Audigy or 256 of ram

[Zarich]

Im a gamer (though not a rich gamer)
Here are my specs
Winxp
ti500 Geforce 3
Asus a7v133 mobo
256MB pc133
SBlive Value!
1.2ghz thunderbird

I am trying to decide whether I should put in some ram or get a better sound card.
I want to improve my gaming performance.

Suggestions?

 

[zephyrprime]

Get more ram. But niether getting more ram or getting a new sound card (even the Audigy) is going to help your gaming performance out. Getting a new sound card will yield 0% improvement. Getting more ram may offer slight improvement but mostly because more ram offers the benefit of more disk cache for faster level loading.

 

[Hender]

I'd say save up for a new MB/RAM, not just the RAM. The Audigy and the Live are *identical* cards with the exception of the Audigy having a Firewire port. They use the same chip and everything, and no audio advances have been made on the board, maybe a better process for a slightly clearer sound, but you won't see a night and day difference (or even day and dusk). 256 MB more of RAM won't give you any better performance than you already have. Your video card is near top-of-the-line, and your CPU is plenty good. If you picked up something like the ECS K7S5A, you could use your current CPU and RAM, and then move to DDR when you're so inclined, but be forewarned, with that board it's either hit or miss. My roommate has one and it works perfectly, but I've heard plenty of horror stories, as well. I think it's about on the level of horror stories that people tell about any board, but it's just that more people picked up that one particular board in general, so more people reported problems.

Anyway, take a look at some MB options if you're so inclined, but for your particular question, I'd say neither are recommended upgrades. If you're desparate to switch sound cards, I picked up a Turtle Beach Santa Cruz after my SB Live Value and I can tell a differenc ein sound quality in favor of the SC.

 

[Mavrick007]

I would personally think about getting a new mobo, and at least DDR ram. That would be a better bet. Eventually I would upgrade the cpu as well to an XP or Tbred. Either that or go the P4a route and overclock that sucker.

Do you overclock your athlon now?

 

[flexy]

i'd go with what the others say (new board etc...)

But since you're asking a specific question..i might also give a specific answer:

Go with the ram.

You have winXP and 256mb ram. Winxp needs more ram. so an additional amount of ram can never hurt, especially w/ winxp.

I dont see a point in getting an audigy over a SB live. Unless you have major incompatibly issues with the live...i'd just keep it.

But..consider upgrading to a 266 or 333 ddr motherboard if you really want to gain some performance....and dont forget to tweak XP..there is so much unnecessary sh*t running in the background (services) and security options ...all that slows down the overall performance. (At least XP Pro)

 

[FuManStan]

<< I'd say save up for a new MB/RAM, not just the RAM. The Audigy and the Live are *identical* cards with the exception of the Audigy having a Firewire port. They use the same chip and everything, and no audio advances have been made on the board, maybe a better process for a slightly clearer sound, but you won't see a night and day difference (or even day and dusk). 256 MB more of RAM won't give you any better performance than you already have. Your video card is near top-of-the-line, and your CPU is plenty good. If you picked up something like the ECS K7S5A, you could use your current CPU and RAM, and then move to DDR when you're so inclined, but be forewarned, with that board it's either hit or miss. My roommate has one and it works perfectly, but I've heard plenty of horror stories, as well. I think it's about on the level of horror stories that people tell about any board, but it's just that more people picked up that one particular board in general, so more people reported problems.

Anyway, take a look at some MB options if you're so inclined, but for your particular question, I'd say neither are recommended upgrades. If you're desparate to switch sound cards, I picked up a Turtle Beach Santa Cruz after my SB Live Value and I can tell a differenc ein sound quality in favor of the SC. >>



The Live and Audigy are NOT identical cards and do NOT use the same chip

 

[Sid03]

<< The Audigy and the Live are *identical* cards with the exception of the Audigy having a Firewire port. They use the same chip and everything, and no audio advances have been made on the board, maybe a better process for a slightly clearer sound, but you won't see a night and day difference (or even day and dusk). >>

wrong! it's a very different, much improved card. whether or not you'll hear a difference depends on your speakers and your ear.



<< But niether getting more ram or getting a new sound card (even the Audigy) is going to help your gaming performance out. Getting a new sound card will yield 0% improvement. >>

sure, the audigy won't help out his frame rates... but isn't there more than just frame rates? the audigy sounds better, and has much much better positional audio and eax effects for gaming.

that being said, i'd go with more ram, unless there's something specific about the live that you are unhappy with.

besides, the extra ram will help out in other areas of computing quite a bit.



<< I would personally think about getting a new mobo, and at least DDR ram. That would be a better bet. >>

umm... one stick of ram or an audigy are not even in the same budget ballpark as a new motherboard and ddr.

 

[Mem]

<< The Audigy and the Live are *identical* cards with the exception of the Audigy having a Firewire port. They use the same chip and everything, and no audio advances have been made on the board >>



You should not read and listen to rumours from other sites,this rumour is BOGUS,anyway back on topic I would get more ram then an Audigy .

 

[Brian48]

I noticed a very significant improvement going from an SBlive to an Audigy. Why not compromise? Get 128mb of memory (doubt you'll noticed a difference between 384mb and 512mb anyway - even under WinXP) and an Audigy OEM? You should be able score both for under $100.

By the way, I agree that the comment about the Audigy and SBLive being the same card is completely idiotic. The rumour stemmed from the fact that Creative is trying to develope unified drivers for both cards just like what nVidia has done with their line of video cards. If you follow the nitwit conclusion that using the same drivers will turn your SBlive into an Audigy, then you'd also believe that you can turn your TNT2 into a GeForce4 because you're using the same v28.32 Detonators.

