http://canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=40&item_id=014775 Creative Sound Blaster X-FI Xtreme Audio PCI 7.1. The price is $30 so im worried if its much better than whats already onboard motherboard. Also does anyone know if it has a headphone amp onboard?
It seems like onboard audio has gotten better over the years, and while I have the "Xtreme Music" x-fi card somewhere around here, I've been using onboard for the last several years. In reality, to hear a difference it depends on your speakers/headphones/receiver.
All sound cards, including your motherboard, have a headphone amp; what varies is the level of quality.
In general you're going to want to look into the Asus Xonar line of cards, which are pretty much top-of-the-line at the moment. Their STX has significant shielding and a high-quality headphone amplifier section. Youmight also consider a USB headphone amp, like something from Fiio, given your budget if it's a $30 card you're looking at.
Consider carefully how much benefit you'll see depending on your headphones, as well. Some are more power-hungry than others.
The XtremeAudio is a fake. If you're going to buy an X-Fi card, step up to something with an actual EMU20k1 or EMU20k2 DSP. Heck, if you're only going to be using headphones, stereo speakers, or 5.1 via S/PDIF and Dolby Digital/AC-3, get the Titanium HD if your budget can stretch that far. But if you want to keep it cheap: Xonar DG. US$30 at the most, probably less with discount codes. You might also want to check out these tweaked drivers. If your budget is limited, you're better off dedicating most of it toward the actual speakers/headphones to begin with if you don't already have any good ones. Once you have a competent set, you'll probably notice some hiss and buzzing when moving the mouse or have heavy disk activity going, and that's where the sound card really pays off.
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