USB2 & Soundcard question

[Kayote]

I got myself a new motherboard and as I was assembling the new system, few questions came to mind:

Soundcard

EPoX motherboard comes with Realtek audio chip. I also have Sound Blaster Live Value 5.1 PCI card from my old system. In sound quality I would imagine my SoundBlaster card to sound better but what about performance hit. Which one of these will be less taxing on the CPU?


USB 2.0

My new motherboard does not come with extra USB 2 port cable. Can I use the port cable from my last motherboard (which only supported USB 1) with my new motherboard USB 2.0? The socket & the plug do appear to be compatible with each other... please advise.

 

[joelslaw]

as a general rule, I seperate sound card (ie your sound blaster) always gives better performance (frame rates, etc) than on-board. For instance, I read a review for half-life 2 where using an audigy 2 zs instead of the on-board increased the fps by like 10%!

as far as your other q, im not sure, but be really careful! wireing mobo headers wrong is a quick way to fry a system. (or so i'm told)

 

[LED]

THe Clabs sound card will tax the CPU less and as long as the Pins match then it should be good o go for USB HiSpeed...only exception would be in the quality of the wires but I haven't had any problems swapping to date

 

[Kayote]

Thnxs for the soundcard answer. Im using my Live and disabling onboard chip.

As for USB2, the cable seems to have 10 pin holes while the actual socket has 9pins, should I go ahead, Im a bit nervous...

 

[LED]

I would so if you want to give it a shot, usually 9 Pins on Mobos are as follow when looking at the Mobo standing up but check the Manual 1st and arrange the Pin assignment from the Plug accordingly


.Red(+5v) .White(-D) .Green(+D) .Black(Gnd)

.Red(+5v) .White(-D) .Green(+D) .Black(Gnd) .extra Pin(Gnd)

 

[joelslaw]

didn't mean to scare you that's just what I've heard.
led's right though, as long as you make sure you're lining up the correct pns with the correct holes you should be fine. Like on my machine, I have a card reader that attaches to a usb header. The plug from the reader is only has 4 holes, but the header has 9 pins. I just found the correct pins, and it works fine.