New to Sound Card Market

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V99

Gawd
Joined
Aug 17, 2005
Messages
689
I've been using on-board audio for a long time now.
Recently my on-board audio has kinda died. My mic port is no longer working and my audio output doesn't produce enough sound to use my headphones. So I resorted to busting out an old Creative Sound blaster Live (terrible under Vista, but mic does work).

So I'm fed up and want a real sound card...something that will actually do the job.
I don't have a very fancy sound setup at the moment... Just a 2.1 Speaker setup and the headphones. So I don't need anything over the top. But I want something that will just do the job and work under Windows Vista 64bit.

I have been looking at these:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829102016
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829102006
(Note I'm in New Zealand and don't use Newegg, just using as a reference.)

Suggestions?
 
If I remember correctly, you'll want the Xtreme Gamer as that has the newer chip. The Xtreme Audio has the older Audigy chip.
 
cnk said:
If I remember correctly, you'll want the Xtreme Gamer as that has the newer chip. The Xtreme Audio has the older Audigy chip.
Click to expand...

You are correct, avoid the Xtreme Audio at all costs, it doesn't support hardware acceleration. Will you be using this card mostly for games? If you have a spare PCIE slot, I would recommend this X-Fi over the Xtreme Gamer:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829102024

It'll give you a lot more connectivity options in the future.
 
That sound card is well over $300 in New Zealand.
http://www.c1com.co.nz/shop/step1.php?number=15344

Isn't there something moderately priced that will do the job?
Yes it will be used mostly for gaming. But spending that much money on a sound card is pretty crazy. I'd pay $84 American.... but not $375 New Zealand =P
 
V99 said:
That sound card is well over $300 in New Zealand.
http://www.c1com.co.nz/shop/step1.php?number=15344

Isn't there something moderately priced that will do the job?
Yes it will be used mostly for gaming. But spending that much money on a sound card is pretty crazy. I'd pay $84 American.... but not $375 New Zealand =P
Click to expand...

Yikes, that is pricey. Any X-FI (other than the Xtreme Audio) should do fine. If the Xtreme Gamer is a lot cheaper go with that. You might want to look into the Asus Xonar series as well:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829132006

I've also heard a lot of good things about these cards. ***Just a note, it looks like the PCIE version needs a floppy power connector whereas the PCI version does not.
 
Asus has strong offerings in the sound card market. I agree with kniah, the Xonar DX is a decent choice. The Xonar D2 is even better if you can find that. I am actually going to be purchasing a new sound card soon and I will be buying the Xonar D2. It's a very strong card.
 
V99 said:
That sound card is well over $300 in New Zealand.
http://www.c1com.co.nz/shop/step1.php?number=15344

Isn't there something moderately priced that will do the job?
Yes it will be used mostly for gaming. But spending that much money on a sound card is pretty crazy. I'd pay $84 American.... but not $375 New Zealand =P
Click to expand...

You dont have to get that "Champion" model. The simple Titatnium card without the drive bay costs $85 American. Wouldn't they ship to NZ?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829102024

Its heads and shoulders above Xonar DX for real EAX support and full PCI express - no bridge, no fuss with that molex wire you need for Xonar.
 
Its heads and shoulders above Xonar DX for real EAX support and full PCI express
Click to expand...

Of course it does - EAX above version 2 is Creative's proprietary tech. That's why the Xonar only supports EAX 2. Besides, Asus has been working on their own tech that intercepts EAX 5 calls and replicates EAX 5 functionality.

full PCI express - no bridge, no fuss with that molex wire you need for Xonar.
Click to expand...

And that's why I said to really look into the D2 more than the DX. D2 is available as PCI and so there is no power adapter needed.

The Xonar has very good sound quality - better than the X-Fi. So even if you don't get the D2, I would still get the DX.
 
I dunno if it is even worth it to get a better soundcard... what speakers and headphones do you have?
 
Alai said:
I dunno if it is even worth it to get a better soundcard... what speakers and headphones do you have?
Click to expand...

That's kinda what I was thinking. You sort of dismissed your speaker setup like it doesn't even matter....
 
research

Creative X-Fi
HT Omega Striker
ASUS Xonar
Auzentech Xplosion

I think that covers current sound cards.
 
Get the SB X-Fi XtremeGamer. It is a great card for the money. Also, if you don't have a good speaker setup or good headphones, I think purchasing a top end sound card is worthless. If you don't have either buy a pair of good phones or speakers.
 
Cheers guys, thanks for all your help.
I'm lining up a new PC at the moment... So I'll see how on get on with the onboard audio with my new motherboard.

Sometime next year I'll definitely look into buying a real sound card & speakers.
Because at the moment I have some fail 'Nicole Multimedia' speakers and Genius headphones (Broke student at the moment, job next year). So it'll have to wait till I have some cash to burn.

But in the time being, I can live with what I have a little while longer.
 
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