Should I replace onboard with dedicated card?

dave- · 17th February 2004, 3:50 PM

I've got a set of Altec Lansing 621 hooked upto the speaker output of my onboard Soundmax audio. And was wondering if much improvement could be had by changing to a seperate PCI audio card?

I'd spend upto $150-200 if required but not a cent more.

I don't require 5/6/7.1 at all but I assume all cards at that price point would have it as a standard feature anyway.

Any ideas?

Tenoq · 17th February 2004, 8:19 PM

A PCI soundcard would sound significantly better, but if you bought a $200 soundcard, it'd be more like your speakers letting you down, rather than the soundcard.

Still, there'd be a noticeable improvement. Unfortunately you can't get the M-Audio Revo in that price range, but an Audigy 2 should be around that much.

Wink · 17th February 2004, 8:20 PM

Using a PCI soundcard would also have less stress on the entire system.

daviddth · 17th February 2004, 9:09 PM

See my reply here: http://forums.overclockers.com.au/sh...hreadid=251456

My Gigabyte motherboards 5.1 sound was not brilliant, so I went for a new SB Live 5.1 and the sound is brilliant. The "tests" were done using a set of Sennheiser PX 100's to listen to the sources to, but even my really cheap $150 5.1 speakers were really obvious as to the SB Live being heaps better

I have noticed a very slight (And very subjective) lowering of CPU usage while playing MP3's using the SB Live

Dave

dave- · 17th February 2004, 9:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tenoq
A PCI soundcard would sound significantly better, but if you bought a $200 soundcard, it'd be more like your speakers letting you down, rather than the soundcard.

Still, there'd be a noticeable improvement. Unfortunately you can't get the M-Audio Revo in that price range, but an Audigy 2 should be around that much.

Hehe dammit, I had an M-Audio Audiophile 2496 or something laying around a while back for a HTPC project but gave up on the idea and gave it to a friend....

But your probably right, even tho these speakers were pricey for 2.1 PC stuff, they aren't Hi-Fi! Might pick up a cheapy SB Live and try that. Not worth going to the added expense of an Audigy 2 just for 2.1 is there?

bioxeed · 17th February 2004, 9:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by wh0re-
Hehe dammit, I had an M-Audio Audiophile 2496 or something laying around a while back for a HTPC project but gave up on the idea and gave it to a friend....

get it back!!!

dave- · 18th February 2004, 9:52 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by bioxeed

get it back!!!

Hehe too late. SB Live DE5.1 for around $50 sounds good enough. If its no improvement I'll wack it in the old PC and get an Audigy 2 ZS for around $170.

Thanks.

daz_07 · 18th February 2004, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by wh0re-
Hehe too late. SB Live DE5.1 for around $50 sounds good enough. If its no improvement I'll wack it in the old PC and get an Audigy 2 ZS for around $170.

Thanks.

You definitely wanna chase up that audiophile card, if you seriously "gave" it to your friend go smash him coz it's a coupla hundred dollar card! The SB live will show improvement, but again a step up to the audigy 2 will have a massive improvement. The improvement from onboard to live! will be less dramatic than the improvement from live! to the audigy 2, if that makes sense

If you can afford the audigy 2 it's definitely a recommended buy, you can always upgrade your speakers in the future too as it will pump any speakers up to their potential.

dave- · 18th February 2004, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by daz_07
You definitely wanna chase up that audiophile card, if you seriously "gave" it to your friend go smash him coz it's a coupla hundred dollar card! The SB live will show improvement, but again a step up to the audigy 2 will have a massive improvement. The improvement from onboard to live! will be less dramatic than the improvement from live! to the audigy 2, if that makes sense

If you can afford the audigy 2 it's definitely a recommended buy, you can always upgrade your speakers in the future too as it will pump any speakers up to their potential.

Haha I know, it cost me like $280 about 12mths ago. Anyway bridge is built.

Like doing things right the first time so Audigy 2 it is. Only another $100 or so, hardly break the bank.

DeezNutz · 18th February 2004, 5:00 PM

Earlier this week I took out my trusty 2 year old SBLive 5.1 DE and put it in my HTPC. So for the last few days ive been using my motherboards ALC650 codec. I can tell you I noticed the drop in quality immediately. Im using a pair of creative DTT2200 5.1 speakers. Another thing, when playing music with the alc650 codec, sound does not come from the rear speakers but when using the Live card sound comes from the rear speakers as well (and im not talking about when using cmss).

17th February 2004, 3:50 PM	#1
dave- Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Melbourne Posts: 1,093	Should I replace onboard with dedicated card? I've got a set of Altec Lansing 621 hooked upto the speaker output of my onboard Soundmax audio. And was wondering if much improvement could be had by changing to a seperate PCI audio card? I'd spend upto $150-200 if required but not a cent more. I don't require 5/6/7.1 at all but I assume all cards at that price point would have it as a standard feature anyway. Any ideas?

17th February 2004, 8:20 PM	#3
Wink Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Hills District NSW Posts: 11,162	Using a PCI soundcard would also have less stress on the entire system. __________________ Alienware X51 (i7) \| Sony KDL-32CX520 \| MS Arc Keyboard \| Razer Mamba 4G \| Logitech G25 \| Logitech Z623 \| Sony PS3 Slim \| Apple iPod 5G 30GB \| Apple iPhone 5 \| Apple iPad 2 \| Canon Powershot S90 \| 2010 Lexus IS-F \|

18th February 2004, 5:00 PM	#10
DeezNutz Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: BrisVegas! Posts: 503	Earlier this week I took out my trusty 2 year old SBLive 5.1 DE and put it in my HTPC. So for the last few days ive been using my motherboards ALC650 codec. I can tell you I noticed the drop in quality immediately. Im using a pair of creative DTT2200 5.1 speakers. Another thing, when playing music with the alc650 codec, sound does not come from the rear speakers but when using the Live card sound comes from the rear speakers as well (and im not talking about when using cmss). __________________ SCOPE OF SERVICE: Tell me what you need, and I'll tell you how to get along without it. I don't have an attitude problem, you have a perception problem. SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENT: I can only please one person per day. Today is not your day. Tomorrow is not looking good either.

17th February 2004, 8:19 PM	#2
Tenoq Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Melbourne Posts: 3,672	A PCI soundcard would sound significantly better, but if you bought a $200 soundcard, it'd be more like your speakers letting you down, rather than the soundcard. Still, there'd be a noticeable improvement. Unfortunately you can't get the M-Audio Revo in that price range, but an Audigy 2 should be around that much.

17th February 2004, 9:09 PM	#4
daviddth Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 80	See my reply here: http://forums.overclockers.com.au/sh...hreadid=251456 My Gigabyte motherboards 5.1 sound was not brilliant, so I went for a new SB Live 5.1 and the sound is brilliant. The "tests" were done using a set of Sennheiser PX 100's to listen to the sources to, but even my really cheap $150 5.1 speakers were really obvious as to the SB Live being heaps better I have noticed a very slight (And very subjective) lowering of CPU usage while playing MP3's using the SB Live Dave