Audio vs Sound Card

This topic is locked from further discussion.

Avatar image for zanelli
zanelli

1224

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 4

User Lists: 2

#1 zanelli  Moderator
Member since 2006 • 1224 Posts

Okay this is a bit of a strange question.

For gaming and general sound quality is it better to go for a Creative X-Fi Sound sound card or an industry standard audio card like this one?

http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/shop/flypage/product_id/1142

This is because I need to ugrade my sound card, but would like one that'll do all the media side of stuff, like 5.1 and in game sound optimization, but I could also plug my guitar in and have some fun.

Would I lose most or all of the media and gaming stuff if I got a audio card? or can the X-Fi ones do zero latency sound input?

Avatar image for Daytona_178
Daytona_178

14962

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 4

User Lists: 0

#2 Daytona_178
Member since 2005 • 14962 Posts
Get the Creative X-Fi Xterme Gamer,,,its the best bang for buck by far!
Avatar image for theragu40
theragu40

3332

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 6

User Lists: 0

#3 theragu40
Member since 2005 • 3332 Posts
I guarantee very few people here are going to be able to give you a decent response, because no one here will have had any experience with anything beyond standard sound cards. So of course people are going to say "GET THE X-FI LOL", because that's all they have ever used besides onboard audio. The X-Fi is great, but I am not sure that it will do the zero-latency stuff that an audiophile-grade card like the one you're looking at would. On the other hand, it's pretty obvious that the m-audio card you linked to does not have all of the features (EAX, etc) that an X-Fi would. Are there higher grade audio cards you can get? I am no expert on this stuff...but just wanted to point out that few people will be, since this is primarily a PC gaming hardware forum. EDIT: Also, in reading through the reviews for that card you posted a link to...it looks as though it is not Vista compatible, so watch out for that. I love the reviewer that says "it's not m-audio's fault there are no Vista drivers, it's Microsoft's fault". What a dope. Drivers are made by the hardware manufacturer, my friend. Sorry.
Avatar image for zanelli
zanelli

1224

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 4

User Lists: 2

#4 zanelli  Moderator
Member since 2006 • 1224 Posts
[QUOTE="theragu40"]I guarantee very few people here are going to be able to give you a decent response, because no one here will have had any experience with anything beyond standard sound cards. So of course people are going to say "GET THE X-FI LOL", because that's all they have ever used besides onboard audio. The X-Fi is great, but I am not sure that it will do the zero-latency stuff that an audiophile-grade card like the one you're looking at would. On the other hand, it's pretty obvious that the m-audio card you linked to does not have all of the features (EAX, etc) that an X-Fi would. Are there higher grade audio cards you can get? I am no expert on this stuff...but just wanted to point out that few people will be, since this is primarily a PC gaming hardware forum. EDIT: Also, in reading through the reviews for that card you posted a link to...it looks as though it is not Vista compatible, so watch out for that. I love the reviewer that says "it's not m-audio's fault there are no Vista drivers, it's Microsoft's fault". What a dope. Drivers are made by the hardware manufacturer, my friend. Sorry.

Hmm yeah vista drivers would be a problem, but I guess it's the price we pay to play with dX10.

Seen I'm mainly tring to get a card that'll improve sound and overall game proformance, I might be better off going with the X-Fi. The abillty to do advance sound recording and added effects with a guitar would be an extra

If anyone knows of a resonable card that'll do both then please let me know, I should be purchasing one in the next week for christmas

Avatar image for cornholio157
cornholio157

4603

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 6

User Lists: 0

#5 cornholio157
Member since 2005 • 4603 Posts
these are a bit pricy but are an amazing card, i even found the uk site for you http://www.amazon.co.uk/Barracuda%1A%C3%A3%C2%A2-AC-1-Gaming-Audio-Card/dp/B000IBV8SE/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1229087874&sr=8-4
Avatar image for RayvinAzn
RayvinAzn

12552

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#6 RayvinAzn
Member since 2004 • 12552 Posts
The Auzentech X-Fi Prelude or ASUS Xonar D2 would be your best bet for both high-quality audio and gaming. For pure sound production, I'd look to E-MU.
Avatar image for zanelli
zanelli

1224

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 4

User Lists: 2

#7 zanelli  Moderator
Member since 2006 • 1224 Posts
Thnak you all very much, seems the Auzentech X-Fi Prelude is as close as I'll get to a gamer sound card with near zero latency sound input. It's a bit of a streach for my christmas bonus but I'm sure it'll be worth it.
Avatar image for Baselerd
Baselerd

5104

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 14

User Lists: 0

#8 Baselerd
Member since 2003 • 5104 Posts
[QUOTE="theragu40"]I guarantee very few people here are going to be able to give you a decent response, because no one here will have had any experience with anything beyond standard sound cards. So of course people are going to say "GET THE X-FI LOL", because that's all they have ever used besides onboard audio. The X-Fi is great, but I am not sure that it will do the zero-latency stuff that an audiophile-grade card like the one you're looking at would. On the other hand, it's pretty obvious that the m-audio card you linked to does not have all of the features (EAX, etc) that an X-Fi would. Are there higher grade audio cards you can get? I am no expert on this stuff...but just wanted to point out that few people will be, since this is primarily a PC gaming hardware forum.

If he wants professional quality audio, he's going to be looking to spend waaay more than $70. Also, that M-Audio card at first glance seems kind of gimmicky. Obviously nothing can have zero-latency, and it has a pretty low sample rate on the ATD.
Browse Boards
Jump to Top

×

Move topic to another board

Pick a board and hit submit

  • (Or search for a more specific forum)
    • Close