Sound Card Questions

Wraith · 12-06-2006, 03:11 PM

In an attempt to get the most out of my system and gaming experience I was looking at getting away from my onboard audio and moving to a sound card. I was wondering if any of you in the "Know" could help me.

I was looking at THIS and wanted some opinions.

is a sound card worth the money? What realy are the benifits to my system from onboard to a card like the one above?

I have heard that frees up the RAM and CPU utilization of the sound system that is build into the Motherboard but is it substantial enough to buy a sound card.

I guess if I get one I am looking for one that is inexpensive but works fairly well (better than onboard).

Duckitt · 12-06-2006, 03:13 PM

The sounds are clearer/deeper and more rounded. Directional sound is amazing.

Not sure it is worth it though

X3DChris · 12-06-2006, 03:19 PM

Its not going to free up your ram but I can tell you it will make your sound much more better . I went to this card about a year ago paid 130 for it and it kicks ass .
On karkand if you stand by the U.S toe I could here the tank coming in the distance much much faster.And if you listen carefully you can actually here footsteps plus the sounds are more detailed just make sure you set your sound settings to xfi .

[R-DEV]duckhunt · 12-06-2006, 03:47 PM

Well worth it. Get the gamer "fata1ilty" edition or something. Thats what ive got, incredible sound experience.

Its proably the equivilant of getting a new gfx card imo, and cranking your settings up to high, you really will notice it and be very pleased.

huleboeren · 12-06-2006, 04:34 PM

I got Logitech Z5500 (5.1) which is hooked up to my X-Fi Elite Pro
Its absolutely awesome - itll scare the shit out of you when shots are whistling over your head..

NovemberRain · 12-06-2006, 05:29 PM

It depends. Good quality mobo with AC'97 or nVidia equivalent is usually capable of hifi sound and very good environment feel. I'd rather spend my 100 bucks on better headset and microphone. But if you got money, just get both. But I can tell you, X-Fi or other Sound Card with some crappy Logitech 5.1 speakers or 5$ headset is just waste of money what comes to sound quality.

trogdor1289 · 12-06-2006, 05:32 PM

Just get X-Fi xtreme music gave me about 20 more fps in Bf2 and enabled me to turn my audio up to ultra high on BF2

.

AtlantaFalcons · 12-06-2006, 06:30 PM

Get the cheapest X-Fi you can. They just released a 'gamer' edition that's pretty basic.

I recommend newegg.com http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16829102006

Read the reviews on newegg as I have found them to be very helpful and accurate multiple times.

I just built a new rig and finally went away from onboard to X-FI and its a world of difference! Very much worth it. Also X-Fi is specially made to run BF2 on ultra-high (it is the only chipset that will allow ultra high).

You will be able to hear things clear across the map. You can hear people trying to sneak up on you. And you can pinpoint shooters if you have good speakers/headphones.

12-06-2006, 03:11 PM	#1
Wraith Retired PR Developer Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Eugene, OR Posts: 1,739	Sound Card Questions In an attempt to get the most out of my system and gaming experience I was looking at getting away from my onboard audio and moving to a sound card. I was wondering if any of you in the "Know" could help me. I was looking at THIS and wanted some opinions. is a sound card worth the money? What realy are the benifits to my system from onboard to a card like the one above? I have heard that frees up the RAM and CPU utilization of the sound system that is build into the Motherboard but is it substantial enough to buy a sound card. I guess if I get one I am looking for one that is inexpensive but works fairly well (better than onboard).

12-06-2006, 03:13 PM	#2
Duckitt Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 205	The sounds are clearer/deeper and more rounded. Directional sound is amazing. Not sure it is worth it though
Duckitt Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 205

12-06-2006, 03:19 PM	#3
X3DChris Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 426	Its not going to free up your ram but I can tell you it will make your sound much more better . I went to this card about a year ago paid 130 for it and it kicks ass . On karkand if you stand by the U.S toe I could here the tank coming in the distance much much faster.And if you listen carefully you can actually here footsteps plus the sounds are more detailed just make sure you set your sound settings to xfi .
X3DChris Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 426

12-06-2006, 04:34 PM	#5
huleboeren Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 563	I got Logitech Z5500 (5.1) which is hooked up to my X-Fi Elite Pro Its absolutely awesome - itll scare the shit out of you when shots are whistling over your head..
huleboeren Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 563

12-06-2006, 05:29 PM	#6
NovemberRain Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 176	It depends. Good quality mobo with AC'97 or nVidia equivalent is usually capable of hifi sound and very good environment feel. I'd rather spend my 100 bucks on better headset and microphone. But if you got money, just get both. But I can tell you, X-Fi or other Sound Card with some crappy Logitech 5.1 speakers or 5$ headset is just waste of money what comes to sound quality.
NovemberRain Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 176

12-06-2006, 03:47 PM	#4
[R-DEV]duckhunt PR Mapper Team Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 3,056	Well worth it. Get the gamer "fata1ilty" edition or something. Thats what ive got, incredible sound experience. Its proably the equivilant of getting a new gfx card imo, and cranking your settings up to high, you really will notice it and be very pleased.

12-06-2006, 05:32 PM	#7
trogdor1289 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Classified. Posts: 5,232	Just get X-Fi xtreme music gave me about 20 more fps in Bf2 and enabled me to turn my audio up to ultra high on BF2 .

12-06-2006, 06:30 PM	#8
AtlantaFalcons Retired PR Developer Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 327	Get the cheapest X-Fi you can. They just released a 'gamer' edition that's pretty basic. I recommend newegg.com http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16829102006 Read the reviews on newegg as I have found them to be very helpful and accurate multiple times. I just built a new rig and finally went away from onboard to X-FI and its a world of difference! Very much worth it. Also X-Fi is specially made to run BF2 on ultra-high (it is the only chipset that will allow ultra high). You will be able to hear things clear across the map. You can hear people trying to sneak up on you. And you can pinpoint shooters if you have good speakers/headphones.

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