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SoundStorm or AC 97

M

Met-AL

Supreme [H]ardness
Joined
Apr 9, 2002
Messages
7,890
My motherboard was damaged and will need to be replaced. It is a A7N8X- Deluxe. It has nVidia SoundStorm. I was looking at possible candidates for a replacement if I am not going to be allowed to RMA this one. I noticed that most nForce2 boards do not have SoundStorm. Is that a big deal? They commonly have a AC97 codec with 5.1.
 
If you care enough about audio quality to have it affect your motherboard choice, I suggest you just shell out the $25 for a Chaintech AV-710. It'll be a lot more satisfying.
 
well sound storm will genraly have better quality, will use less cpu power, and has hardware dolby-digital decoding and en-coding. Are you a big gamer, and waht do you have for speakers?
 
Gaming is my biggest use. So, I take it that having SoundStorm is important after all. I guess I never paid much attention to the fact, since I had it already. Looking at nVidia's site, they show only a handfull of boards having SoundStorm.
 
soundstorm also can be used with eax, something which many AC'97's don't support.
 
needmorecarnitine said:
soundstorm only matters when you use the optical/digital RCA out
Click to expand...

True. I get a sense from the language, that the poster is using analogue outputs.

It's amazing that probably 90% of "soundstorm users" are victims of the placebo effect and don't know they are not using soundstorm at all.
 
I got the same sense from the OP.
And in that case I have to ask the question.... what difference is there between analog soundstorm and AC97?
 
Mister X said:
I got the same sense from the OP.
And in that case I have to ask the question.... what difference is there between analog soundstorm and AC97?
Click to expand...
Theres a large difference. I currently have 3 soundstorm equipped and one ac97 equipped nforce2 mobo and the difference between them in analog is huge. Someone who says otherwise hasn't heard both or was doing some majorly wrong.

Bass, treble, clarity, eax performance, cpu cycles, control panels, you name it theres a big difference.

Edit: make that two ac97 equipped nforce2 mobo's.
 
What is the third one? ;)














Who wants to bet that "third" board also has an AC97 complaint codec for it's analog output stage?
 
You guys are right. I am using the analog outputs. I realize the SS goes thru the codec when using the analog outputs where as when using the digital outputs, you getting the SS without the codec. Is there actually a difference between having the SS or not when using the analog outputs?
 
Mister X said:
What is the third one? ;)














Who wants to bet that "third" board also has an AC97 complaint codec for it's analog output stage?
Click to expand...
Sorry for not being more clear. What i meant to say was i have a total of 5 Nforce2 rigs at home. 3 of them are soundstorm equipped and two are straight up ac97 (mcp). In analog mode the soundstorm equipped mobo's still blow away the ac97 mobo's, in all the respects i listed above. I realize the soundstorm ones have ac97 dacs onboard but regardless they sound 100% better and are less buggy in games than the mcp/ac97.
When my buddies come over for a mini-lan they all want the rigs that "sound good" (the soundstorm rigs).
 
Met-AL said:
Is there actually a difference between having the SS or not when using the analog outputs?
Click to expand...
A huge difference as i outlined in both of my posts. I wouldn't necessarily recommend you go buck nuts to find a soundstorm mobo, but thats a topic for a different thread ;)
 
SJetski71 said:
A huge difference as i outlined in both of my posts. I wouldn't necessarily recommend you go buck nuts to find a soundstorm mobo, but thats a topic for a different thread ;)
Click to expand...
Roger that. Thanks for the info. I never realized that most NF2 boards do not have SS. I was checking over at nVidia's site, and it looks like it's slim pickings if you want SS. There are only two boards that have SS and system utility support. I think I'm gonna stick with my ASUS board. If ASUS doesn't replace it under warranty, I'll probably just get another one...hell they are only $89 nowdays.

