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Onboard vs. Sound Card

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ProwlerTech

Limp Gawd
Joined
Feb 27, 2005
Messages
239
Is there a significant difference in quality/performance between using onboard audio versus getting a sound card? I'm just using the onboard as of now, and was contemplating throwing in a card to see what happens. Any improvements if even just a cheaper card? Thanks for any input.
 
I think you'd find that sound cards offer superior quality over *most* onboard sound controllers. The lines are quickly being blurred, however, with AMD nForce4 boards offering Soundblaster onboard sound and most others offering 7.1 support.

I do think though that my Audigy 2 is way better than my old Soundblaster. I also like to use my PC for recording my music - in which case a good sound card is the way to go.

If you like to use the latest EAX support in games and want good surround, go for a card.
 
yep, onboard sound is usually poor. motherboard mfg's usually use cheap components for onboard sound so even if you do have a nice sound controller/chip it suffers because of those poor components.
of course, if you don't have good quality speakers or headphones or even a discerning ear than you might not notice.
 
When i was using onboard sound i could hear static whenever there was harddrive activity.

Sound Card = less interference
 
It'll really depend on the hardware that you are currently using vs the hardware that you are going to throw in. I was told to "try it and see what happens" and I did.

I compared the onboard sound from my Intel D845PEBT2 mobo to a SBLive that I had sitting around. Know what? I went back to the onboard sound. Some my call this a bad choice, it's not their ears.

I found, while realizing that I was unable to A/B test, that the onboard sound offered equivalent sound quality and performance compared to the mfg drivers of the SBLive. To clairfy that, I also used the kXProject drivers for the Live. There was a subtle but noticeable improvement in sound with the kXProject drivers. They have put together a slick package and an installer that is first-rate. Whether or not the sound difference is due to the drivers or how it swaps that front-rear channels, I am unable to tell. But the difference is there, and it's better than the Creative drivers.

So why did I go back? Well, kX doesn't offer hardware sound support for gaming. That wasn't good for me. I may go back to the kX drivers and play around with software rendering (audio) just to play around some more especially as I only have 2.1 speakers), but I like hardware sound in games as my vidcrd is old enough I need all the frame boosts I can get. I also can't stand Creative's driver set (though, admittedly, the driver set for the Live doesn't take up too much room); never liked Creative software.

In short, for me, it wasn't really worth the swtich. Keep in mind, though, that I am comparing hardware that is 4 years newer than the sound card I tested. I can't comment personally, but I would imagine that, unless you have one of the higher end sound solutions from a mobo mfg, then a soundcard will sound a little better.

But try it for yourself and see. You're the only one who can make that call.
 
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