onboard audio device ac'97

Greetings,

I am a proud owner of an ecs k7s5a mb. I also possess an external cmedia 8738-6ch audio card. Which sound device should I use in order to improve gaming performance? (Note: I use 2 speakers, therefore, 5.1 isn't the issue here).

I've heard that the onboard audio may affect CPU performance. Is this true?

My specs:

ecs k7s5a
512 pc2100
winxp
geforce 4 ti4200
det 41.09

Thank you.

Mito

Both the onboard and your pci card are "software" sound cards, and will use a minimal amount of cpu cycles to help process audio and advanced effects. As for which one will consume less resources , it should be about the same if your only using 2 speakers. The 6 channel card would consume more if you had more then 2 speakers.

AllenSmoker said:

Both the onboard and your pci card are "software" sound cards, and will use a minimal amount of cpu cycles to help process audio and advanced effects. As for which one will consume less resources , it should be about the same if your only using 2 speakers. The 6 channel card would consume more if you had more then 2 speakers.

Click to expand...

Did you really mean "hardware"? A sound card with its own audio processor will help out the main processor.

Are you sure about the onboard audio card having it's own audio processor? I couldn't find articles stating this (neither cmedia's nor ecs' sites)

Thanks!

Mito