USB VS Integrated Sound

[avp06]

I know using the integrated soundcards on the mobo drops down fps during gaming, some article i read said the dif. was around 15 fps or so.

I also have an external SB Extigy via USB(I think its usb1 even tho my board supports usb2)

Can anyone tell me which config will give me more gaming performance, using the built in one or the external?

 

[ribbon13]

The onboard sound drops frames because it uses the CPU as a DSP. Guess what a USB SC would also have to do?

 

[avp06]

Originally posted by: ribbon13
The onboard sound drops frames because it uses the CPU as a DSP. Guess what a USB SC would also have to do?

so your saying that there is not trade off ??

 

[ribbon13]

None. USB might even be slower because of latency.

If you're on a budget you might want to consider this
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=29-102-179&depa=0

 

[bfonnes]

Ummmmm... no
translation:
He is saying they both suck!

BFonnes

 

[avp06]

I got my old trusty SB AWE 64 from my p200 and I think of the old SB live card not sure which one.

So would I better off using those instead of usb and onboard sound ?

I not worried about sound quality, just game performance.

 

[ribbon13]

See what EAX it supports. The one I linked supports EAX4

 

[beatle]

AWE64 was before EAX existed. SBLive supports EAX 1.

 

[Philippine Mango]

IIRC the soundblaster AWE 64 doesn't have hardware buffers so it would be just as bad as onboard audio. If it does, then go right a head and use that. EAX is only really useful if you've got surround speakers that are high quality etc.. FYI onboard doesn't support EAX either so I would go with the AWE 64 if it does support harware buffers but it mostlikely doesn't.

 

[CraigRT]

the AWE64 is also probably ISA, and would not plug into your mobo anyways.