. Nice card, I like it. I got it from newegg not to long ago.