 

[Dreadogg]

I would get nothing and wait one or two months than chose a new board and ram! Thats where you will see the most improvement! Also where are your HD specs? And why did'nt you post them?

 

[Hender]

I wasn't basing my comment about the Live and Audigy being the same on the whole unified drivers situation, because I recognize the idiocy of that alone. I based my comment on what I'd read over the last few months (actually, ever since the Audigy was released) by people I thought knew their stuff saying that the only changes made to the physical chipset (the EMU10k is it?) was the addition of firewire support. I assumed that they have a better manufacturing process now, too, which might result in cleaner sound, as well. Not that the Live had problems, but with progress usually comes *more* quality. I don't remember where I read that fact (or the places, actually, since I saw it in multiple places), but it seems logical to me knowing Creative's history, saturating the market with identical or near identical sound cards (all the way back to the SB 16, actually, not just the Live series). I put what I read together with what I know and made an assumption.

 

[Zarich]

A motherboard just seems a little extreme to me right now.
especially cost wise.

As for HD, I didn't post the specs cause I don't care. I have a 20 gig that I still havent filled half of.

If the cost of a new motherboard and DDR was under 150 that might be one thing, but Im not seeing that.

Besides that.. what motherboard would I get.. what memory?
Would I need a new powersupply? UG.. it gets worse and worse.

 

[Hender]

What motherboard to get is a tough question, and that requires research. I suggested the ECS K7S5A because it has room for both SDRAM and DDR, and you can make the switch when you're ready. If you want to stay with an AMD CPU, then pick up a VIA KT333 chipset-based MB. As for RAM, if you're not overclocking it doesn't matter, just buy from a name brand and you should be OK. A lot of people have said that generic DDR is just as good, but I consider it taking a gamble. All my RAM is Crucial because they have very decent prices and free 2nd day shipping straight from them.

If you do decide to get a MB and RAM, wait a bit. DDR prices have just started to come down, and they'll slowly drop down to a price that's dirt cheap again in their never-ending cycle. For example, 256 MB of Crucial DDR just dropped from $90 to $70 overnight.

 

[ScrapSilicon]

more ram...256MB and WinXP??! XP is a hawG...feed the beasT a stick of 256MB Crucial pc133..about $80 maybe less over in the FS/FT forums as always tho YMMV

 

[Zarich]

I honestly think Im gonna skip this generation and upgrade next generation. Which means I want to improve performance with my current MOBO.
I know I could slap on a faster proc.. but would that be better then ram?

 

[ScrapSilicon]

<< I honestly think Im gonna skip this generation and upgrade next generation. Which means I want to improve performance with my current MOBO.
I know I could slap on a faster proc.. but would that be better then ram? >>

ram...a 1.2 TBird plenty fast for current games prolly for at least 8 months(maybe longer...notice that new comp sales are slow..nothing to tax all that processing ability except for esoteric apps..CAD/Graphics and such..I'm sure you doing some 3-D modeling while fragging... )

 

[CloroxCowboy]

RAM is it by far the best investment I make each and every time

 

[Ram0]

If I were you I would get neither. I would use that money fo something else, maybe get a new pair of shoes or some clothes for summer No but seriously, both of those upgrades are really minor so the price would outweigh the performance benefit. I could see if you were on like 128mb going to 256, or going from onboard to an audigy, but what you have is fine.

 

[Insidious]

I'd probably do the RAM of the two choices you are interested in. (I doubt if you are really all that limited with 256 though.)
It seems like most of what I read points to 512 as a great "OK, that's enough" point for XP.

Like you, I am curious about what real differences I would experience moving from my SB Live! (X-Gamer) to an Audigy.

Not too long ago, I upgraded to take advantage of DDR and was happy with the difference. (However, with the $$ involved and the
"week of pain" that seems unavoidable for "semi-competents" like myself, I don't blame you for your hesitation to do a melt and re-pour)

 

[Zarich]

Okay let me clarify.
First.
I have a SBlive VALUE

This card is the lowest form of SBlive available.

Also.. games like EQ recommend 512.
Ive heard some saying that games like Jedi Outcast runs better with 512..
but maybe thats just heresay.

 

[MasterHoss]

Hmm, what speakers are you using? If not anything "high end," I wouldn't worry too much about upgrading your sound card. Just go ahead and get that RAM.

 

[Zarich]

the sblive value I have.. eax doesnt work. All I get is really muffly bad sound.
I know a lot of people with the same prob.

Maybe ill just hang both ideas and stick with getting a new case.
My temp runs perty high on my comp because my case sucks ass.

 

[Dreadogg]

<< I know I could slap on a faster proc.. but would that be better then ram? >>

you will not have a choice on your next upgrade because you will be going with a new motherboard ( I hope) which supports DDR and at this time who knows what kinda prices will be happening! If I was you and right now and I was going to buy a new board I would pick up the MSI Nforce 415 and 256 MB DDR CRUCIAL memory.

 

[Insidious]

I've had my best luck using the SBLive drivers that come with WinXP. (The Creative Labs drivers sux0red bad!)

I game alot and would feel like I was missing quite a bit if........



<< All I get is really muffly bad sound >>



If the XP drivers don't fix you up, I change my vote to the Audigy


BUT make totally sure it really is the Value card that is causing your problems (try uninstalling all that is Creative, remove card, boot

with no card, search for anything left over from Creative... remove it! Then put card back in and let XP install it's drivers)

 

[Ram0]

FYI theres no hardware difference between your "bottom of the line" SB Live Value and a SB Live platinum 5.1 other than 5.1 support (useless if you dont have surround speakers) and software.