What audio device for gaming pc?

keropi · 31 August 2007, 08:50

[since there is no OT section that ppl might actually check, I post here my pc question... posts here are deleted automatically after inactivity, right?)

I have upgraded a little my home pc, and now it actually plays modern games...
I have a PeniumD 920 dual-core 4mb cache 2.80hgz cpu with 2GB DDR2 ram , a Biostar 8600GTS vga on an Asrock ConRoe1333-GLAN mobo...
now the onboard audio is: "7.1 CH Windows® Vista™ Premium Level HD Audio (ALC888 Audio Codec)" and I also have a SB Audigy1 pci card, that I used on my previous setup... what audio do u think I should use? right now I have the Audigy installed, but I wonder if the onboard one is better...

also, WTH after all drivers and windows updates, the system cannot standby/shutdown? I get the lame "you can now safely turn off your computer" screen!!!!! damn!
edit: now I see there are no ACPI devices installed... strange, since the BIOS acpi settings are enabled!

thanks!

AMIGAZ · 31 August 2007, 10:31

Man, with that horsepower you got you should try out Vista...maybe your "Vista" onboard sound then will blow your Audigy out of the sky

keropi · 31 August 2007, 10:34

bah amigo, I am not that curious... not because I think vista is not good, time must pass until almost all progs adapt to vista

AMIGAZ · 31 August 2007, 10:44

What are the specs of your Audigy1?

keropi · 31 August 2007, 11:13

dunno, it is an audigy1 LOL
btw, the acpi prob is gone after a BIOS update and re-installation of xp...

jimbo100 · 31 August 2007, 13:07

Well I recently updated from A Pentium 4 3.2GHz CPU with SB Audigy card to a new ASUS mainboard with onboard 7.1 audio and Quad Core CPU and I have to say the onboard sound is miles in front of the old Audigy card.

Ditch the Audigy card and use the onboard sound!

Bloodwych · 31 August 2007, 13:25

I’ll help you decide, although it depends on what you want from your PC and the operating system you end up with.

Onboard sound uses software (therefore the CPU) to process the actual sound and an onboard DAC (digital to analog converter) on the motherboard to output it to your speakers. This is of course bypassed if you use digital not analog out on the back of your PC. This is described as “software” sound.

Soundcards on the other hand do the processing of the sound instead of the CPU, so generally should have lower CPU utilization. They usually have better quality DAC’s as well. This is known as hardware (accelerated) sound.

In the past, hardware sound was more desirable as onboard used to suck CPU cycles and the DACS were of poor quality to keep motherboard costs down.

Today however, CPU’s are so powerful that the overhead from processing sound is minimal in comparison to hardware solutions. Motherboard DACS are also of higher quality than the past offerings and for general use you’d be hard pressed to notice a difference between hardware and software. If the software solution has good drivers and a better DAC than the soundcard, the onboard may even be better!

Now for games.

If you’re using Windows XP and games are important, check what version of EAX is supported. I’ll guarantee your onboard sound will only support up to EAX2, as Creative copyrighted anything higher. If your Audigy supports a higher version, then it’ll enjoy better support and effects in EAX games.

If you go over to Vista, hardware sound is no longer supported and it will be done in software regardless. Microsoft decided to officially drop hardware-accelerated sound (much to Creatives annoyance I’m sure). The sound to choose then would be the option that has the better drivers and OpenAL support, as that’s the new standard.

keropi · 31 August 2007, 13:51

bah... when I upgrade to vista, I'll ditch the audigy

thanks all!

jmmijo · 31 August 2007, 16:09

I prefer to us the Soundblaster X-Fi for my gaming and general audio needs.

So far I see no need to upgrade to Vista.

AMIGAZ · 31 August 2007, 17:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmmijo

I prefer to us the Soundblaster X-Fi for my gaming and general audio needs.

So far I see no need to upgrade to Vista.

Vista is for those who want to make good use of their RAM

Mad-Matt · 31 August 2007, 21:43

doesnt really matter too much what you use under vista as all sound is mixed in software as hardware acceleration has been removes for ..stability .... .
to get Hardware accelerated effects the game would have to support OpenAL or work with the directsound emulator.

