Looking for Sound Card

[Kroma]

I built a new rig after a long time not playing online games. Once battlefield 4 was announced I had to build a new rig for that game. Last piece of the puzzle is a sound card. A lot of controversy over sticking to just onboard, but I find that hard to believe.... I found a local sound card "Creative fatality 7.1 pro" but it's a 5-6 year old card for $70 used. Is this a good buy?, as it supports EAX 5.0 HD or am i missing out on great sound with the newer cards? BTW: I'm using tiamat 7.1 elite.

 

[Excalabur50]

If you can afford it put an Asus D2X or STX stay away from the new Creative cards but the older X-Fi cards are ok although the drivers can be somewhat lacking if you plan on using 8.1 there are major driver issues

 

[Remmy]

If possible I'd try buy an Asus soundcard over Creative, they just tend ot be better quality.

If you're planning on playing though speakers mainly, then the Asus Xonar D2 or D2X will be brilliant. These are practically the same card, except the D2 is for legacy PCI slots, and the D2X for PCIe slots.

If you want an (amazing) soundcard for headphones then the Asus Essence STX is the best around, but it's quite pricey.

 

[SieB]

I just got a Xonar STX yesterday and all I can say is "WOW"
The sound quality it produces is amazing, onboard sound doesn't even come close, not by a long shot.

If I were you, I would definitely go with either the D2X or STX. It depends on what your sound set up is though, the STX can only do 2.1 but it can do 5.1 or 7.1 through the digital out but you need a amp or receiver that is 5.1 or 7.1 and can also handle DTS and Dolby Prologic etc.

If you just have speakers and no amp or receiver, you are better off with the D2X. Only problem is if you plan to use a good pair of headphones that require amplification, the D2X will be no good because it doesn't have a headphone amp, so you would need to buy one separate.

The STX on the otherhand has one built in and is good for any headphones you can throw at it.

If you have the right set up and plan on using headphones = STX
For normal speakers without a amp and you don't plan on using headphones = D2X

 

[Kroma]

If possible I'd try buy an Asus soundcard over Creative, they just tend ot be better quality.

If you're planning on playing though speakers mainly, then the Asus Xonar D2 or D2X will be brilliant. These are practically the same card, except the D2 is for legacy PCI slots, and the D2X for PCIe slots.

If you want an (amazing) soundcard for headphones then the Asus Essence STX is the best around, but it's quite pricey.

I can get the Asus Xonar DSX - 7.1 on sale right now, is that a decent card or is it too old?

 

[Remmy]

The DSX will still be decent quality, but of course it will not perform quite as well as a D2(X) would, simply because it is a cheaper model. It comes down to how much you would like to spend on one I suppose.

 

[Kroma]

I don't want to spend too much on a sound card, but I don't want to spend too little that I'll regret buying it. Around $100 is my target.

 

[Remmy]

Okay, sticking to that budget what about something like this?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829132006

 

[wrenaudrey]

Imo soundcards are one of the components that's actually a good investment as you're not gonna be changing it every time you upgrade. I bought a STX couple of months ago and i dont see myself changing it for the next 4-8years.

But going back on topic, get the best Asus one you can afford.

 

[Kroma]

Is that a card you would highly recommend over http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829102019
that i can get for $70 cash?.......NVM by looking at the specs, the asus is better.

 

[Remmy]

Yeah the Asus is better and it's not much more expensive. Regarding recommendations, I was basing my recommendation of that card on the fact that it was in the Asus D range of cards, and was under $100, I have no personal experience with it.

 

[Kroma]

It gets a lot of bad reviews for driver issues and mic problems that don't seem to been fixed yet... I don't want to spend $100 on problems I'll have to deal with.

 

[Remmy]

Ahh, perhaps don't go with that one then!