Use new onboard sound or older Sound Blaster card

[n1ascar]

I need some input on which sound card to go with. Just built a new rig and used the ABIT AV8 3rd EYE motherboard. It has intergrated sound card:

from the manual
onboard 6-ChannelAC 97 CODEC
Professional digital audio interface supports optical S/PDIF Input/Output
using REALTEK software.

I also have left over from my old rig a older:

Sound Blaster Live x-Gamer 5.1 sound card.

My questions is which would you go with

The "newer" intergrated sound
or
The "older" PCI card

I am using "Cambridge Soundworks Four Point Surrond FPS 1800" speaker set. (about 4 years old)


Rest of the rig:

MB - Abit av8 - 3rd eye
Case - Antec SLK3000b
Power - FSP Blue Storm 400W
Chip- AMD Athlon 64 3000+ 1.8 GHz (939) 90 nm
Video- BFG GeForce 6800 OC
DVD+/-RW 16x|NEC ND-3520A
Soyo BAYONE EXTREME 9/1

Thanks
Kris

 

[duragezic]

Good question. I'd like to know this as well since I have onboard AC97 sound but I do have a Soundblaster Live Value somewhere still I think..

 

[gsparesa]

Why don't you go with the onboard sound first. If it doesn't fit your needs (gamer or audiophile), then try another sound solution. I bet you'll settle for the onboard solution. (easy, clean and sounds good enough for most needs)

Anyone started a poll about using onboard VS plug-ins for their sound choice, recently?

 

[mwmorph]

onboard uses cpu to decode audio. my realtek 97 or something also is influenced hy hdd activity interference(annoying buzzing sound audible thorugh heaphones when hdd speeds up). use a seperate card. free up some cpu cycles and you'll always(almost always anyway) get better sound quality.

 

[Dragonbate]

I'd go with the Creative card, its not that old.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

I'd run the card rather than integrated.

You can try out both and see what you like better.

 

[duragezic]

Originally posted by: mwmorph
onboard uses cpu to decode audio. my realtek 97 or something also is influenced hy hdd activity interference(annoying buzzing sound audible thorugh heaphones when hdd speeds up). use a seperate card. free up some cpu cycles and you'll always(almost always anyway) get better sound quality.

Ahah! I've always wondered wtf that annoying buzz was, didn't realize it came with hdd action. Looks like I'll be giving the Live! a try when I find it.

 

[Sensai]

the live card will have lower end bass and clearer sound

 

[Zepper]

I would also try the on-board sound first to see if it works OK for you. You can always disable the on-board sound an uninstall the driver if it doesn't. I really hate the way the SoundBlaster drivers stomp all over everything like an 800 pound gorilla and leave a pile o' crap in your Registry when you try to get rid of them - damned arrogant if you ask me. Who does Creative think they are anyway, Micro$oft???

.bh.

 

[aatf510]

A add-in soundcard might give you a little fps boost in games.

 

[airfoil]

While I agree in principle with Zepper, my preference goes to the PCI solution - old or not, the SB Live 5.1 is the better solution.

My recommendation though is to go with your ears to help you decide between both, and look at CPU utilization too.

 

[BSC14]

I used a Abit (IS7-E) onboard sound and my soundblaster LS was MUCH better.

 

[Steg55]

Use the card. Better sound, better performance, better everything

Steg

 

[n1ascar]

Thanks to everyone. I think i will reinstall the "old" card this weekend.
Kris

 

[Kremerica]

do these responses of going with a pci card also work in my case ?

I just bought the asus P5GD2 Premium with hd audio onboard. .
OR
I have a crappy FAR maddog sound card....

the sound quality would probably be better with the onboard but would the pci card give me better gaming performance?

 

[Cares]

Hmmm ... I'm debating between using an Audigy Platinum or the DFI Lanparty NF4 Ultra-D onboard sound. Currently using onboard and no problems yet.

 

[duragezic]

Originally posted by: AlphaQ
Hmmm ... I'm debating between using an Audigy Platinum or the DFI Lanparty NF4 Ultra-D onboard sound. Currently using onboard and no problems yet.

Now I'm not sure if an Audigy is the greatest, but it seems like clearly the winner here... The sound quality would probably be as good or better, and performance should be better with the Audigy.

 

[duragezic]

Originally posted by: Kremerica
do these responses of going with a pci card also work in my case ?

I just bought the asus P5GD2 Premium with hd audio onboard. .
OR
I have a crappy FAR maddog sound card....

the sound quality would probably be better with the onboard but would the pci card give me better gaming performance?

I wouldn't go with that shoddy of a sound card to gain a couple fps!

 

[SNM]

Originally posted by: AlphaQ
Hmmm ... I'm debating between using an Audigy Platinum or the DFI Lanparty NF4 Ultra-D onboard sound. Currently using onboard and no problems yet.

According to reviews, the DFI's got pretty good onboard: It's well-insulated because of the riser, and it's got some extra chip or something to take a big load off the CPU:
http://www.anandtech.com/mb/showdoc.aspx?i=2358&p=19
Basically, the DFI is always within ~2% CPU utilization of a built-in SBLive! (3D is 5.51% to 7.08%), as compared to 30% CPU usage on regular integrated audio with 3D audio.

 

[andy nowotny]

surely the Sound Blaster 5.1