Before I buy a sound card, some last suggestions

[pak]

I can't seem to figure out what is wrong with my onboard sound. I've tried several drivers, settings, games with no success. I can not get my 5.1 to work properly.

Does anyone, possibly with the same mother board as me, have any experience with it using 5.1?

--pak

 

[redrumy3]

ultra-d worked fined for my 5.1 never had a problem. which drivers are you using the nvidia ones or the other ones that came on cd for name realtek maybe? but i never used the nvidia one always used the other one on cd. but then i went with a audigy 2 zs and love it

 

[pak]

I have used both.

 

[nd4spdbh2]

just grab a new sb live 5.1 or a SB live 24bit, or an audigy 2 value and you will be fine... the sound quality will blow the onboard stuff away... i was an onboard sound guy for a long time till i got a free audigy 2 value... i poped it into my computer, and from then on any computer that is used to produce sound has a creative sound card in it.

 

[jivetrky]

Yep, MAJOR difference between onboard and dedicated sound. (Unless you have like a crappy set of $5 labtec speakers)

I had a Lanparty Expert board and never had issues with the onboard sound. I believe I used the latest drivers from Realtek.

 

[Uqdroma]

just grab a new sb live 5.1 or a SB live 24bit, or an audigy 2 value and you will be fine... the sound quality will blow the onboard stuff away... i was an onboard sound guy for a long time till i got a free audigy 2 value... i poped it into my computer, and from then on any computer that is used to produce sound has a creative sound card in it.

Indeed, but in my experience with those particular Creative cards, I would say if you can afford it, make sure it's a XFI if any heavy gaming is done. The others will work just fine and way better than on-board, but I'm not sure if they use "true" hardware processing. I say this because I can never seem to be able to check the hardware box in my games without serious perf problems in-game. I currently have an Audigy2 (no XFI). I could be doing something wrong, but I certainly can't figure it out what. I've done everything possible to remedy this issue, but cannot seem to do it. Then Someone told me it was because it was not an XFI. But again the Audigy2 is better than on-board, so that's why I say if you got the dough...XFI all the way. Unfortunately it's a huge price difference. $30-$50 as compared to $100 or more...last I checked.