Do i need a sound card?

[Iowabucks]

Hey everyone, on my computer i do a little gaming but only use headphones at all times. I haven't had my speakers set up for years. I got a Soundblaster X-Fi Elite card for next to nothing on Ebay from someone that didn't realize what it was.

I am building a new computer with the Asus P8Z77-V Pro mobo, and was wondering if the onboard sound would be good enough for what i do? Or should i purchase a soundcard? Remember, headphones only.

 

[bigdogchris]

The Asus mobo uses Realtek audio. If you enable the Equalizer option (I use Rock) the sound/music can sound very good.

Sometime after version 2.01 of the Realtek drivers they made a change to their Realtek Audio Manager and to the drivers. The newer drivers by default sound absolutely horrible. I use the Vista x64 2.01 drivers (which is the older version of the drivers) in Windows 7 and adjust the equalizer under the Sound->Speakers setting in Windows Control Panel. You can make the adjustment to any output device.

 

[MacLeod]

Normally Id say no but for headphone use I say yes because youll need a good amplifier to bring your headphones to life and the stock sound card on a motherboard is usually not a very good headphone amp. Id invest in a good sound card with as powerful a headphone amp as possible.

 

[DarkTower]

Unless you have a very highend motherboard usually a sound card makes a noticeable difference.

 

[Forceman]

If you are using headphone, then I would get a soundcard for the Dolby Headphone/CMSS-3D support alone - even if the overall sound quality is the same.

 

[gamerk2]

I'd recommend a soundcard. Cheapest option would be the ASUS Xonar DG(X), which is coincidentally made specifically for headphone use, due to its built in amp (drives up to 150 Ohms).