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Help picking out Soundcard

X

Xenocide2020

Weaksauce
Joined
Jun 23, 2004
Messages
86
hi,

i'm looking to buy a soundcard for my new computer, would like to spend around 30-60 dollars on it the lower the better. I'd be using it in my Bedroom pretty standard size 12x12 ft. I'd mostly be using it for Gaming, Music (Classic Rock, Hip-Hop, Rap, and Alt Rock), and occasionaly movies. the speakers i would be getting would be either 2.1 Cyber Acoustics 180 watt Acoustic Authority speakers, or 5.1 Creative Labs 71 Watt Inspire Speakers. And if this helps im getting the Abit NF7-S motherboard (nforce2 chipset) with soundstorm.

Also if possible could someone explain some features to look for in a soundcard.

thanks alot,

-Tyler
 
Xenocide2020 said:
hi,

i'm looking to buy a soundcard for my new computer, would like to spend around 30-60 dollars on it the lower the better. I'd be using it in my Bedroom pretty standard size 12x12 ft. I'd mostly be using it for Gaming, Music (Classic Rock, Hip-Hop, Rap, and Alt Rock), and occasionaly movies. the speakers i would be getting would be either 2.1 Cyber Acoustics 180 watt Acoustic Authority speakers, or 5.1 Creative Labs 71 Watt Inspire Speakers. And if this helps im getting the Abit NF7-S motherboard (nforce2 chipset) with soundstorm.

Also if possible could someone explain some features to look for in a soundcard.

thanks alot,

-Tyler
Click to expand...

I use soundstorm over my 140$ creative aduguty card.... soundstorm just kicks ass. Save your money and dont get one use soundstorm..... or put the 60 bucks toward some better speackers.... the Creavite 71watt 5.1s are low end for 5 channel system. Personally i would rather have a really nice 2.1 system over a crappy 5.1.... those 5.1s dont get very loud at all, and the base isnt all that good either...

Might i reccoumend a soultion fron Klipsch? i know that there basic promedia 2.1 kicks ass, im not sure about there GMX 2.1....i think both 2.1system can be had for around $100, the will blow the pants off the creative 71watt 5.1 system...
http://www.klipsch.com/product/product_list.aspx?line=promedia
 
I personally just use the Soundstorm on my A7N8x-Deluxe. Before that I had a SB Live and the Soundstorm easily blew it away. I have had absolutely no problems with it either. I'd suggest you try Soundstorm out and if you don't like it, then get a PCI soundcard.
 
try the soundstorm first ... then decide if you want another soundcard ... it's enough for me ...
 
ok so i guess i will just start out with the soundstorm and then go to the soundblaster or another soundcard if i need it.
 
Keep in mind you are not using soundstorm if you are plugging your speakers directly into the motherboard.
 
Soundstorm is the digital capabilities of the board.. If you are using the analog connectors, you are using the Realtek 650 or 655.. whichever the board has. It still sounds good.
 
Paragon said:
Soundstorm is the digital capabilities of the board.. If you are using the analog connectors, you are using the Realtek 650 or 655.. whichever the board has. It still sounds good.
Click to expand...


i guss it helps that i am useing the digtial output... and i think your still useing soundstorm if your useing 2 channel or 4/5.1, i belive you only use the realtek if you use 6 channel... kinda of the reason 6 channel is not and option in the soundstorm sound menu..

BTW: ALC650
 
I(illa Bee said:
i guss it helps that i am useing the digtial output... and i think your still useing soundstorm if your useing 2 channel or 4/5.1, i belive you only use the realtek if you use 6 channel... kinda of the reason 6 channel is not and option in the soundstorm sound menu..

BTW: ALC650
Click to expand...

Basically you are not using soundstorm unless you are using the optical out.

It doesn't matter if your reciver it outputting 2.1 or 5.1, as long as it's via the optical cable its Soundstorm.


If you are using the analoge inputs it could be anything, whatever the motherboard manufacturer decideds to included on board. ie for my motherboard it would be a crappy C-media sound chip.
 
There is no optical output.. it is a Digital coax output. Electrical, not optical.

And the realtek 650 is used on the analog outputs. Hence how some people can use the Realtek drivers instead of nVidia. BTW.. 5.1 IS 6-channel audio :rolleyes: 4.1 is 5-channel.. 2.1 is 3-channel. Get it now?

