Sound card

[fyre]

So...my pc has integrated audio. I've been thinking about getting a sound card for a while, but never have. Today I got an email from Creative with this refurbished soundcard for $15 with free shipping. Is it worth it, and will I notice a difference from my integrated audio?

[Wedge]

How good is your sound output setup? I'd imagine that determines a lot of if it's worth it...

[fyre]

Cheap headphones. Koss KSC-75 and I just ordered a pair of Creative EP-630s. I'm assuming that's what you meant by sound output?

Also, I heard that using a soundcard instead of integrated audio can free up your CPU. Is that true?

[CaffeinePowered]

If you use Vista, dont buy Creative they have the shittiest drivers imaginable

[Budr]

Also, I heard that using a soundcard instead of integrated audio can free up your CPU. Is that true?

Ostensibly it should make a difference but AFAIK the number of cycles is almost negligable.

[CaffeinePowered]

[quote author=fyre link=topic=472.msg11346#msg11346 date=1213041706]
Also, I heard that using a soundcard instead of integrated audio can free up your CPU. Is that true?

Ostensibly it should make a difference but AFAIK the number of cycles is almost negligable.
[/quote]

That depends on what you get, the higher end cards which have their own on-board RAM and processing units, dear god they are good, I have a XFI-Fatality Gamer's Edition, the one with the CD-Bay hookup, and it fucking owns.

Despite what I did say earlier about creative it works better in XP but I have some 3rd party drivers that make it *almost* as good

[Budr]

That depends on what you get, the higher end cards which have their own on-board RAM and processing units, dear god they are good, I have a XFI-Fatality Gamer's Edition, the one with the CD-Bay hookup, and it fucking owns.

Ditto. My point though was more in answer to increasing performance, I doubt an onboard chip is going to be stealing a noticable amount of processing power.

As far as noticing a difference in quality that depends entirely on perception, some people are perfectly happy with integrated audio and a pair of PC speakers/headphones. I've read reviews about the Logitech headset I use from people saying they keep it on for listening to music and such, which astounds me but then I'm the kind of music listener who own a pair of £100 earphones and a pair of £150 headphones (and a pair of £150 moulded ear plugs for club usage to fend off the tinnitus </nerd>). I would say if the quality, of lack thereof, that your getting from your set-up is noticable to you then upgrade, if not then it's an exercise in futility.

[Wedge]

My sound system is a 4.1 no-name brand I got for $5 from the thrift store.  And am using the AC adapter from a router to power it.  So you know I'm all abouts the hi-fi.

Moreover though, does anybody know what effect enabling all the EAX2 options and such in games has?  Coz' I know you can do that with a soundcard...

[Mission Difficult]

Moreover though, does anybody know what effect enabling all the EAX2 options and such in games has?  Coz' I know you can do that with a soundcard...

EAX stands for environmental audio extensions, pretty much dsp presets like material specific reverbs/effects. It also has to do with the number of audio voice that can play simultaneously and the number of effects that can be applied to each. I believe all the processing is done on the card as well.

[fyre]

Meh. I think I'll just stay with integrated. Thanks guys.