Intergrated Audio or Audigy 2

S

strikerP4

Limp Gawd
Joined
Mar 1, 2003
Messages
268
I came across an Audigy 2 at work in a system that died and was wondering if it was worth putting in my gaming box. I am currently using the integrated audio on my ABIT IP35 PRO. I only have 5.1 speakers now that are pretty old but still sound decent and am mostly just using headphones. I was thinking it might save some CPU cycles.
 
Don't put in the Audigy 2 to save a few CPU cycles, because with modern CPU's it really doesn't matter. The main benefit to the A2 will be that it'll probably sound a bit better with good speakers/headphones.
 
using an old set of Z-640s and a Plantronics headset. Analog connections on both. Mostly the headset for gaming. I'm going to get a new headset here in a couple of months. nothing crazy expensive but I haven't really decided on what I want or how much to spend but that's another thread.
 
What OS are you running?

My experience on Vista w/ Audigy 2 sucked, and I didn't get much out of Win7 and that card.

I back to running the onbard IP 35 Pro at this time, however my rear output for the front left channel just died so I'm stuck using the headphone outs on my case (and getting some interference at low volume).

I think only way that sound card is worth using is if you run XP.
 
tspinning said:
What OS are you running?

My experience on Vista w/ Audigy 2 sucked, and I didn't get much out of Win7 and that card.
Click to expand...

Dunno what you're talking about, the Audigy 2 cards work fine on Vista/7. Just download the latest Audigy driver set from Creative.

They also have the Alchemy app to make EAX in older games work.
 
likely not much difference, aside from different/better I/O abilities relative to onboard

as far as compatibility for Creative in Vista/7, seems to vary user to user
 
Roommate has an Audigy 2ZS in his Win7 box, seems fine. I didn't install anything from Creative for it though, just let Windows put a driver in for basic function. I'm not a fan of Creative as such, but it's almost definetly going to sound better than your onboard. EAX is cool too if you game.

Dustin
 
dustNbone said:
Roommate has an Audigy 2ZS in his Win7 box, seems fine. I didn't install anything from Creative for it though, just let Windows put a driver in for basic function.
Click to expand...

The drivers you can download from Creative don't have all the junk attached that they used to add. The basic driver from Windows Update works, but the Creative control panel gives you options for CMSS/EAX and the separate Alchemy program lets you enable EAX effects for games.
 
Good to know, I'll check those out because the extra control would probably be useful if it doesn't involve 100MB of almost useless code like their software has in the past.

Dustin
 
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