To Audigy or Not to Audigy

[Sentrosi2121]

I have an Audigy2 ZS in my PC now (see below) but I need to make a decision.

Should I keep the Audigy2 and purchase a front panel or do I ditch the card and go with on-board sound?

This is not an easy decision to make. The Gaming PC is downstairs in my lair and I usually run my 5.1 system whenever I am gaming, so no headphones are needed. However I downloaded the BF2 demo and realized how much better a headset/mic setup would be. No place for the stand alone mic to get in the way of things! Once I throw that headset on I'm immersed in the game and cannot hear the wife (jokes aside please). But I do not want to lose the functionality of my 5.1s either when I decide to play games like Doom3 and HL2.

Thus my connundrum. Help is appreciated and always reciprocated.

 

[ryanv12]

Whenever I need to use a mic, I just put the headset around my neck and bend its mic in line with my mouth. I would just get a front panel though if you wanted to use it...I cannot live without my 5.1

 

[imported_g33k]

Keep the Audigy.

 

[Bar81]

It's not even a question. Keep the Audigy 2 ZS. Also, even with a headset the Audigy is going to be vastly superior in sound quality to any onboard sound solution. Having said that, my points are valid only if you use the fantastic PAX New Year's drivers found on www.driverheaven.net with the newest Creative update installed on top of it. There is actually an even newer set of PAX drivers that is supposed to be even better but I have not tried them yet.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

So you want the front panel for ease of making connections? You can get a couple cheap extension cables and run it from the back of your computer to your desk. Plug in the mic and headphones when you need them and the speakers when you want 5.1

 

[SirBrass]

keep the audigy 2 zs and buy a front panel. Onboard sound is NEVER superior to the sound you get from the audigy 2. That, and the front panel is awesome .

 

[Sentrosi2121]

Looking around to just buy the front panel right now. Not a lot of options. Any place you guys could suggest? Also, is there any way I could get the front panel in a silver color to match my case? Or am I stuck with either white or black?

 

[imported_rod]

Doesn't your case already have front audio connectors? If it does, cant they be connected to the audigy?

Otherwise, just get a pair of $10 extesion leads (1 for sound, 1 for mic) and run them around the front of your PC.

If you already have an audigy, dont go back to onboard sound.

RoD