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dwdty9

Senior member
Dec 8, 2004
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ok so i crapped out and got the HP m3770n PC. I had to do it because I just couldn't bare myself to wait another week to have a computer. So I went in to circuit city and got it on Wednesday along with a openbox Samsung 173P monitor (pretty slick). Anyway, it came with the 4200+ X2, 1gig ram, 250gig hard drive, MCE, ATI Xpress 200 integrated. ANYWAY, enough of telling you the specs. Oh it was $820.

So I am gaming on it with NBA Live 06 and NHL 06 and it's not really that bad. But there is obvious lag in there or something that just makes it kind of hard sometimes. But those are the ONLY games I play so far.

Now my question is, should I upgrade the video card to something better or get that Creative X-Fi Xtrememusic sound card. I figure the graphics card would be a better buy, but the motherboard just has AC '97 integrated audio, which kinda sucks compared to the x-fi.

I know this is a video card forum part, but you guys are hardcore gamers and such, so which would be better for gaming? Which would be better for the overall computing experience of listening to mp3s, watching Media Center tv, etc.

thanks for the help!
 
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KBTuning

Senior member
Mar 22, 2005
357
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vid card... integragted video BLOWs... and the AC97 isnt as bad as you might think.
 
JPB

JPB

Diamond Member
Jul 4, 2005
4,064
89
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yea, integrated video may BLOW...but Im willing to bet that he will use the computer for alot more for other things than he will be gaming. I about bought the X-FI...but bought the Audigy 4 instead...and I cant tell a difference between the two. So, since the Audigy 4 is alot cheaper than the X-FI...get a cheaper vid card, and the Audigy....

How much are you willing to spend?
 
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dwdty9

Senior member
Dec 8, 2004
535
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well i might spend $250 or so total. So if I can get an Audigy and good vid card, that'd be great :) Don't know much about the audigy soundcards. the last soundcard i had was a soundblaster 5.1 live mp3. I still have it though, maybe I'll just pop that thing in there. I didn't think of that before
 
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phantom404

Golden Member
Nov 2, 2004
1,460
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I had an audigy 2 zs and bought an x-fi and I could def tell the difference..not sure about the audigy 4 though. I really noticed a difference in games in that I can hear little things that I could really not hear with the aud 2. however my primary goal would be gaming so i would get the upgraded video card for sure. Also depends on what speakers you have. If you have cheap 5.1 surround sound ten i would stick with on board video. the high dollar logitech or klipsch set of speakers i would get the x-fi...IMO
 
JPB

JPB

Diamond Member
Jul 4, 2005
4,064
89
91
Originally posted by: dwdty9
well i might spend $250 or so total. So if I can get an Audigy and good vid card, that'd be great :) Don't know much about the audigy soundcards. the last soundcard i had was a soundblaster 5.1 live mp3. I still have it though, maybe I'll just pop that thing in there. I didn't think of that before
Click to expand...

Well, at Best Buy, I bought the Audigy 4 for $80. And I can certainly tell you this...I can hear all the little things that oboard doesnt pick up. Get the Audigy 4 with something around the 6600 GT or the likes
 
JPB

JPB

Diamond Member
Jul 4, 2005
4,064
89
91
Originally posted by: phantom404
I had an audigy 2 zs and bought an x-fi and I could def tell the difference..not sure about the audigy 4 though. I really noticed a difference in games in that I can hear little things that I could really not hear with the aud 2. however my primary goal would be gaming so i would get the upgraded video card for sure. Also depends on what speakers you have. If you have cheap 5.1 surround sound ten i would stick with on board video. the high dollar logitech or klipsch set of speakers i would get the x-fi...IMO
Click to expand...

I have the Logitech 5500's, like I said though, went with the Audigy 4 over the X-FI. Sounds crystal clear to me. Hear all the little things. And even if there is a difference, I dont think the extra money for the X-FI is worth it
 
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jdkick

Senior member
Feb 8, 2006
601
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I take it you actually have an HP m7330n? I know where you're coming from tho re: a boxed system tho. All my hardware crapped out recently so I bought one of the Compaq Sempron 3400+ systems recently (SR1710NX) - no patience/time to start a new build right now.

IMO, the integrated audio isn't that bad. I only have a 4.1 channel speaker set at the moment but it's good enough for me (games/audio).

The ATI Xpress 200 IGP is near useless for gaming tho - mild resolutions with little to no eye candy. Do yourself a favour and upgrade the video card. If you ask around here, the nVidia 6800GS is at an excellent price point right now and performs very well, and at higher resolutions. I also understand that there are some nVidia cards slated for release in the near future (7600GS/GT!?!).
 
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dwdty9

Senior member
Dec 8, 2004
535
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0
I have those Creative iTrigue 3300 speakers. it's a 2.1 setup. they sound pretty good though

http://www.creative.com/products/produc...?category=4&subcategory=27&product=139

I turn everything up on Live and NHL, with the resolution at 1280x1024, as that is the max. resolution on my lcd. Even then, it plays ok, but I can't tell if the lag/sluggish play is due to the graphics or the suckiness of the game :)

But I'm thinking those games don't have near requirements as others do
 
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CP5670

Diamond Member
Jun 24, 2004
5,660
762
126
IMO integrated audio sucks, but integrated video sucks way, way more. :p A video card should be your first priority.
 
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