best sound card for around 150-200

[DayUSeX]

i used to use a sound storm, and loved it other than the crackling form when teh south brige got hot, and i never liked teh SBlive that i had before. BUt what do you all think is the best sound card in that range for games/music inputs.outputs for a 4.1 system (yes downgraded today )

[seamadan000]

if games are a concern then the audigy 2 is probably your best bet. You could look into a M-audio card, the revolution is supposed to be the best for gaming, but i have heard that some have had issues with that card, maybe one of the owners will chime in.....

for a gaming card, especially with multichannel speakers, the Audigy seems like the best option

[itshondo]

i have no complaints about my audigy 2. The software isn't the fastest, but it does everything I want it to do. Sounds great too!

[DayUSeX]

thnx ill look into the audigy 2 hopefully it will like to OC =P

[Evnas]

You can get a retail Audigy 2 ZS (better then plain Audigy 2) for about $89 at Newegg. Sounds great, I love the software that came with it, works with all my games and other applications that I use

[Sirius]

Originally posted by Evnas
You can get a retail Audigy 2 ZS (better then plain Audigy 2) for about $89 at Newegg. Sounds great, I love the software that came with it, works with all my games and other applications that I use
That is what I did and I think the sound is alittle better.

[#18]

So it is "a little better".

I was wondering whether I should replace my Audigy 2 with Audigy 2 ZS or not. I thought there wouldn't be any big difference otherwise why they still call it Audigy 2, not Audigy 3? Basicly it's still the same generation with a little tiny bit improvements. Well these were what I thought.

Are you people sure ZS is really "a little better" than original Audigy 2? Are you really sure it's not your minds play tricks on you? :p

Hey, seriously it is important for me to make my mind whether I should get an Audigy 2 ZS to replace my Audigy 2, or wait for the next generation - Audigy 3 if there will be one.

[helloguy]

Originally posted by #18
So it is "a little better".

I was wondering whether I should replace my Audigy 2 with Audigy 2 ZS or not. I thought there wouldn't be any big difference otherwise why they still call it Audigy 2, not Audigy 3? Basicly it's still the same generation with a little tiny bit improvements. Well these were what I thought.

Are you people sure ZS is really "a little better" than original Audigy 2? Are you really sure it's not your minds play tricks on you? :p

Hey, seriously it is important for me to make my mind whether I should get an Audigy 2 ZS to replace my Audigy 2, or wait for the next generation - Audigy 3 if there will be one.

i personally own the zs, and my friend owns the audigy2, i've heard of his and mine, feel no difference btwn the 2,be it games, movies or musics.If u wish to upgrade, u may wait for the audigy3 if there will be 1.

[Evnas]

Originally posted by #18
So it is "a little better".

I was wondering whether I should replace my Audigy 2 with Audigy 2 ZS or not. I thought there wouldn't be any big difference otherwise why they still call it Audigy 2, not Audigy 3? Basicly it's still the same generation with a little tiny bit improvements. Well these were what I thought.

Are you people sure ZS is really "a little better" than original Audigy 2? Are you really sure it's not your minds play tricks on you? :p

Hey, seriously it is important for me to make my mind whether I should get an Audigy 2 ZS to replace my Audigy 2, or wait for the next generation - Audigy 3 if there will be one.

There will be no point in you going from an Audigy 2, to an Audigy 2 ZS. Yes, the ZS is better of the two, but not significantly like the differences between the Audigy and Audigy 2

[mR. STuPiD]

Why don't you just thermal glue an old pentium hsf to your southbridge. 'Tis a lot cheaper then buying a new card when you already have a fairly nice one.
EDIT: Oh, after actually looking at my MCP-T southbridge, it would need to be a chopped up heat sink. Either that or put a tornado in the front of teh case. Woosh!