Looking for an affordable, quality card

705 Views 16 Replies 7 Participants Last post by j_syk, Nov 6, 2008

j_syk

Discussion Starter · Nov 5, 2008

I'm looking into getting a sound card, currently using onboard.
I'm fine with my 2.1 speaker system for now, and really I don't see myself ever going to 7.1, so a 5.1 card would be fine.
I'd prefer regular PCI, as one of my PCI-e slots is covered by my gfx card, and the other may have interference with the top of my card and/or cpu cooler.
I'd prefer to have a mic and a line in, if that's an option.
About $50-60 (or less) would be ideal.
I'm hoping i can get something better than the onboard in my sig rig (asus M2N-SLI deluxe w/ 7.1) for this price range

thanks audiophile people

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ljason8eg

· #2 · Nov 5, 2008

Now maybe this isn't true, but i really don't see the point in going with a cheap sound card. If you want any sort of noticable improvement, you're probably going to have to spend a bit more than that.

This is a decent card, but I'd rather go with an X-fi personally, especially if you game a lot

EDIT: lol whoops i did leave out the link...tired...sorry. My card is good too, but i woudn't pay $90 like newegg is charging right now.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16829132007

j_syk

Discussion Starter · #3 · Nov 5, 2008

That was one of my purposes to this thread, to see if it's an all or nothing world for sound cards. i.e. get a very good one or don't bother.

I think you left out the link in your post ljason, unless you mean your sig rig card.

scorpion70707

· #4 · Nov 5, 2008

I've got a SB Audigy 7.1. Picked it up at Staples for $29 just so I could have EAX. It even supports layer3. The onboard controller on this motherboard didn't support EAX at all so I had no groovy sound fonts to play with when I plug my guitar into my comp

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ljason8eg

· #5 · Nov 5, 2008

Audigys work nice on XP, but not on vista (without modded drivers). I still don't believe creative has ever fixed the problems with the Audigy cards in Vista.

AMD+nVidia

· #6 · Nov 5, 2008

I've got an unmodded X-Fi XtremeMusic for sale!

Simply wonderful card!

PM me!

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huntman21014

· #7 · Nov 5, 2008

You could troll the For Sale section, I have seen X-fi Titanium's go for around $75 shipped and its a pretty solid card

eureka

· #8 · Nov 5, 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by huntman21014

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You could troll the For Sale section, I have seen X-fi Titanium's go for around $75 shipped and its a pretty solid card

You mean lurk, and try hit up a Xtreme Music OP. Cheapest High end X-Fi I believe.

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huntman21014

· #9 · Nov 5, 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by eureka

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You mean lurk, and try hit up a Xtreme Music OP. Cheapest High end X-Fi I believe.

Actually they are the cheapest because they aren't any different than the Audigy SE's besides drivers. The Titanium is the cheapest true X-fi with the X-ram IIRC

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eureka

· #10 · Nov 5, 2008

2

Quote:

Originally Posted by huntman21014

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Actually they are the cheapest because they aren't any different than the Audigy SE's besides drivers. The Titanium is the cheapest true X-fi with the X-ram IIRC

X-Ram doesn't do anything, the Music is the cheapest X-Fi with hardware processing. I believe you're thinking of the Xtreme Audio.

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huntman21014

· #11 · Nov 5, 2008

2

Quote:

Originally Posted by eureka

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X-Ram doesn't do anything, the Music is the cheapest X-Fi with hardware processing. I believe you're thinking of the Xtreme Audio.

Ah I am, sorry about that, then yes the Extreme Music is the cheapest X-fi with hardware processing.

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j_syk

Discussion Starter · #12 · Nov 5, 2008

From what I've seen around the Xtreme Music is about $80 and all from vendors i'm not familiar with (not that I don't buy from random places). How does the Auzentech compare? For the same price and from newegg, I may be picking up some new ram too, so same stop shopping is nice.

huntman21014

· #13 · Nov 5, 2008

I hear its an ok card but most games usually only support Creative EAX for effects, if that doesn't matter then go for it

j_syk

Discussion Starter · #14 · Nov 5, 2008

currently i use the audio from my computer for 2 things. Voice chat and music.
But, why pay the same price for a card without the full support for gaming. I'll keep looking around for a used card maybe this if I don't need to buy new RAM.

huntman21014

· #15 · Nov 5, 2008

I think non Creative cards can emulate some of the EAX effects but that defeats the point of purchasing a card that does hardware effects. Creative has the sound card market sort of cornered since most games utilize some form of EAX for advanced sound processing.

I noticed a difference in gaming with my Audigy SE, the sounds were clearer and music sounded a lot better

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Saifudeen

· #16 · Nov 6, 2008

Dude! Don't waste your money! Your onboard sound chip is fine.

j_syk

Discussion Starter · #17 · Nov 6, 2008

2

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saifudeen

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Dude! Don't waste your money! Your onboard sound chip is fine.

It is a fine chip. But, it potentially has been linked to some crashes when under a heavy audio load from multiple sound programs running at once. So I was looking for something to handle the processing better.

Also, I've never had the best in audio equipment, but I do have a refined ear so improvements in ambient noises, overtones, etc will be pleasant to my ears

I just bought a Xtreme Music from AMD+Nvidia for a good price too. Thanks!

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