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Sniper82

Lifer
Feb 6, 2000
16,517
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Ok debating here. I am wanting better sound for my Z560's because I am using onboard sound on my Epox 8K3a+. Well I was thinking about finding a Epox 8RDA+ since its suppost to have great onboard sound(soundstorm) and I could maybe push my 1600+ thats currently doing 166FSB/2100+ at default voltage. I am thinking since Nforce 2 has PCI/AGP lock I can maybe push it to at least 2Ghz at 1.8v. Of course I will prob have to purchase a new heatsink/fan.

Anyway I was thinking either buy a Nforce 2 board with soundstorm or try and find a Audigy 2? Is Audigy 2 alot better than soundstorm or should I maybe upgrade my mobo and get little better performance and still get good onboard sound.

Opinions?
 
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Budman

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
10,980
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stop debating & just get an audigy card, ANY card will do. onboard card really doesnt hold a candle to a SBlive much less an audigy.

Sniper do yourself a BIG favor & get an external card. audigy.
 
S

Sniper82

Lifer
Feb 6, 2000
16,517
0
76
Oh I heard it was comparable to them, guess not. Ok so how much better is Audigy 2 compared to the first Audigy?
 
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Budman

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
10,980
0
0
Originally posted by: ^Sniper^
So onboard soundstorm on the 8RDA+ sucks compared to Audigy(2)?
Click to expand...


Onboard sound is like jerking off, Audigy is like getting laid.

I cant be more direct. Mods edit as you see fit.
 
MDE

MDE

Lifer
Jul 17, 2003
13,199
1
81
SoundStorm is fine for most uses. I see no reason for me to get an Audigy or other card. Unless you're a sound nut and everything has to be perfect, I'd say save the cash and use the onboard. And Budman, SoundStorm is comparable to an Audigy1, so idk where you get your figures from.
 
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Budman

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
10,980
0
0
And Budman, SoundStorm is comparable to an Audigy1, so idk where you get your figures from.
Click to expand...

Ok I had an onboard mobo with Soundstorm & it was really not that bad but not that good, it was OK but when I put my 3 year old SBlive in my PCI slot it did not live up at all. my 3 year old SBlive kicked the hell out of it. So unless you tried both I dont think your point of view matters much (sorry) . so far all onboard sound I tried doesnt come close to replacing my old SBlive card. either in quality or cpu usage. Onboard just plain sucks. In MY OPINION.

please list WHY your onboard card is better than my old LIVE.
 
Nebor

Nebor

Lifer
Jun 24, 2003
29,582
12
76
The audigy 2 in my comp kicks the living hell out of my onboard. But then, my onboard isn't Soundstorm, it's whatever Abit puts on the IC7-G.

But I use bose headphones on my NF7's onboard sound, and get no hiss or anything, and good EAX.
 
MDE

MDE

Lifer
Jul 17, 2003
13,199
1
81
Originally posted by: Budman

please list WHY your onboard card is better than my old LIVE.
Click to expand...

Nvidia doesn't have the greatest nForce drivers, but they aren't Creative bloat. To me, SoundStorm is fine. It was basically a free add-on and I don't see the point in spending more money to improve something that I don't consider sub-par.
 
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Budman

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
10,980
0
0
Originally posted by: MonkeyDriveExpress
Originally posted by: Budman

please list WHY your onboard card is better than my old LIVE.
Click to expand...

Nvidia doesn't have the greatest nForce drivers, but they aren't Creative bloat. To me, SoundStorm is fine. It was basically a free add-on and I don't see the point in spending more money to improve something that I don't consider sub-par.
Click to expand...

still doesnt tell me why you think it sounds better. to me my Sblive drivers only sounds better than any soundstorm onboard,my SBlive sounds better.
 
Nebor

Nebor

Lifer
Jun 24, 2003
29,582
12
76
He's just saying that it's free. THe guy already has SOundstorm. I have an SBLive Xgamer from 2 computers ago, and I consider it's sound quality to be below that of soundstorm. And it uses more resources to run EAX. That means less frames per second for you.

