Wow, I haven't even considered buying a sound card since the late 90s maybe? The only reason I could see someone getting any use out of a discrete sound card that a motherboard's onboard couldn't handle is if you have a really old PC, if you have a really nice speaker system and are an audiophile (as in you've spent $200+ on a headset, think vinyl sounds so much better than an mp3, etc), using your computer as a home theater system, or doing a lot of multimedia creation/recording.
CPU performance is barely affected by a discrete sound card now-a-days. Way back when that was one of the main reasons you'd get a sound card. There was a noticeable improvement in frame rates. Not anymore.
Having said all that, if you have extra cash burning a hole in your pocket and you spend a fair amount of time listening to music, are a hardcore gamer where 3D audio positioning is very important to you and what not then go for it. There IS an improvement with a discrete sound card. It's just not that noticeable to the average gamer.
Here's a decent article on the subject: http://www.techspot.com/article/751-should-you-buy-a-sound-card/. Keep in mind that was a year ago so if you have a brand new motherboard with the latest onboard sound you might have even less reason to get a discrete sound card.
I have not used a sound card in 10 or more years. But then again I don't do any heavy audio editing anymore. I'm more than satisfied with integrated on board audio that I have now.
Originally posted by Cleffy Since ASUS bought C-Media, there are not many companies that make Sound Cards now. There is ASUS, SoundBlaster, and Realtek. If you have a motherboard, Realtek is the supplier most likely. The Realtek chip is rather barebones at the end of the day. For most users it gets the job done, but if you need good sound quality you will probably want an ASUS Xonar.
Yeah, it's barebones, but how much has sound card technology really advanced in the past... 10-15 years?
Everything has Surround 7.1 now, and supports pretty much any acoustical effect you could want. The only real differences are in I/O and in amp/DAC quality.
Build-in motherboard sound are pretty much going to give you one, maybe two options for I/O (one mic port, one analog line in, one analog stereo line out, and maybe some basic way to hook up 5.1 or a digital line out) -- because most people are hooking up maybe a mic, one set of speakers, and maybe a set of headphones out the front and that's about it.
Amp quality only applies on analog outputs. DAC affects a lot, but it's only noticable if you have some really hi-fi equipment to be able to hear it on, or are doing original source material (ie studio recording).
I won't say it isn't worth it - some audiophiles are willing and able to put their money where their mouth is. But for most people with a set of computer speakers from Best Buy, you'd not be able to notice.
I agree, there is not a reason to get a sound card now unless you are an audiophile. There is a nice benefit, when you hear a sound its like you are there verse hearing a recording since that audio range is not cutoff. If you buy a $100 pair of headphones, you might as well get that $20 sound card to hear the full range. The nice thing is that you don't need to get an internal card anymore. With USB3.0 a USB soundcard is a viable option although there will be minor latency.
Sound Blaster Pro 2 (hooray for DIP switches!) => Sound Blaster Audigy => Onboard sound
Outside of specialty features, I don't see a reason to buy a sound card these days. You'd be better off spending that money on a better GPU, or perhaps a better cooling solution.
AN' DERE AIN'T NO SUCH FING AS ENUFF DAKKA, YA GROT! Enuff'z more than ya got an' less than too much an' there ain't no such fing as too much dakka. Say dere is, and me Squiggoff'z eatin' tonight!
We are born of the blood. Made men by the blood. Undone by the blood. Our eyes are yet to open. FEAR THE OLD BLOOD.
Comments
Wow, I haven't even considered buying a sound card since the late 90s maybe? The only reason I could see someone getting any use out of a discrete sound card that a motherboard's onboard couldn't handle is if you have a really old PC, if you have a really nice speaker system and are an audiophile (as in you've spent $200+ on a headset, think vinyl sounds so much better than an mp3, etc), using your computer as a home theater system, or doing a lot of multimedia creation/recording.
CPU performance is barely affected by a discrete sound card now-a-days. Way back when that was one of the main reasons you'd get a sound card. There was a noticeable improvement in frame rates. Not anymore.
Having said all that, if you have extra cash burning a hole in your pocket and you spend a fair amount of time listening to music, are a hardcore gamer where 3D audio positioning is very important to you and what not then go for it. There IS an improvement with a discrete sound card. It's just not that noticeable to the average gamer.
Here's a decent article on the subject: http://www.techspot.com/article/751-should-you-buy-a-sound-card/. Keep in mind that was a year ago so if you have a brand new motherboard with the latest onboard sound you might have even less reason to get a discrete sound card.
I agree, there is not a reason to get a sound card now unless you are an audiophile. There is a nice benefit, when you hear a sound its like you are there verse hearing a recording since that audio range is not cutoff. If you buy a $100 pair of headphones, you might as well get that $20 sound card to hear the full range. The nice thing is that you don't need to get an internal card anymore. With USB3.0 a USB soundcard is a viable option although there will be minor latency.
Sound Blaster Pro 2 (hooray for DIP switches!) => Sound Blaster Audigy => Onboard sound
Outside of specialty features, I don't see a reason to buy a sound card these days. You'd be better off spending that money on a better GPU, or perhaps a better cooling solution.
AN' DERE AIN'T NO SUCH FING AS ENUFF DAKKA, YA GROT! Enuff'z more than ya got an' less than too much an' there ain't no such fing as too much dakka. Say dere is, and me Squiggoff'z eatin' tonight!
We are born of the blood. Made men by the blood. Undone by the blood. Our eyes are yet to open. FEAR THE OLD BLOOD.
#IStandWithVic