Use an old sound card or use onboard sound?

[foolfromhell]

I have a Creative SB Audigy LS from my old computer (2004)
I have ordered a eVGA 680i mobo w/ e6600 and a 8800GTX.
Should I use the Creative SB Audigy LS or use onboard sound on the 680i?

 

[corkyg]

A practical approach would be to try onboard - listen, and then try the the SB card and let your ears be the judge.

 

[Seekermeister]

Trial and error would be the surest way, but my guess is that the sound card would be better than the onboard sound.

 

[oynaz]

The Audigy would almost certainly be better.

 

[corkyg]

Originally posted by: oynaz
The Audigy would almost certainly be better.

Not if both the Audigy and the on-board exceeded the aural capability of the speakers, etc. If you installed top quality speakers, perhaps you would hear a difference.

 

[NeoHC421]

I thought that some dedicated sound cards free up your CPU in some games and lead to increased FPS...
That's what I heard, but maybe it doesn't apply to this particular sound card...

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

How exactly is the onboard sound lacking? Just wondering, because I was fully intending upon using onboard sound for my next build.

 

[pkme2]

I do video editing.
I use SB Audigy 2 and would never ever rely on any on-board audio for my recording sessions.
Playing back audio narration is about all on-board is good for.
You will find a lot of Audigy Soundcards in the better-built systems.

IMO, Any soundcard is better.. Read the AT sound threads about on-board audio.
They should settle this question, for sure.

 

[hurtstotalktoyou]

Remember there's more than just output. Onboard audio has some of the worst A-D capabilities I've ever heard. A PCI sound card is *almost always* better than onboard audio, even if it's the dirt cheapest card you can find.

But, yes, you can do a quick check to be sure by connecting the line in and line out ports on each device, then running benchmarks. Free benches are available on Google.

 

[foolfromhell]

Thanks all. Will be using my Audigy LS!