PC Sound Card? Yes or No, and Why.

[Guest RET.Maj.Skyler=US=]

My current computer Tech info is: [COLOR='red']Processor:[/COLOR] AMD Phenom(tm) II X4 810 Processor (4 CPUs), ~2.6GHz [COLOR='red']Memory:[/COLOR] 4092MB RAM (2 Sticks of 2GB DDR3 1333 CL7240 Pin) [COLOR='red']Hard Drive:[/COLOR] Barracuda XT 2TB 64mb Cache 7200RPM [URL='http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?sku=A3145715&cs=04&c=us&l=en&dgc=SS&cid=27722&lid=628335']Click Here For Details[/URL] and 'Slave' 320 GB (Western Digital WD3200AAJS) [COLOR='red']Video Card:[/COLOR] ATI Radeon HD 4890 (1GB GDDR5 memory PCI Express 2.0 24x Anti-Aliasing [COLOR='red']Monitor:[/COLOR] Generic PnP Monitor (HDMI Cable connection) [COLOR='red']Sound Card:[/COLOR] None [COLOR='red']Speakers/Headphones:[/COLOR] G35 Surround sound headset [URL='http://www.logitech.com/en-us/gaming/headsets/devices/5095']Click here for details[/URL] [COLOR='red']Keyboard:[/COLOR] Razor Lycosa [URL='http://store.razerzone.com/store/razerusa/en_US/pd/productID.169417800/categoryId.35156900']Click here for Details[/URL] [COLOR='red']Mouse:[/COLOR] Razor Mamba [URL='http://store.razerzone.com/store/razerusa/en_US/pd/productID.169418100/categoryId.35208800']Click here for details[/URL] [COLOR='red']Mouse Surface:[/COLOR] Razor Vespula [URL='http://store.razerzone.com/store/razerusa/en_US/pd/productID.173893100/categoryId.35208900']Click here for Details[/URL] [COLOR='red']Operating System:[/COLOR] Windows Vista™ Ultimate (6.0, Build 6002) Service Pack 2 (6002.vistasp2_gdr.100218-0019) [COLOR='red']Motherboard:[/COLOR] MSI 7905x-GD79 [URL='http://www.msi.com/index.php?func=proddesc&maincat_no=1&prod_no=1740']Click to See Link Detail[/URL] Im thinking about getting a Sound card to go with my new upgrades but I want to know how much of a difference I would really get with a 'Sound Card' Vs 'On-board Sound' and explain your reason or experience with them. Thank you.

[Guest 3lmo]

this really depends on what you want from it. i work in the event business and all the laptops we use on big events and small ones too all have additional sound cards we use same goes for desktop systems. plain as this.. on board means they stuffed something that makes sound on the board where there was space..its the same as on board graphics if you have a sound card you have a dedicated system just for the sound if it fails exchange it.. ( ever tried exchanging on board sound?) plus the quality is better.. we have benchmarks of sound cards who are equal just that the on board ones suck up compared to the additional soundcards. so all short... sure onboard sound works there is even 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound on board cards but if you have dedicated sound cards they will almost always win.. and they are not that expensive anymore if you want to watch movies and have a adequate sound system get dedicated sound card. if you just want sound get onboard :P

[Guest Senth]

you have a Chipset integrated by Realtek® ALC889 on your motherboard. which is pretty standard. i have one mobo with SB SupremeFX X-Fi onboard chip and another one with the same audio chip as urs. To be honest i don't see any difference. Probably hear difference in watching movies besides that no difference. audio output is also huge factor.. Speaker, Headphone upgrade could make difference too.

[Guest 3lmo]

as said this all really depends on what you connect to it... you can have the best sound card in teh world but if you speaker system or headphones are crappy you will have crappy sound... simple as that... ofyourse you can buy a camaro ( sound card) but if you put square tires ( crappy speaker ) on it dont expect to go fast. but remember something good must not necesarily be expensive... like the razr barracude headset.. its awesome surely.. but costs liek what 150 bucks? for a really good headset be ready to spend about 50-70 bucks a good multisound speaker system will be around 100 good soundcards you will get at a price range of about 70-150 make sure the sopunbd card offers plenty of connection possibilitys but thats just my 5 cents :P

[Guest Ret.Maj.Xander=US=]

I have a small apartment, unless I had some 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound system I find no need in sound cards. They slowly became more obsolete as hardware got better. Back in the day a sound card could help boost your FPS since your CPU would be handling that load. But now its much different and the High Definition on board Audio (Realtek for me as well) works fine and sounds great through both my headphones and speakers.

[Guest RET.Col.TMI=US=]

I have realtek onboard soundcard. i went and bought an xfi sound card. the reason was random problems with the realtek drivers. I basically bought a soundblaster for the better drivers but it was worth it to me not to have the headache

[Guest CC.Decayed=US=]

if you feel like your sound is lacking, then maybe upgrade, but if i were you i'd spend that money on win7. i have surround sound head phones and use onboard, and i have no problem hearing footsteps and directional explosions on bc2

[Guest RET.Maj.Skyler=US=]