http://www.nvidia.com/object/motherboards.html
 
Just look for mobo's with the MCP-T southbridge. Many boards have soundstorm onboard but can't officially label it such. What these other MCP-T mobos are missing are an spdif bracket and nvidia's official blessing...(one thing i can live without ;))
 
SJetski71 said:
Just look for mobo's with the MCP-T southbridge. Many boards have soundstorm onboard but can't officially label it such. What these other MCP-T mobos are missing are an spdif bracket and nvidia's official blessing...(one thing i can live without ;))
Click to expand...
So your saying it really rocks with the soundstorm? I"ve thinking if I get a newer reciever that has optical, that I could use the SPDIF. How well does it compare to like an Audigy 2 ZS, or M-Audio Revolution 7.1?? Cause I am either pondering whether to get the Audigy or the M-Audio. I want the best for games and listen to music. I was leaning toward the M-audio, but people say the gaming is better on the Audigy, but the M-Audio is much more lively and chrisper.
Not just saying since they have 7.1, I will be using a 5.1 speaker setup.
LMK!
 
Sharp4600 said:
So your saying it really rocks with the soundstorm? I"ve thinking if I get a newer reciever that has optical, that I could use the SPDIF. How well does it compare to like an Audigy 2 ZS, or M-Audio Revolution 7.1?? Cause I am either pondering whether to get the Audigy or the M-Audio. I want the best for games and listen to music. I was leaning toward the M-audio, but people say the gaming is better on the Audigy, but the M-Audio is much more lively and chrisper.
Not just saying since they have 7.1, I will be using a 5.1 speaker setup.
LMK!
Click to expand...
You can try it first and see how you like it, wouldn't cost you a dime, assuming you already have a soundstorm equipped board of course. Its sound quality is generally considered on par with an audigy1, I also personally think it sounds better than my santa cruz.

In spite of all that, i feel If you want the best in games and music then you'll want an m-audio revo, audiotrak prodigy 7.1 or the audigy2. You'll have to decide based upon your preferences, gaming audio (audigy2) or music quality (revo/prodigy). I'd probably recommend the prodigy as its considered a revo minus the buggy drivers.
 
SJetski71 said:
You can try it first and see how you like it, wouldn't cost you a dime, assuming you already have a soundstorm equipped board of course. Its sound quality is generally considered on par with an audigy1, I also personally think it sounds better than my santa cruz.

In spite of all that, i feel If you want the best in games and music then you'll want an m-audio revo, audiotrak prodigy 7.1 or the audigy2. You'll have to decide based upon your preferences, gaming audio (audigy2) or music quality (revo/prodigy). I'd probably recommend the prodigy as its considered a revo minus the buggy drivers.
Click to expand...
Yeah I'd probably really prefer the Audiotrack over the M-audio, but I can't seem to find them in Canada. :( I may just go for the Audigy 2 ZS since my brother loves it.
But yeah my friend said the Prodigy 7.1 is where its at. Good support for games, dont know about eax HD, is it that much better then EAX 2.0?
 
For games that use it HD blows EAX 2 away. But you have to care about sound I guess for it to matter to YOU. I say just get the A 2 ZS and stop worrying; you know you got the card for the job then.
 
IdiotInCharge said:
For games that use it HD blows EAX 2 away. But you have to care about sound I guess for it to matter to YOU. I say just get the A 2 ZS and stop worrying; you know you got the card for the job then.
Click to expand...
Yeah although I won't have my optical spdif, but I would have to go analog for EAX on the soundstorm. Does the audigy 2 ZS support optical, or digital coax to get EAX effects on the home theatre reciever? Or would I need to buy a ZS platinum?
 
SJetski71 said:
In spite of all that, i feel If you want the best in games and music then you'll want an m-audio revo, audiotrak prodigy 7.1 or the audigy2. You'll have to decide based upon your preferences, gaming audio (audigy2) or music quality (revo/prodigy). I'd probably recommend the prodigy as its considered a revo minus the buggy drivers.
Click to expand...

