better sound card?

[SBSuperfly]

I'm a total newb when it comes to sound cards. I have always used onboard sound, but the onboard sound on my new build blows. There are weird noises whenever i open, close, or drag a window. Anyway, I believe i've narrowed my search to these 2 options:

1) AuzenTech XMYSTIQUE7.1 7.1 Channels 24-bit 96KHz PCI Interface Sound Card

or

2)Creative Sound Blaster Audigy2 ZS SB0350 Sound Card

I mostly game and listen to music. When i game, i play mostly CSS and Oblivion using a SENNHEISER PC 150 Headset. If anyone has experience with either of these cards i'd love some feedback. I've heard the audigy2 zs is supposed to be good for gaming, but i got plenty CPU horsepower and am not really worried about a few more FPS.

 

[Moofasa~]

I would say save up for X-Fi.

Better gaming support and sound quality. And if you aren't using a receiver a Mystique is pointless....

 

[jester1176]

if you game and you game on headphones, you can't do better than the x-fi. if its not out of your budget then go for it. if it is and its between the mystique and the audigy, i go with the audigy because of the vastly superior gaming support.

 

[Lighthammer]

if you game and you game on headphones, you can't do better than the x-fi. if its not out of your budget then go for it. if it is and its between the mystique and the audigy, i go with the audigy because of the vastly superior gaming support.

LoL! Thats a joke! The best bang for your buck audio card on the market is the X series from AuzenTech (X-Mystique, X-Plosion) and is vastly superior in audio fidelity to the Audigy 2! I game all the time with an X-Mystique and a 7.1 Boston Acoustics setup and just love it, so much so that I'm going to be upgrading to the new X-Plosion soon for my new SFF Gaming/HTPC!

 

[Smitty2k1]

Yeah but the X-Fi is NOT an Audigy 2... Not even close.