should i get a soundcard

[elviron1]

going to buy a new PC thinking of this one hellhound gaming pc it only has onboard sound will this be decent sound or should i upgrade the pc with a soundcard? ill be mainly using it for gaming and maybe watching the odd movie

 

[sheroo]

Dude, I don't think many people would recommend that you buy a rig based on Bulldozer. Sandy Bridge 1155 is your best bang for your buck atm. For most people on board sound is sufficient, especially if you don't have a decent sound system or good headphones to put it through - its a bit of a waste. However if you are in the market for a sound card look at the Asus Xonar range.

 

[fcb]

Yup, for most people the onboard audio is quite sufficient. But, if you really wanted to get into sound cards, you can always start off with a budget oriented sound card for gamers, the Asus Xonar DG.

For your reference, here's the review Bryan has done on the Xonar DG. It's definitely a worthy investment.

ASUS Xonar DG Review

 

[Excalabur50]

Gotta agree with CocaCola.

 

[sleepylilazn]

Always get good speakers/headphones first. Better speakers will give a much more significant difference in sound quality than adding in a sound card. Once you have good speakers then ask yourself "Am I satisfied with the sound that I have?" If yes, then you don't need a sound card. If no, then you might need a sound card. If you were to get a decent budget sound card, then I would recommend the ASUS Xonar DX. If price is not an issue, then ASUS Xonar Essence.

EDIT: For your situation, I think you do not need a sound card. Honestly, people usually get a sound card for music.