That m-audio looks interesting. I despise Creative so Audigy would be out of the question for me.

EDIT: Holy shit that thing is expensive.....$279 http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproductdesc.asp?description=29-121-106&DEPA=1

EDIT AGAIN...here's a different one for $68.50
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproductdesc.asp?description=29-121-116&DEPA=1
 
Unless you're looking for a home recording solution, the Delta 1010lt is pretty pointless. I have it and I absolutely love it, but again- if you're not going to be recording, its overkill.
 
I despise Creative too. But I bet you could find enough dirt on at least half the companies that made a part in your computer to despise them too. For games they are unparralled. /soapbox

For digi coax on an audigy anything, you simply need a minijack to RCA converter. Hook that up to the reciever, and set the Audigy to digital output only; voila you have digital sound. NOW, you will only get 2.1 sound, unless you are playing something PREENCODED such as a DVD with a Dolby Digital or DTS soundtrack. Only Soundstorm has the ability to encode anything over 2 channels for digital transmission. And even at that, it's the least quality of such formats, DD 5.1.
 
IdiotInCharge said:
I despise Creative too. But I bet you could find enough dirt on at least half the companies that made a part in your computer to despise them too. For games they are unparralled. /soapbox

For digi coax on an audigy anything, you simply need a minijack to RCA converter. Hook that up to the reciever, and set the Audigy to digital output only; voila you have digital sound. NOW, you will only get 2.1 sound, unless you are playing something PREENCODED such as a DVD with a Dolby Digital or DTS soundtrack. Only Soundstorm has the ability to encode anything over 2 channels for digital transmission. And even at that, it's the least quality of such formats, DD 5.1.
Click to expand...
I thought that a lot of sound cards could encode channels to 5.1? Or is that only when on the digital coax?
What would you do in my shoes? I want to share my 5.1 hi fi setup with computer, dvd, xbox, cd player, tv. Now I always want the 5.1 from the pc and dvd, and maybe cd player, depends on the DD reciever. Should I invest to getting a better one? Since mine doesn't have optical or digi coax.
Ok the way I currently setup is all analog right now into the dvd multi since it has each individual channels on my reciever, since it doesn't have optical or digital coax. I do use the minijack to RCA converter and go to each individual channel.
 
Trying to do the same thing I wound up with an HTPC. Unless your monitor IS your TV, then you are pretty limited in many things. The cheap way is just to get the Z680's/Z5500's; not a terrible solution for sure. But if you want GOOD, then I would go with something like what ajm786 is suggesting at the top of this page.

Oh, and yeah, the encoding means digital audio; be it coax or optical. They carry the same signal, just have different strengths and weaenesses. When something is encoded, it's actually turned into one signal, usually with compression. Go research Dolby Digital and DTS; you'll leanr a whole lot in a short bit about runs across those cables.
 
Met-AL said:
That m-audio looks interesting. I despise Creative so Audigy would be out of the question for me.

EDIT: Holy shit that thing is expensive.....$279 http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproductdesc.asp?description=29-121-106&DEPA=1

EDIT AGAIN...here's a different one for $68.50
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproductdesc.asp?description=29-121-116&DEPA=1
Click to expand...
Ahh it looks like newegg pulled a few products and my links are no longer working. I originally meant the M-audio Revo 7.1 for $92 and the Audiotrak Prodigy 7.1 which no longer exists on neweggs website for some reason. I wasn't referring to the other astronomically priced models.

Once again i recommend you base your decision on whats more important, music or games(?). To be honest, whatever you pick will be a win win for ya.
 
NightRaven said:
If you care enough about audio quality to have it affect your motherboard choice, I suggest you just shell out the $25 for a Chaintech AV-710. It'll be a lot more satisfying.
Click to expand...

negative batman

i'd kill for my new baord to have soundstorm over my AV710

keep in mind i dont have any fancy speaker setup, just a good pair of headphones and some harmon kardon 2.1's
 
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