Question about on-baord sound...

[HeatM1ser2k4]

Just wondering how the on-board sound compares to stand-alone sound card?I have an Asus P5Q-Pro

[Neuromancer]

On board sound has definitly improved, but you cant beat a good discrete sound card.

Depending on your sound system, the price/performance is not there and not worth it IMHO.

[HeatM1ser2k4]

On board sound has definitly improved, but you cant beat a good discrete sound card.

Depending on your sound system, the price/performance is not there and not worth it IMHO.

I would definately purchase a sound card if it were better quality sound than my onboard sound....but I hear the Soundblaster line is rather buggy with Vista.

I didnt want to pay $100 for a sound card, but still wanted to get one that will provide crisp and clear ambient sound for my games....good sound quality is one advantage I can provide myself

Any suggestions on a good sound card under $50 that wont be buggy with Vista?

[Theocnoob]

Lots. Do you want something thats going to sound better than your P5Q? Cuzz if you do you better throw $100 at it or you're going to be another one of these 'sound cards make no difference' people :)

[Old Thrashbarg]

Cuzz if you do you better throw $100 at it or you're going to be another one of these 'sound cards make no difference' people

Or you could, y'know, use the onboard sound. Seriously, if it takes a $100 sound card to improve on the audio quality, that's a pretty good indication that the onboard is good enough for most purposes.

Here's the big question: Have you listened to the onboard sound and found it unsatisfactory? If not, use the onboard, no sense in spending money if your current equipment sounds good enough to your ears. If you did find something unsatisfactory, what was it, specifically?

On a related note, if you're gaming, you might consider playing with the modded X-Fi drivers that work on Realtek audio chips (http://forums.techpowerup.com/showthread.php?t=87523). I dunno how well they work, but it might be worth a try anyhow.

[HeatM1ser2k4]

On a related note, if you're gaming, you might consider playing with the modded X-Fi drivers that work on Realtek audio chips (http://forums.techpowerup.com/showthread.php?t=87523). I dunno how well they work, but it might be worth a try anyhow.

I havent gotten around to testing out the onboard sound since I mainly use a USB headset and I my sound card just died....so I figured I would ask others their opinions.

Those modded drivers say they dont work with Vista.

Sound is very important to me because it can give you an advantage over an oponent if it can render crisper,cleaner sound quality....but there's got to be a superb sound card for around $30-40.

[Freezer7Pro]

Most sound cards in that price range are the old Audigys, but, you guessed it, they don't play well with Vista.

[Old Thrashbarg]

but there's got to be a superb sound card for around $30-40.

There isn't, unless you can happen to get a really good deal on a used or refurbished $100 card at that price. Even the old Audigys probably aren't going to beat a properly implemented modern onboard sound chip.

In any case, I really don't see the point of looking for something better when you haven't even tried what you have. If nothing else, you should at least figure out what it is you don't like about your current audio, as that would influence the choice of a different card.

[HeatM1ser2k4]

There isn't, unless you can happen to get a really good deal on a used or refurbished $100 card at that price. Even the old Audigys probably aren't going to beat a properly implemented modern onboard sound chip.

In any case, I really don't see the point of looking for something better when you haven't even tried what you have. If nothing else, you should at least figure out what it is you don't like about your current audio, as that would influence the choice of a different card.

I would normally try it out first, but there is a problem with getting to the bank of the case----it can be done, but with much difficulty.So I was hoping an audiophile would be able to clue me in on their experiences with the onboard sound I have versus stand-alone cards available right now.All Ive been able to find in my web research is that Audigy cards are really buggy with Vista, and people feel that Soundblaster is forcing people to either deal with bugs or buy one of their high-end expensive cards and not have bugs(or not as many). So pretty much this is useless, except if I wanted to blame Soundblaster for unethical business practices.

I was hoping to have a new sound card(if thats my best option), within a week. I plan on working on my WC setup, so I will have to pull the case out then

[Old Thrashbarg]

So I was hoping an audiophile would be able to clue me in on their experiences with the onboard sound I have versus stand-alone cards available right now.

Well, I don't know if I'd classify myself as an audiophile, but I am rather picky about sound quality, and the onboard sound is good enough for my purposes. I'm sure I could do better if I spent enough money, but I'm satisfied enough with what I have, that I have no inclination to bother.

Vista is going to be a problem with many sound cards, especially the older designs you tend to find in the <$50 range. That's aside from the fact that most of those cheap sound cards are technically inferior to the HD-Audio chips, again due to the older-style design of the cards.

[MongGrel]

The Auzen X-FI Prelude 7.1 I have works just fine with Vista, and use the DTS to a seperate system with a long optical out to it and sounds great if that's what your looking for its $200+ or was I guess, have had mine awhile now.

You have to use Vista with it to get DTS btw, as per one of the other posts on the forums.

Even has upgradable OP-AMPS for it if you want to get real froggy I guess but the stock ones came with it have worked just fine for me. My sound system isnt like mega bucks, but is a reasonably nice 5.1 I've put together over years, so the OP-AMP upgrading would probably be overkill to begin with. I've about a 15 foot optical cable routing from the computer to the home theater system. The built in DAC's are pretty nice.

This baby I guess.

http://www.auzentech.com/site/products/x-fi_prelude.php

174.99 atm with a rebate on the egg ATM.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829156005&Tpk=Auzen

For 100 bucks or less I'd say the on board sound is going to be just as good as others have said though.

[ratbuddy]

Well, I don't know if I'd classify myself as an audiophile, but I am rather picky about sound quality, and the onboard sound is good enough for my purposes. I'm sure I could do better if I spent enough money, but I'm satisfied enough with what I have, that I have no inclination to bother.

Vista is going to be a problem with many sound cards, especially the older designs you tend to find in the <$50 range. That's aside from the fact that most of those cheap sound cards are technically inferior to the HD-Audio chips, again due to the older-style design of the cards.

Big plus one to that.

I'll add that if someone cares enough about sound quality to not be satisfied with on board HD audio (whatever the HD stands for) then they would be better off investing in an outboard DAC and running digital to it, rather than wasting cash on another internal all-in-one solution that'll be only marginally better than on board. Gah, what a run on sentence. Oh well.