Sound Card Choices

[Bovinicus]

I'm looking to get something a step up from the onboard audio on my new build. I've been told onboard audio will be just fine, but I'm skeptical. Basically, I will be using this for listening to music above all else, but I will also be doing a decent amount of gaming, and I will watch some movies on my system as well (Though that is of a lower priority than the other two functions). I usually listen to music with my Klipsch 2.1s, and I game with headphones. I may, however, in the future move to a 5.1 setup, but I'm not sure. I've been happy with my 2.1s.

Anyway, I would like to spend no more than $50-60 on the card. I was looking at everything from the Audigy SE and Turtle Beach Riviera (Which are like $30) to possibly springing for a Turtle Beach Montego DDL, Xi-Fi variaint, or maybe even an Auzentech card (Xplosion is $80, but if it's really good I may do it). My worry with some of the other cards is driver support. I have a Philips Acoustic Edge in my current system. I really like the card a lot, but their driver support is garbage. I have no idea about Turtle Beach or Auzentech.

Opinions are appreciated! Thanks in advance.

 

[Roguestar]

What is "your new build" anyway. The quality of onboard audio depends very much on this. Newer motherboards have 8-channel surround integrated digital audio and the latest bunch since the Core 2 Duo 965-P boards came out are of very good quality. I'm worried that if you get a sound card for the sake of having one, and spend pennies on it, you'll end up with worse quality audio than your onboard delivers.

 

[Bovinicus]

The Motherboard will be a Gigabyte DS3 with the P965 chipset.

 

[Modelworks]

For 30.00 I really like the chaintech av-710 cards.
They have spdif out for digital if you need it.
They also have the ability to play 192khz audio in 2 channel mode .
The card uses the Envy 24-HTS chipset which is the little brother of the envy24HT chipset used in many professional level cards costing 10X more.

The drivers work in just about every OS out there and have been hassle free.
http://www.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=71477

Newegg has the card for about 30.00 with over 200+ positive reviews.

I really love this card and at the price can't go wrong.

 

[Roguestar]

Originally posted by: Bovinicus
The Motherboard will be a Gigabyte DS3 with the P965 chipset.

For what it's worth, I have the Gigabyte S3-965P, the DS3's little brother, and the sound quality on the onboard is great, much better than the terrible AC '97 stuff of yesteryear.

 

[Bovinicus]

I think I'll snag up that Chaintech card. Looks like an awesome deal!