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Namesis

Weaksauce
Joined
Jan 12, 2011
Messages
88
I finished up my computer with Nsurround and got thinking there was 1 thing I havent upgraded in a very long time and that is the soundcard.
I have an old XFI Xtreme gamer and it has served me well (like 5 computers). But it does sit on an outdate PCI slot and if I decide to go sli or add my 8800 for phsyx I need the space.

It goes to an onkyo reciever and 7.1 system.

Would upgrading to the new sounblaster z or asus stx be an actual upgrade? would I hear anything new/different from what it does now.

I do everything on the computer - movies,music and gaming.

Looking for input thanks.
 
Not likely to notice much, if any difference. For the average user (yes I know most of us aren't average), there isn't much difference between a current onboard chipset and a sound card. The speakers will typically have a larger impact than the audio chipset.

And the bus type doesn't matter. PCI or PCI-E, the audio output is the same.
 
Namesis said:
I finished up my computer with Nsurround and got thinking there was 1 thing I havent upgraded in a very long time and that is the soundcard.
I have an old XFI Xtreme gamer and it has served me well (like 5 computers). But it does sit on an outdate PCI slot and if I decide to go sli or add my 8800 for phsyx I need the space.

It goes to an onkyo reciever and 7.1 system.

Would upgrading to the new sounblaster z or asus stx be an actual upgrade? would I hear anything new/different from what it does now.

I do everything on the computer - movies,music and gaming.

Looking for input thanks.
Click to expand...

Digital or analog connection from sound card to the onkyo?
If you are using a digital signal there will be no difference. It is about which piece of hardware is doing the conversion to analog for the speakers to reproduce.
 
It is analog out not spdif if that matters

So I may hear a difference then if the card is doing the conversion?
Thnx for replies
 
Yes, if you're doing straight analog, then you might actually hear a difference in sound cards. How much of a difference is up to the rest of your system. Onkyo receivers, while pretty good at the consumer level, aren't true high-end components. So you may or may not hear the difference.
 
jbltecnicspro said:
Yes, if you're doing straight analog, then you might actually hear a difference in sound cards. How much of a difference is up to the rest of your system. Onkyo receivers, while pretty good at the consumer level, aren't true high-end components. So you may or may not hear the difference.
Click to expand...

+1 it depends on your speakers/headphones also.
 
Namesis said:
It is analog out not spdif if that matters

So I may hear a difference then if the card is doing the conversion?
Thnx for replies
Click to expand...

I would guess that you will not notice any difference at all going from x-fi to z or stx.
 
I used to use the PCI XFI Xtreme gamer. A little over a year ago I switched from that card to the pcie x-fi Titanium.
I use headphones, I do not consider my self an audiophile.
I could tell the difference, it was a noticeable upgrade. I have not received my Z series board yet but have read from a few people that upgraded from the card a currently have and they claim to hear a difference between those two as well.
 
Not worth an upgrade until the card becomes unusable due to failure or lacking drivers for new OS.
 
I know onkyo arent great but work fine for me kept me happy.
I will hold off until it bites the big one or I really want the space.It blocks me from using the other pcie slots which is also an issue.

Thanx again for the input I appreciate it.
 
Namesis said:
I know onkyo arent great but work fine for me kept me happy.
I will hold off until it bites the big one or I really want the space.It blocks me from using the other pcie slots which is also an issue.

Thanx again for the input I appreciate it.
Click to expand...

Any time. Wasn't trying to imply that your Onkyo system is bad or crap. I was just saying that you'd need a far more revealing system to notice the difference between sound cards unless one of them is either A) truly awful, or B) dying. Keeping your current sound card is a very good decision. ;)
 
jbltecnicspro said:
Any time. Wasn't trying to imply that your Onkyo system is bad or crap. I was just saying that you'd need a far more revealing system to notice the difference between sound cards unless one of them is either A) truly awful, or B) dying. Keeping your current sound card is a very good decision. ;)
Click to expand...

Didnt take it that way. Just meant for my needs it works great. I
I am happy for the feedback cause I really just didnt know if there was a reason to or not.
 
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