Onboard audio vs. Audigy

[Memnok]

First off, this is my first post at OC3D, so hello to everyone out there!

I am building a new system and would like some advise about audio. At the moment I am leaning towareds the Gigabyte GA-X38-DQ6 for the mothrboard on my new system. It has on-board ALC889A 7.1+2 Channel High Definition audio, but I have been told that using the on-board audio is a sugnificant dragg on the system.

I have a PCI Soundblaster Audigy Platinum, but it is fairly old.

Would I be better off using the on-board ALC889A, or should I stick the Soundblaster in a PCI slot?

Thanks

Clint

 

[Ham]

On-board sound has taken jump to be more than acceptable quality these days. But if you have the card sitting around you may as well install it.

Having a separate soundcard takes a little load off the CPU. Also when overclocking you can get stutter syndrome. Which is pretty much what the name implies.

Edit: and welcome to OC3D

 

[Rastalovich]

I *think* Kemp likes his current onboard sound.

I must check it out sometime, it`s almost automatic to me to disable it and chuck in an xfi type card.

These days onboard comes with lots of in/outputs too, spidiffy etc.

 

[Toxcity]

Stick with it mate!

I still have a good old SoundBlaster LIVE 5.1 Digital in my PC, would never swap it for onboard..

WELCOME!

 

[Memnok]

Wow, thanx for the speedee replies! I guess the old Audigy is all I really need anyway, because my Logitec Z5300 speakers only have anilog input.

I'm not that big into the OC scene at the moment. My current Tyan Trinity 510 mobo and P4 2.4 is a bit out of date. I'm hoping to see a bit of a speed boost jumping into an X38 chipset with a CTD.

Memnok

www.mlsr.net

 

[Rastalovich]

2.1 channel sound only - I`d try the onboard first tbh.

AND report back

 

[Toxcity]

2.1 channel sound only - I`d try the onboard first tbh.

AND report back

I have stereo speakers.. and when tested any of my onboard sound chips.. I either get static or the sound has no debth.

I am sticking to my good old SB LIVE. Even if it is 6 years old.

 

[Memnok]

2.1 channel sound only - I`d try the onboard first tbh.

AND report back

In looking at the Creative Audigy web page, it looks like it spports 6.1 in WinXP, and 7.1 with DirectSound 3D games. So maybe it's not all that bad after all.

EDIT: My bad, it is actualy an Audigy Gamer, not an Audigy Platinum. But I dont think the specs are any different.

 

[FarFarAway]

I have stereo speakers.. and when tested any of my onboard sound chips.. I either get static or the sound has no debth.

I am sticking to my good old SB LIVE. Even if it is 6 years old.

The sound from a 5.1 Live! card sucks mad monkey balls when compared to my onboard sound. I used to get stutter and stuff from my DFI board but not had one problem with the high def chip/codec on this IP35 Pro

EDIT: Audigy's are decent cards, but personally I'm 100% fed up with Creative and have vowed not to use their POS card with their POS driver software ever again

 

[Toxcity]

Kemp have you tested this theory? I have HD audio on my Asus board.. and it just sucks.

But I guess I cannot compare.. seeing as I haven't listen to your onboard.. or any other onboards.

But I love my LIVE! And am getting an XF-I which I am looking forward to.

Creative drivers do suck mind you. But there is nothing wrong with the hardware.

 

[FarFarAway]

Kemp have you tested this theory? I have HD audio on my Asus board.. and it just sucks.

But I guess I cannot compare.. seeing as I haven't listen to your onboard.. or any other onboards.

But I love my LIVE! And am getting an XF-I which I am looking forward to.

Creative drivers do suck mind you. But there is nothing wrong with the hardware.

Tested? Yep I have indeed. Not quite sure how you know ur onboard sucks but you haven't ever listened to any onboards

Nothing wrong with the hardware...but then if Nvidia released a card that should work perfectly but was crippled by it's drivers would you buy it?

 

[Toxcity]

Tested? Yep I have indeed. Not quite sure how you know ur onboard sucks but you haven't ever listened to any onboards

Nothing wrong with the hardware...but then if Nvidia released a card that should work perfectly but was crippled by it's drivers would you buy it?

lol, I ment I have only tested my onboard.

You have a point MR Kemp!

-Cough- (a little like ATI.. sorta good hardware.. but pants drivers) -Cough-

I will see how my XF-I stands against my LIVE.. I bet it will blow it out of the water.

But mmm, maybe onboard has taken a new step.

Whats the company that made your audio chip?

 

[FarFarAway]

ATI (actually AMD) drivers are actually not too shabby and certainly more overclocker friendly than Nvidia ones are (who wants to install nTune??)

It's a realtek ALC888 chipset

 

[Rastalovich]

The sound from a 5.1 Live! card sucks mad monkey balls when compared to my onboard sound. I used to get stutter and stuff from my DFI board but not had one problem with the high def chip/codec on this IP35 Pro

EDIT: Audigy's are decent cards, but personally I'm 100% fed up with Creative and have vowed not to use their POS card with their POS driver software ever again

Think that`s an EAX setting Just gotta select NONE in the menu lol

I like the Live! 5.1 cards, but downright have to flipping well agree with ur sentiments in the last paragraph about the drivers and Creative`s attitude tbh.

Realtek are good people, in my book, not just with sound devices. And it would appear that they have close ties with either ms or intel or both, cos if I`ve had an onboard problem with a work pc - there`s a KB for it..

Best thing for every1 tho is that these days there appears to be plenty of competition about for, not necessarily the BEST, but decent sound status.

Live! to XFi cards ?? hmmm jury still out for me, both sound pretty darn good. But I`m older and listen to the likes of Hendrix/AudioSlave and radio stuff alongside game esthetics.

 

[Toxcity]

Hendrix/AudioSlave

Good man Rast! Hendrix is king of all guitariness!