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#3559304 - 04/19/12 06:16 PM Do we still need a soundcard these days???
Ironman69 Offline
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Registered: 07/24/06
Posts: 35
Loc: Arizona
I'm gonna upgrade my old rig for a new one. Do modern rigs need a soundcard anymore? If so, which one?


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#3559309 - 04/19/12 06:24 PM Re: Do we still need a soundcard these days??? [Re: Ironman69]
SlipBall Offline
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Registered: 05/13/06
Posts: 622
Loc: East Coast U.S.A.
I think so...I went to Creative for 64b Win7 drivers for my old Sound Blaster, huge sound improvement with Clod..........you could get a used one dirt cheap on e-bay, just make sure of the drivers availability first


Edited by SlipBall (04/19/12 06:35 PM)
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#3559315 - 04/19/12 06:30 PM Re: Do we still need a soundcard these days??? [Re: Ironman69]
FearlessFrog Offline
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Registered: 01/08/09
Posts: 4325
Loc: Vancouver, BC
On a motherboard worth $100 bought in the last two years then probably a 'no' vote from me. If you are an audiophile and need nice outputs or cleaner sound then a maybe I guess. For about $70 they seem a good deal, but it might be worth trying without one and using on-board first.

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#3559550 - 04/20/12 04:12 AM Re: Do we still need a soundcard these days??? [Re: Ironman69]
Coda Offline
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Registered: 03/05/12
Posts: 24
If you are an audiophile then you are using the optical (TOSlink) or the Coax SPDIF output anyway, connected to a decent and DAC and amplifier. I think all modern motherboards provide one or both of these today. DAC+Amp outside of the electromagnetic jungle which is a PC is always the best option IMHO.

Me? I'm still listening to 2.0 direct from the motherboard. For Clod the sound quality is not the biggest issue :-)

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#3559611 - 04/20/12 08:56 AM Re: Do we still need a soundcard these days??? [Re: Ironman69]
Charlie_SB Offline
Member

Registered: 10/16/05
Posts: 354
Good question, I opted for no new sound card on my lastest two computers. Haven't missed it at all except for the midi connection for my keyboard. Now I run a set of logitech usb headphones and have no complaints on the sound what so ever.

I'd say, save the money or spend it on something else

-C-
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#3559680 - 04/20/12 10:14 AM Re: Do we still need a soundcard these days??? [Re: Charlie_SB]
Coda Offline
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Registered: 03/05/12
Posts: 24
Originally Posted By: Charlie_SB
Good question, I opted for no new sound card on my lastest two computers. Haven't missed it at all except for the midi connection for my keyboard.

Speaking of Midi, you can get USB->Midi cables from China dirt cheap these days. The one I bought cost about $7 from DealExtreme.

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#3559704 - 04/20/12 10:59 AM Re: Do we still need a soundcard these days??? [Re: Ironman69]
Para_Bellum Offline
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Registered: 01/18/01
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I haven't bothered with a dedicated soundcard for quite a few years now. I do run the sounds through my quality hi-fi system though. Explosions literally shake my cupboards...

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#3559726 - 04/20/12 11:38 AM Re: Do we still need a soundcard these days??? [Re: Ironman69]
Force10 Offline
I'm just a
Member

Registered: 07/10/05
Posts: 1416
Loc: CA
I did a poll on this very question awhile back, here are the results:


http://simhq.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/ub...tml#Post3376490


Almost down the middle. For gaming I don't think it's really crucial anymore.
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#3562413 - 04/25/12 08:00 AM Re: Do we still need a soundcard these days??? [Re: Ironman69]
W1ndy Offline
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Registered: 02/21/10
Posts: 243
Anyone want to buy my Xonar DX 7.1 ?

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#3565680 - 05/01/12 03:47 PM Re: Do we still need a soundcard these days??? [Re: Ironman69]
swampyankee Offline
Junior Member

Registered: 02/15/12
Posts: 21
If your sound isn't coming from a dedicated card doesn't your performance take a hit since resources from your mem(?) are needed to run the sound? Like the hit taken if you try running on the onboard video.
I'm thinking of buying a sound card myself to avoid this hit, if it exists, I haven't a clue, ergo the question.

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