Xenocide2020, how many threads for the same thing are you going to make?
 
wait..... so soundstorm isnt the Integrated soundcard, rather its.... what? i'm confused. do you think Soundstorm and whatever integrated soundcard the nf7-s comes with will be enough for me?
 
Paragon- Sorry bout the double threads, i had one posted in the General Hardware section before i knew that there was a Audio section and once i found out there was an audio section i posted in here, but then my post in the general hardware got moved to here also! whewww LONG SENTENCE! haha
 
Heh.. I see. Forgot they moved things around here.

Anyhoo.. Soundstorm boards are the ones with hardware digital encoding [It seems that some boards like Abit NF7-S have optical output capabilities.. my bad. I am used to my Asus A7N8X that only has Digital Coax]
You notice when you look on the Abit site, it mentions Soundstorm [ NVIDIA SoundStorm with real-time Dolby Digital 5.1 encoder] and also seperately mentions the 6-channel audio [6-Channel AC 97 CODEC on board {probably the Realtek 650}]
Soundstorm is the Hardware encoder capabilities of the chipset. Seperate from the codec audio. Only certain nForce2 boards have Soundstorm [mostly the Deluxe models of the line]
http://www.nvidia.com/object/apu.html [page 2 talks about Soundstorm]

The board alone should be plenty for you. No need for a soundcard. Save your money for something else. Can always get a soundcard later.. although I have yet to find a need for one with the codec. Digital is even better from what I heard.
 
Xenocide2020 said:
Paragon- Sorry bout the double threads, i had one posted in the General Hardware section before i knew that there was a Audio section and once i found out there was an audio section i posted in here, but then my post in the general hardware got moved to here also! whewww LONG SENTENCE! haha
Click to expand...

Xenocide, basically it comes down to this...


1. Do you have one of these, or something like it.


2. And if not, are you willing to buy one instead of a soundcard?


If the answer to both of those questions is no... then Soundstorm on that board is completely useless to you.


If the answer to either of those questions is yes, then you'll be using soundstorm to send a clear digital signal to your reciever, which will be hooked up to whatever kind of HT speakers you want.
 
now, i am useing the digtal outputs to my reciver... dose this mean i am saveing CPU cycles, as its true hardware?

How dose the AC650 compare to say my ols adugity? Dose it use more CPU thatn crapagity?
 
so if i get an Abit mobo with SOUNDSTORM and later decide to update the soundcard will i still have SOUNDSTORM?

also, ur saying basically unless im getting 5.1 speakers and an external equalizer or something like that soundstorm won't benefit me?
 
it doesn't matter if it's 5.1 or 2.0, as long as the speakers are connected to a reciever, and not directly to the computer.

the reciever is key, if you are using a reciever then you are using soundstorm.
 
If you are using the digital.. you are probably using the soundstorm. Not sure if you have to encode into Dolby Digital for soundstorm to be in use .. Some speakers will take a digital coax as input.. so you ca use that without a receiver.

If you get a different soundcard.. you won't be using the onboard, correct?

Also.. don't worry about CPU cycles.. if there is a difference, you won't see much of a difference.. 5-10 frames max. It is less of a worry today with the high power CPUs that can handle all this. Search the internet for revies and comparisons of onboard nForce to a soundcard.

The 650, in my experience on my motherboard, is just fine. I think it is on par with the audigy, although it has been a while since I heard my audigy.

Do some searches on the forum, I'm sure you will find similar posts.
Also, www.nforcershq.com
 
True speakers like the Z-680s have digital input. But I knew those were out of your pricerange. I not sure of any other computer speakers that have coax-in.
 
sorry if its taking me a while to understand this.

Soundstorm won't help unless im routing my speakers through a reciever right? if thats right then what benefits would i get from using a reciever?

and tell me if im correct soundstorm is just a way to get better 3D and Surround Sound using a reciever?
 
arg.. some speakers take a digital input so you do not necessarily need a receiver. You only need a receiver if your speakers don't have digital capabilities.
Even then, you don't necessarily need a receiver. Some people use DVD or CD players with the proper connections. You can also get something like http://www.klipsch.com/product/product.aspx?cid=433 or similar instead of a receiver.
 
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