Onboard sound performance @ THG

[Demont]

Sound Can Be Hazardous for Games:
http://www.tomshardware.com/game/20030405/index.html

Quite interesting, the nforce2 onboard seems to take the prize, even though you would think a removable sound card would tax the system less, apparently not, as long as you buy the right motherboard. (some of the nforce2 boards dont actually use the nforce2 APU, they use the cmedia and stuff.... those are covered in the article as well. glad i have the 8rda+ :cool: )

[zabomb4163]

seperate sound card will still sound better than any integrated solution......yes, i agree, integrated sound is improving. But, seperate sound card is still better. its just a question of how much better and if your speakers are good enough for you to notice the difference.

[Demont]

Originally posted by zabomb4163
seperate sound card will still sound better than any integrated solution......yes, i agree, integrated sound is improving. But, seperate sound card is still better. its just a question of how much better and if your speakers are good enough for you to notice the difference.

Well, I'm not eager to get into this debate again, but the Nforce2 APU onboard sound is better than an audigy 1 in sound quality, and equal to an audigy2 in the price/performance category.... if you are in the market for a motherboard that is.

[Michfan]

yeah even THG said getting the Audigy 2 is a waste of money unless your into its musical features. For gaming the Nforce 2 APU will more than do what anyone wants or needs. Its nice too see such little of a performance hit with them. What boards ACTUALLY use the Nforce APU as opposed to the Realtek or Cmedia on their Nforce 2 boards?

[rush69]

so is the A7n8x soundstorm better then audigy 1 card for gaming?

[Demont]

Originally posted by rush69
so is the A7n8x soundstorm better then audigy 1 card for gaming?

Most people, including myself, will tell you yes. Or at least equal.


8rda+ and A7N8X-deluxe both have the real nforce2 audio, as well as the NF7-S (not sure.)

i think the 8rda, a7n8x, nf7 and msi board (whatever it is called) do not.

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Same link got posted on the front page today btw. It is a pitty tomshardware has the resources and inclination to do many useful articles.... yet is so stupid in other ways. Oh well.