audio card ...

[copenhagen69]

Been thinking about getting an audio card for awhile, but I really have no idea where to start ...

Would like to spend under $100 as I really only game and listen to some music every now and then. So top of the line is not what I am after ..

any help would be amazing!!

[streetfighter 2]

I may get lambasted for saying it, but the first thing I consider when looking at sound cards is what speakers/equipment I'm planning to attach it to (and how I'm planning to attach it).

That being said most people on TPU have one of the following brands:
Auzentech
Asus
HT Omega

[FreedomEclipse]

Xonar DX would be a nice one. or if you want something just 'better' then builtin sound then take the Xonar DS - its real cheap. otherwise a DX is recommended if you can afford it but it wont sound as amazing as a Xonar ST/STX or Creative titanium HD

[CJCerny]

Xonar DG is $30 in the U.S. and a great place to start.

[sy5tem]

Originally Posted by copenhagen69

Been thinking about getting an audio card for awhile, but I really have no idea where to start ...

Would like to spend under $100 as I really only game and listen to some music every now and then. So top of the line is not what I am after ..

any help would be amazing!!

the question is why ? :P you have onboard audio , quality is not good for ya? if so then yeah azentech are goods.... i used to buy premium sound card... last one was creative x-fi platinium pci-e ... lol its now resting on my desk takin dust .... :P

onboard sound work just great these day :P

[Kursah]

Originally Posted by sy5tem

the question is why ? :P you have onboard audio , quality is not good for ya? if so then yeah azentech are goods.... i used to buy premium sound card... last one was creative x-fi platinium pci-e ... lol its now resting on my desk takin dust .... :P

onboard sound work just great these day :P

Call me picky, but I can notice a HUGE difference between onboard and an add-in sound card. At least with the array MB's I have experience with, ranging from older intel to newer 1156 stuff, a couple AMD solutions, etc. Especially if using headphones for music/gaming/movies, it can make a massive difference in the overall sound amount and quality, at least to my ears, a cheap, old used X-Fi Xtreme Music stomped every onboard solution I've ever listened to, including those that claim X-Fi with software and mini-add-in sound cards.

For most people though, onboard is plenty that is true. Less hassle, less space taken up, less slots used, etc. I've had my Auzen X-Fi Forte for going on two years, and I use it almost every day whether through headphones or speakers, and I can't praise it enough. But again, even an old, cheap x-fi will do a bang up job. Ymmv, but to me it's absolutely worth it to get a sound card if you want more sound, better sound and much more tunable to your likings kind of audio, again IMO and YMMV.

[FreedomEclipse]

Originally Posted by Kursah

Call me picky, but I can notice a HUGE difference between onboard and an add-in sound card. At least with the array MB's I have experience with, ranging from older intel to newer 1156 stuff, a couple AMD solutions, etc. Especially if using headphones for music/gaming/movies, it can make a massive difference in the overall sound amount and quality, at least to my ears, a cheap, old used X-Fi Xtreme Music stomped every onboard solution I've ever listened to, including those that claim X-Fi with software and mini-add-in sound cards.

For most people though, onboard is plenty that is true. Less hassle, less space taken up, less slots used, etc. I've had my Auzen X-Fi Forte for going on two years, and I use it almost every day whether through headphones or speakers, and I can't praise it enough. But again, even an old, cheap x-fi will do a bang up job. Ymmv, but to me it's absolutely worth it to get a sound card if you want more sound, better sound and much more tunable to your likings kind of audio, again IMO and YMMV.

+1

Thats why I have a Xonar STX - £140 of pure win