Sound Card Comparision Question

[DAGTA]

I currently have a Diamond Monster Sound MX300 (Aureal Vortex2 chip) sound card. I'm looking to buy the Asus A7N266-C motherboard as an upgrade. This board uses NVidia's nForce 415 chipset, with audio. I'd like to just use the integrated audio with the bundled card since my MX300 has many compatibility problems and no support. However, I don't want to lose sound quality. Does anyone have any comments on which card/chipset is superior? I would think the NVidia should be better since it is so much newer but I'm not sure.
Here are some specs on the mobo,
http://direct.mwave.com/mwave/doc2/A15958.html
Thanks,
-DAGTA

 

[DAGTA]

ok, how about anyone that has that motherboard.... are you happy with the sound card bundled in?
-DAGTA

 

[HouRman]

My assumptions tell me the onboard audio will be worse than the mx300 sound. If audio is a priority I suggest upgrading the sound card to a turtle beach, GTXP, fortissimo2 digital, philips AE, or audigy.

If you use cheap multimedia speakers (like $50 or less) then the mobo audio should be fine. If your speakers are digital or non-multimedia then the difference will be more rewarding.

 

[MisterMe]

<< If you use cheap multimedia speakers (like $50 or less) then the mobo audio should be fine. If your speakers are digital or non-multimedia then the difference will be more rewarding. >>



Ditto. You could buy the best high dollar sound card out there and wonder why it doesn't sound any better than the crapper one did. I personally would make sure my speakers are up to snuff before I spent a dime on a new sound card...

 

[bluemax]

For anyone who doesn't know - nForce audio is fantastic. Anyone who thinks it's bad just because it's integrated is just being ignorant.

I'm sure you'll enjoy it at LEAST as much as your MX300.


Now as a sign of gratitude you're sending me your MX-300 in the mail, right? I'm on a desperate hunt for a card of its type or similar for dirt cheap.

 

[DAGTA]

Thank you everyone for your replies.
I do have what I consider a nice set of speakers, so it will likely make a difference to me in the sound card quality.
Bluemax, thank you for addressing the nForce sound. That's exactly what I wanted to know. If it was crap like most integrated sound or actually pretty good. I'm not sure when I'll be upgrading. I'd like to order the parts today but money is tight. If I do end up getting that board soon and I like the nForce sound then I'll keep you in mind for the old MX300.
Thanks,
-DAGTA

 

[RanDum72]

I have the Asus board and the built-in sound is just as good as an Audigy or a SC (OK, the Turtle Beach is just a tad better with music playback, thats about it). I have both the Audigy and the SC on my other two PC's and I don't miss them at all.