The audigy1 isnt a bad card but its also not 24bit as its advatised to be.there are very few onboard solutions that will compete with it though. if your board comes with a realtec chipset than any sound card is better

31 August 2007, 08:50	#1
keropi . Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Ioannina/Greece Posts: 5,040	What audio device for gaming pc? [since there is no OT section that ppl might actually check, I post here my pc question... posts here are deleted automatically after inactivity, right?) I have upgraded a little my home pc, and now it actually plays modern games... I have a PeniumD 920 dual-core 4mb cache 2.80hgz cpu with 2GB DDR2 ram , a Biostar 8600GTS vga on an Asrock ConRoe1333-GLAN mobo... now the onboard audio is: "7.1 CH Windows® Vista™ Premium Level HD Audio (ALC888 Audio Codec)" and I also have a SB Audigy1 pci card, that I used on my previous setup... what audio do u think I should use? right now I have the Audigy installed, but I wonder if the onboard one is better... also, WTH after all drivers and windows updates, the system cannot standby/shutdown? I get the lame "you can now safely turn off your computer" screen!!!!! damn! edit: now I see there are no ACPI devices installed... strange, since the BIOS acpi settings are enabled! thanks! Last edited by keropi; 31 August 2007 at 09:25.

31 August 2007, 13:25	#7
Bloodwych Moderator Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: I'm behind you! Posts: 3,763	I’ll help you decide, although it depends on what you want from your PC and the operating system you end up with. Onboard sound uses software (therefore the CPU) to process the actual sound and an onboard DAC (digital to analog converter) on the motherboard to output it to your speakers. This is of course bypassed if you use digital not analog out on the back of your PC. This is described as “software” sound. Soundcards on the other hand do the processing of the sound instead of the CPU, so generally should have lower CPU utilization. They usually have better quality DAC’s as well. This is known as hardware (accelerated) sound. In the past, hardware sound was more desirable as onboard used to suck CPU cycles and the DACS were of poor quality to keep motherboard costs down. Today however, CPU’s are so powerful that the overhead from processing sound is minimal in comparison to hardware solutions. Motherboard DACS are also of higher quality than the past offerings and for general use you’d be hard pressed to notice a difference between hardware and software. If the software solution has good drivers and a better DAC than the soundcard, the onboard may even be better! Now for games. If you’re using Windows XP and games are important, check what version of EAX is supported. I’ll guarantee your onboard sound will only support up to EAX2, as Creative copyrighted anything higher. If your Audigy supports a higher version, then it’ll enjoy better support and effects in EAX games. If you go over to Vista, hardware sound is no longer supported and it will be done in software regardless. Microsoft decided to officially drop hardware-accelerated sound (much to Creatives annoyance I’m sure). The sound to choose then would be the option that has the better drivers and OpenAL support, as that’s the new standard. Last edited by Bloodwych; 31 August 2007 at 13:39.

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31 August 2007, 10:31	#2
AMIGAZ Amiga-Mad Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Sweden Age: 47 Posts: 1,291	Man, with that horsepower you got you should try out Vista...maybe your "Vista" onboard sound then will blow your Audigy out of the sky

31 August 2007, 10:34	#3
keropi . Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Ioannina/Greece Posts: 5,040	bah amigo, I am not that curious... not because I think vista is not good, time must pass until almost all progs adapt to vista

31 August 2007, 10:44	#4
AMIGAZ Amiga-Mad Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Sweden Age: 47 Posts: 1,291	What are the specs of your Audigy1?

31 August 2007, 11:13	#5
keropi . Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Ioannina/Greece Posts: 5,040	dunno, it is an audigy1 LOL btw, the acpi prob is gone after a BIOS update and re-installation of xp...

31 August 2007, 13:07	#6
jimbo100 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Western Australia Age: 55 Posts: 225	Well I recently updated from A Pentium 4 3.2GHz CPU with SB Audigy card to a new ASUS mainboard with onboard 7.1 audio and Quad Core CPU and I have to say the onboard sound is miles in front of the old Audigy card. Ditch the Audigy card and use the onboard sound!

31 August 2007, 13:51	#8
keropi . Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Ioannina/Greece Posts: 5,040	bah... when I upgrade to vista, I'll ditch the audigy thanks all!

31 August 2007, 16:09	#9
jmmijo Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: PDX Age: 62 Posts: 2,396	I prefer to us the Soundblaster X-Fi for my gaming and general audio needs. So far I see no need to upgrade to Vista.

31 August 2007, 21:43	#11
Mad-Matt Longplayer Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Lincoln / UK Age: 45 Posts: 1,853	doesnt really matter too much what you use under vista as all sound is mixed in software as hardware acceleration has been removes for ..stability .... . to get Hardware accelerated effects the game would have to support OpenAL or work with the directsound emulator. The audigy1 isnt a bad card but its also not 24bit as its advatised to be.there are very few onboard solutions that will compete with it though. if your board comes with a realtec chipset than any sound card is better

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