Should I upgrade?

[General Crespin]

Specs (new computer, a few weeks old):
Athlon64 X2 4400+
2GB RAM (Corsair TwinX2048-3200C2)
XFX GeForce 7800 GTX OC 256MB
ASUS A8N-SLI Premium

Turtle Beach Santa Cruz
Altec Lansing ADA 995 (5.1) (specs)

The sound card and the speaker setup are both carry-overs from my old Dell, both are from the September of either 2001 or 2002.

They seem to be performing nicely enough, but I'm wondering if it would be worth getting a new sound card and 5.1 setup? Most of my games support surround sound, and I watch a lot of DVDs too.

I'm not an expert in audio so I don't know how fast this stuff goes out of date or how good my speakers are (Santa Cruz is a good card).

Thanks for any opinions!

 

[legcramp]

How much is your budget?

 

[General Crespin]

I have the money. A job plus no living expenses is a good thing.

Still, I don't want to go overboard. How much might I be looking at for upgrading sound card and/or speakers?

 

[discochan]

The X-FI EM is about 120, and if you get the top of the line Logitech system your looking at another 300.

 

[strikeout]

id rather get a nice pair of headphones and a x-fi

 

[General Crespin]

NO HEADPHONES.

I'll look into those, thanks, discochan.

 

[NulloModo]

The X-fi is a good idea. I used an AWE32 until I couldn't find a mobo that supported ISA anymore, Creative Soundcards are the best for general use, yeah, get rid of that turtle beach BS.

As for speakers, get a decent receiver are this:

http://www.vanns.com/shop/servlet/item/features/544999366?v_c=Google

I recently bought it for my gf for her bedroom, and she loves it, honestly, so do I, it comes close to my Prelude MTS system, at least at low to mid volume levels, best bargain on the market.

 

[General Crespin]

Well, here goes. I ordered an X-Fi Xtreme Music. If X-RAM becomes a big deal I'll just upgrade.

Here's to hoping I don't enter Creative hell.

Speakers probably at the end of next month.