I don't have a problem with my on-board sound. But i am wondering if there is a improvement if i get a top of the line sound card to go with my 7.1 surround sound headset. Also has anyone tried a Gaming Chair with speakers and a Sub? I am trying to make my gaming experience better in every way and i want more sound mainly. Lots of Bass, Lots of sound, 2 Channels or more. [quote='LCpl.Decayed=US=','http://clanunknownsoldiers.com/hq/thread/?postID=67243#post67243']if you feel like your sound is lacking, then maybe upgrade, but if i were you i'd spend that money on win7. i have surround sound head phones and use onboard, and i have no problem hearing footsteps and directional explosions on bc2[/QUOTE] I already have win 7 Ultimate SP 2 with Direct X 10.1 [quote='Cpt.TooManyIdiots=US=','http://clanunknownsoldiers.com/hq/thread/?postID=67241#post67241']I have realtek onboard soundcard. i went and bought an xfi sound card. the reason was random problems with the realtek drivers. I basically bought a soundblaster for the better drivers but it was worth it to me not to have the headache[/QUOTE] TMI, what kind of headset or speakers do you have, and do you notice a good difference in how much the quality of the sounds are or how much of a difference the bass is? [quote='Pfc.Senth=US=','http://clanunknownsoldiers.com/hq/thread/?postID=67236#post67236']you have a Chipset integrated by Realtek® ALC889 on your motherboard. which is pretty standard. i have one mobo with SB SupremeFX X-Fi onboard chip and another one with the same audio chip as urs. To be honest i don't see any difference. Probably hear difference in watching movies besides that no difference. audio output is also huge factor.. Speaker, Headphone upgrade could make difference too.[/QUOTE] Senth what headset or speakers do you use with the both of those setups. Xander how much FPS we talking? 5-10 maybe that it will give me?

[Guest Senth]

headset i have the logitech premium notbook headset. (use both systems) [URL='http://www.logitech.com/en-us/webcam_communications/internet_headsets_phones/devices/223']http://www.logitech.com/en-us/webcam_communications/internet_headsets_phones/devices/223[/URL] Decent for me been using it for almost 3 years. got it on sale for 39.99 For speakers i have old altec lancing GT 5051 5.1 speakers. (Mainly on the SB SupremeX system but i use the speakers on both) [URL='http://www.overclockersonline.net/reviews/5000252/']http://www.overclockersonline.net/reviews/5000252/[/URL] This one is about 4 to 5 years old. but never gave me any problems .. got it on sale for 49.99 Used to hook up my DJ equipment on the Realtek PC but now dont have room for it so no speakers on it.

[Guest RET.CW4.ThievingSix=US=]

A sound card especially helps with 3D sound and if your into making movies or editing audio. Currently i would still get a sound card although on board sound is catching up, its still not on par with a pcie card. Theres not a clear difference, because your ears can only hear so much difference in sound. MP3 actually wrecks the audio by compressing it, even though it seems that the audio is really good quality, its just that your ears cannot hear the difference.

[Guest bjtardiff]

I say yes get 2. a cheap 5-15$ usb sound card and a nice $100+ dollar 1. why? So you can have ur speakers use the $100+ 1 and then plug ur headset and mic into the usb one to use for ts and or vent. Allows you to here explosions and foot movement around you without having them cut out the voice activity. As well you can listen to music and movies on the speakers without having to change from headset to speakers. Note: you can do this with an onboard and a usb as well i just like decent sound quality.

[Guest Ret.Maj.Xander=US=]

TS3 integrates with games better IMO, when I play with just TS and BC2 I can hear great. Only when i'm watching a movie or show on my second monitor is when the audio is a bit rough sometimes. But I normally prioritize what needs sound and what can be in the background. TS is the loudest then BC2 then everything else. Works fine for me and I'm always able to hear people coming.

[Guest 3lmo]

taking it the professional way mp3 sucks... listen to an mp3 at 128 kHz and then at 320kHz with almost any sound system you will 95% of the time hear a difference but physically anything above 320kHz is useless as you cannot differentiate between 320 and upper its just a watse of hdd space :P

[Guest Ret.Maj.Xander=US=]

im not an audiophile, its never bothered me to have more compressed mp3s than much better sounding AAC or FLAC. Thats just my personal preference.

[Guest RET.Maj.Skyler=US=]

Well for sound i was thinking about going with 'Barracuda™ AC-1 Gaming Audio Card' and 'Razer Megalodon is a 7.1 Surround Sound Gaming Headset' [URL='http://store.razerzone.com/store/razerusa/en_US/pd/productID.169415300/parentCategoryID.40826100/categoryId.40826500']Click for details[/URL]

[Guest 3lmo]

good idea but there is equal equipment for less money :P but ofcourse i'd also buy it since its epic :P

[Guest RET.Maj.Skyler=US=]

ya. it does look nice. my keyboard, mouse, and mousepad are from 'Razer' so i kinda want to match it up with my audio. I like the headset for the 2 channel, 24mb sound quality. the current ones i just bought seem to be less quality but still decent.

[Guest RET.CW4.ThievingSix=US=]

[url]http://au.creative.com/products/product.asp?category=437&subcategory=442&product=16337[/url] Thats also a good headset(im a creative fan) [url]http://au.creative.com/products/product.asp?category=209&subcategory=669&product=17791[/url] I think that sound card simply looks way better than the razer one :D

[Guest RET.Maj.Skyler=US=]

[quote='SGT.ThievingSix=US=','http://clanunknownsoldiers.com/hq/thread/?postID=67320#post67320'][url]http://au.creative.com/products/product.asp?category=437&subcategory=442&product=16337[/url] Thats also a good headset(im a creative fan) [url]http://au.creative.com/products/product.asp?category=209&subcategory=669&product=17791[/url] I think that sound card simply looks way better than the razer one :D[/QUOTE] I was originaly looking at that sound card myself. My first pick was the Razer headset and the Sound Blaster X-Fi Fatal1ty gaming series until i saw razer had one already built to go with the headset i want.

[Guest Ret.Maj.Xander=US=]

if there is one thing i could get i'd want some nice headphones, but until then its my iPod headphones FTW