need help on choosing soundcards

[j2me_tech]

hi,

i just got my abit ic7 & it come with an onboard soundcard, Realtek ALC650 6-Channel AC97 Codec. i'm currently using SB Live Values. now i having headache on choosing which soundcard ot use. i need some output, thanks in advance.

1. which soundcard offer better performance?
2. which soundcard take more resources?
3. which one should i choose? onboard or SB?

 

[Zeus]

If your gonna use the thing for just normal stuff (games etc) Id stick with the sb.

If you go and spend loads on a sound card all you are really getting is built in synths, various midi sound kits, banks to store sounds in etc. You only want them if your into making music.

The other thing you get with them are higher sample rates and bit depths. Humans can hear at about 20khz, cds are at 48khz (or 46.6, cant quite remember) and a lot of new cards are at 96khz. Audigy 2 etc.
We only hear at 20khz..... we might be able to tell the difference between 20khz and 48khz, but definatly not 96khz.

What we do sonically benefit from is the bit depth. having a 24bit depth allows a a better quality average of the (sampled) wave.

Id get a sb 5.1 digital! Or if you want to use 6.1 sound, an Audigy 2.

 

[Zeus]

lol, thats a crap answer cos you didnt want to know what a good card is to buy.

AC'97/Sound Blaster....... SB of course! Especially if you overclock, you get static effecting the onboard sound when overclocking.

 

[tread70]

Personally, I have never had good luck with the onboard sound actually sounding good.I prefer a separate card such as the SBLive or if you want to spend some money get the Audigy 2 for around 70-100 dollars.

 

[j2me_tech]

tread70, zeus:

thanks for replied. i'm using SB live DE5.1 on my ic7 now.

 

[tread70]

you are welcome. You could do like I did earlier today and run both and switch between the 2 : onboard is for the headset for IM's and the sound card(Audigy 2) for music/DVD's.