Weekend Open Forum: Are you using a dedicated sound card?

[Guest]

Creative X-Fi Xtremegamer.

It was free. Otherwise, I'd be using my on board(780i).

The drivers are HORRIBLE.

 

[Guest]

creative X-Fi extremegamer here

 

[ChrisG683]

I had a Creative X-Fi Fatal1ty for about 4+ years, and I have just recently upgraded to an Auzentech Forte X-Fi 7.1

I simply cannot stand on-board audio anymore, it's like listening inside a tin can

 

[Lokalaskurar]

I did in fact downgrade from a SB Live! to an integrated sound card. But I got so fed-up with the horrible controls (did not "allow" anything fancy) for the integrated Creative sound processor that I bought a Sweex 7.1 card.

That did not work out the way I planned... the front panel has a non-standard connector for its audio I/O, thus the front panel only works with the integrated audio processor. Blast. Luckily, I got hold of a transistor 2-1 apparatus that allows me to have to line out's for just one speaker, so I can still use the front panel without trouble :]

 

[Guest]

i did in my old pc. but in my new one it's capable of surround. using two speakers and a sub now

 

[IvanAwfulitch]

I tried having onboard sound for a while, but the drivers and the quality were so utterly terrible that I upgraded to a Sound Blaster Audigy SE and have never been happier. I would NEVER consider onboard after that experience.

I can understand how technology would have improved, but honestly...a dedicated sound card for any audiophile is a must. A new one for every build though? That's a bit much. I'd grab a good one, and reuse it. An upgrade would only happen if it was pertinent.

 

[yowanvista]

Still using the Sound Max card included in my MB

 

[Guest]

I'm still using an old Audigy 2 ZS as well.
I like the front panel that comes with it, good for recording from turntables.

 

[SilverCider]

Used to have an X-Fi XtremeMusic card when I had Windows XP, as soon as I upgraded to Vista I had to get rid of it because there was no end to driver niggles that made justifying the sound quality worthless! I know have a Xonar DX, the slim one that could fit it in an HTPC case. Much better driver support and it does sound a lot better than my onboard audio. I wouldn't say I'm a serious audiophile (haven't got the money!!) but I have a decent 5.1 AV system that can make use of the higher quality audio streams

 

[ess333]

cannot live without a discreet soundcard
Creative X-fi Titanium here

 

[Guest]

I just have to ask for the people that have had driver issues with on-board sound.

How Old/Cheep were these MBs?

I mean every computer I've built in the last 10 years on board sound work out-of-the-box with pretty much every OS worth using.

The only time I ever run into sound issues is when working on clients PC's who refuse to use anything other then a dedicated card, Or were 100% dead set on using windows 98/2000.

 

[Lurker101]

I'm still using the onboard sound with my Asus P6T Deluxe V2. I will eventually buy a dedicated sound card, but it's not exactly a high priority since I get adequate surround sound already.

 

[skitzo_zac]

I had a Creative X-Fi XtremeGamer in my old system, no end of issues with the drivers with that card.

My new PC has an Asus Xonar D2X in it, drivers are not perfect, but they are a huge leap over the quality of Creatives!

 

[Guest]

I'm using Razer Barracuda AC-1, and honestly I didn't hear any difference between this and the Realtek HD onboard, maybe I should change my speakers.

 

[Guest]

I am using Asus Xonar D2X PCI-E card.

The switch was forced when my left channel jack on the motherboard stopped working making onboard useless to me.

I was always one of those guys that knew that onboard sound these days is just as good as dedicated solutions... I WAS WRONG.

The sound with the xonar is purer, the range is more balanced, I can honestly say that everything simply sounds better on it, this is no placebo effect, this is real.

 

[Guest]

I have a heavily modified Asus ST in a purpose built audio-only PC that has a linear power supply (AMB labs Sigma11). You can have a look at it at www.diyparadise.com . I also have a PC with a modified Onkyo SE-200 PCI and this PC uses a Silverstone ST40NF psu. PC soundcards can reach hifi levels but it takes some time and knowledge/experience with electronics to do it. It would be quite wrong to dismiss them.

 

[Guest]

Stopped using dedicated sound cards years ago - I see absolutely no reason for them today (just like modems - obsolete)

 

[spikester48661]

rockfish 7.1 sound card

 

[fpsgamerJR62]

I have a Creative X-Fi XtremeMusic on my XP machine with Altec Lansing ATP5 speakers. For my newer Windows 7 64-bit machine, I'm getting an Auzentech X-Fi Forte 7.1 PCIE sound card to be connected to an Altec Lansing 4121 2.1 speaker system. The same X-Fi hardware without the hassle of Creative's sometimes flaky drivers.

 

[cyriene]

I have been using Corsair headphone that process the sound so I don't even use the onboard sound anymore.

 

[Johny47]

I'm not sure if it 'reduces strain from the CPU' in games or something but I have the creative Sound Blaster Audigy, nice little card and cost almost nothing.

I have Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit and yeah i works well with it.

 

[Archean]

Since I dumped my last creative card 3 +/- years ago I haven't bothered about buying another one, as onboard sound just about do the job now, hence the need for dedicated sound card isn't there for me. For people who use their PCs for music or things like that may have other ideas though.

 

[bioflex]

Onboard sound card FTW...i guess

 

[FLHR]

On board sound for me for years, just seemed to make sense not to spend the extra monies on a extra sound card,

 

[milford50]

Xonar DX and HD 555 is like heaven on earth