Onboard sound for gaming?

[phantom8]

I'm currently using AD1988B onboard sound on a Asus P5K-E Mobo for gaming. I've an old soundblaster Audigy 2 ZS laying around unused. Should I use the ZS instead of onboard sound? Which 1 will be better for gaming in terms of CPU utilization & sound quality? Thanks in advance for any pointers.

 

[Asylum]

I would say the Audigy would have better sound..install it and see what you think...shouldnt take but 30 minutes to install and test it.

 

[phantom8]

How about CPU utilitzation? Which 1 will be better?

 

[btarunr]

Audigy will be better. Use the latest drivers.

 

[Deleted member 24505]

I'm using adi2000b onboard to my sony av amp using a coaxial cable,the sound in all the games i have tried is fine.Who cares about cpu utilization with a dual or quad core chip.

 

[DonInKansas]

Audigy will be better. Use the latest drivers.

QFT. I just found the latest driver dated July 17th 2008 and it's a big upgrade in Vista. It was working okay before but flawless now.

 

[btarunr]

I care about output quality, positional audio, effects. Even if games don't support those effects, even the output quality is worth it.

 

[bluefoxx]

the audiogy will be better in spite of age, since it is a dedicated chip. it is also probabally made better than some section of the onboard chipset in your motherboard[assuming that they did what most mobos ive seen do and integrated the sound into the north/south bridge.]

 

[JC316]

The Audigy will be better. I use onboard, but if I had a soundcard lying around, I would use it. Going out and buying one is a different story.

 

[PP Mguire]

Since its an Audigy 2 im gonna say use that. If it was anything lower id say no and that its pointless. I have an Audigy MP3+ and a Live! 24bit but these things are just pants :/

 

[ktr]

Go for the Audigy. It has EAX 4.0, which is very popular in about all games. Your onboard has EAX 2.0, which is really outdated.

 

[Duxx]

What games are you playing?

 

[Pinchy]

Seeing as you have the card...why not just put it in ?

It will deffo be better than your onboard. Might not be much better...but its not like your going to pay for it lol.

 

[phantom8]

Thanks a lot for the suggestions. I will dig out my old Audigy 2 ZS and put in my rig.

 

[Wingo101]

A sound card is better than onboard sound. It takes the strain off the cpu.

 

[Jmatt110]

I was in the same position as you when I first got my mobo, to use onboard or my old Audigy 2 Value. Decided to put the Audigy in one day and I must say it was better than the onboard. And then my Audigy died a few days ago lol, time for a Prelude

 

[BrankoJ]

I have exactly the same issue... I have Terratec Aureon 5.1 Fun leftover from my previous rig 2 years ago... My mobo is Asus P5K. I'm nt sure my Aureon 5.1 Fun is much better than the integrated audio.

 

[Wingo101]

I have exactly the same issue... I have Terratec Aureon 5.1 Fun leftover from my previous rig 2 years ago... My mobo is Asus P5K. I'm nt sure my Aureon 5.1 Fun is much better than the integrated audio.

Well your mobo supports 7.1ch audio, but if you don't have 7.1ch speakers it would be better to use your sound card.

Edit: Just remember to download the latest drivers.

 

[bluefoxx]

i just use onboard sound since its better than the cmi8738 card i have laying around, not to mention that my last free slots were used up by a scsi card and tv tuner card

 

[PP Mguire]

A sound card is better than onboard sound. It takes the strain off the cpu.

With fast dual and quad cores it really dosent matter anymore. Quality becomes more of an importance and if you dont have an Audigy 2 ZS above or equivalent then it isnt really worth getting off onboard sound.