I'd say either get an Audigy 2 if sound is really important to you, or stick w/ the Soundstorm. Because without shelling out for an Audigy 2, you're not gonna get any better sound.
 
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Budman

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
10,980
0
0
Originally posted by: Nebor
He's just saying that it's free. THe guy already has SOundstorm. I have an SBLive Xgamer from 2 computers ago, and I consider it's sound quality to be below that of soundstorm. And it uses more resources to run EAX. That means less frames per second for you.

I'd say either get an Audigy 2 if sound is really important to you, or stick w/ the Soundstorm. Because without shelling out for an Audigy 2, you're not gonna get any better sound.
Click to expand...

You're missing the point !!! as usual.

I allready have a Sblive card, it's 3-4 years old. yes most live cards are that old Nebor, I know you are young but try & see it my way.


those new onboard sounds are very nice, I like them very much. BUT the are mostly software based & that's why I still prefer my hardware based live card.

I like my live mostly because its low cpu usage compared to onboard software.
 
Nebor

Nebor

Lifer
Jun 24, 2003
29,582
12
76
And everyone continues to tell you that Soundstorm has an integrated sound processor!!! It uses LESS cpu time than the Audigy 1!!! That means that it certainly smokes the SB Live!

This guy already has a Soundstorm, which is better in every single regard than the SBLive. The only way up from the SOundstorm is the Audigy 2, and it's not THAT far up.
 
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Budman

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
10,980
0
0
Originally posted by: Nebor
And everyone continues to tell you that Soundstorm has an integrated sound processor!!! It uses LESS cpu time than the Audigy 1!!! That means that it certainly smokes the SB Live!

This guy already has a Soundstorm, which is better in every single regard than the SBLive. The only way up from the SOundstorm is the Audigy 2, and it's not THAT far up.
Click to expand...

Can you provide a link that shows that Soundstorm uses less cpu than a Sblive?
 
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Budman

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
10,980
0
0
If you can prove than on my Asus P4P800 the 6-channel AD1985 audio CODEC can use less cpu power than my SBlive then I will use it.

also does the Soundstorm type cards offer less cpu usage too ?
 
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Budman

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
10,980
0
0
I have seen faster frame rates using my live card compared to using onboard card when using my 8500le .

so that's why I use my live card. I hope you can prove me wrong.
 
Nebor

Nebor

Lifer
Jun 24, 2003
29,582
12
76
Originally posted by: Budman
I have seen faster frame rates using my live card compared to using onboard card when using my 8500le .

so that's why I use my live card. I hope you can prove me wrong.
Click to expand...

Your onboard card is not soundstorm. Only Nvidia's onboard sound is good. I have an IC7-G. Onboard sound for Intel boards is crap compared to soundstorm or sblive\audigy.
 
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Budman

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
10,980
0
0
Originally posted by: Nebor
Originally posted by: Budman
Originally posted by: Nebor
http://firingsquad.gamers.com/hardware/audigy2_versus_nforce2/default.asp
Click to expand...

I dont see any SBlive comparicons there.

How does the SBlive card compare ?

remember the LIVE card is HARDWARE based , not software based.
Click to expand...

SbLive < Audigy 2, by far, in every respect. What don't you understand?
Click to expand...


The question wasnt Audigy vs Live, it was onboard soundstorm vs nforce 2 sounds
 
MDE

MDE

Lifer
Jul 17, 2003
13,199
1
81
Originally posted by: Budman
If you can prove than on my Asus P4P800 the 6-channel AD1985 audio CODEC can use less cpu power than my SBlive then I will use it.

also does the Soundstorm type cards offer less cpu usage too ?
Click to expand...

A codec interface is SOFTWARE. SoundStorm does all processing in HARDWARE. Sorry to yell, but get it through your skull. SoundStorm is an Nvidia MCP-T ONLY feature that is not in any Intel motherboard.
 
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