Myth or Fact????

[SXT14]

Alrighty,

Last night I was looking online at many of reviews, and stumbled across one.

The review said that by installing a sound card it will greatly improve the speed of your computer, Is this a myth or fact.

Thanks all

 

[Asian Dub Foundation]

myth

 

[compslckr]

you might pick up a few FPS in a game, but nothing major

 

[AdamNesvick]

I think the average is like 5% less CPU utilization with an add on board, most games are GPU limited anyway, so it probably wouldn't make a difference these days, it used to though.

 

[Rofl-Mic-Lofl]

Don't pick up a sound card for the speed "bonus", pick up a good one for the schweet quality improvement.

 

[pickxx]

Alrighty,

Last night I was looking online at many of reviews, and stumbled across one.

The review said that by installing a sound card it will greatly improve the speed of your computer, Is this a myth or fact.

Thanks all

Fact for improvement....myth for GREATLY....

Like it has been said, 5% cpu usage will be free'd up. that doesn;t mean 5% more in games.....

Since most games are gpu limited it will be a very small increase if anything noticable at all.

 

[jimmyb]

myth

 

[daphatgrant]

As said above technically it will give you a performance increase, but it is so minimal that you would never notice it. A fan would most likely give you just as much of a boost.

Don't pick up a sound card for the speed "bonus", pick up a good one for the schweet quality improvement.

QFT

 

[rblews]

I agree with all the comments made; but, it should be added that in HD video playback (e.g. h.264) in moderate PC systems such as mine, that 5% extra CPU could make the difference in being able to obtain a smooth playback. However, still don't buy the sound card for that reason alone, as you would be better off to spend the money to upgrade your CPU. Buy a Creative XtremeMusic card for the improvement in sound.

 

[squeezee]

The difference in CPU usage for most tasks is in fractions of a percent.

There are however exceptions while playing games, as some (Battlefield 2 for one) do show a significant performance difference between the soundblaster X-Fi/audigy cards and other chipsets.