Mobo sound card fiasco

[happie23]

I am having an INCREADABLY hard time deciding on a mobo sound solution.

I have the following choices.

1. My original plan was for the dragon+. Decent sound.

2. My new option is to go with a some cheaper mobo (like the epox or soltek, RAID isn't too important and neither is LAN) and get a separate sound card. I need suggestions about the sound card and mobo. Some ideas for sound cards are:


Of course, the Audigy. Oem or retail? Difference between the two? I've read bad issues with via and audigy....
Hercules Game Theater XP. Oem or retail? It has a cool external box, and I hear that it is a good sound card.

Any other sound card suggestions would be appreciated. Note that the audigy reatail is my max budget for a sound card.

Also any other mobo suggestions would be nice.

So there you have it. Should I go with the dragon+ or look elsewhere?

Thanks

Happie

 

[murphy55d]

Turtle Beach Santa Cruz would be another good choice. I've heard people have had issues with both the HGTXP and Audigy flavors.