Need Help Deciding on a sound card.

DEATH

DEATH

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Need some of you guys opinions on a sound card - im thinking of getting a nice headset with all the bells and whistles for some optimal sound performance (as much as I can get out of a headset)

I was wondering if anyone has some opinions as to what sound card I should get + what headset I should get.

Really want people to reply who have great sound performance or knows a thing or to.

Thanks =P
 
usb headset can give you this without having to buy a sound card
 
sound card takes away the load off your cpu - which is what Im going for - gives you more detail also in sound - and better gaming performance because your cpu has to use less processing power.
 
Asus Xonar STX & Beyerdynamic MMX300. Will cost you a cool $350 for the headphones, though.
 
DEATH said:
sound card takes away the load off your cpu - which is what Im going for - gives you more detail also in sound - and better gaming performance because your cpu has to use less processing power.
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With the processors that we got now, don't think it slow it down.
For the quality, not sure either, but possible I would have to do some research to confirm
 
My advice if you really, really want to go to a sound card is to stay the Hell away from Creative. I have put these in a few rigs that required a bit more than your average sound, and the customers have been very pleased. Spec wise they are great. As I am part deaf now a days I can't justify the sound experience from a personal perspective to you.

Newegg.com - Computer Hardware, Soundcards, Speakers & Headsets, Sound Cards, HT Omega
 
Asus Xonar STX
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I have the Asus Xonar Essence STX and love it dearly. Chuck has one and Balls recently got one too and both said it was a dramatic difference. Check it out, you can't go wrong IMO with this card.
 
On-board sound will do you just fine, if not better then *most* dedicated sound cards. If you are getting 50+ FPS, you are fine. Obviously, Sixer's card is an exception.
 
sixer9682 said:
I have the Asus Xonar Essence STX and love it dearly. Chuck has one and Balls recently got one too and both said it was a dramatic difference. Check it out, you can't go wrong IMO with this card.
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The Xonar STX is a pretty good step. I have no need for one (I use Toslink & a stereo D/A converted) but their headphone section is pretty much the best for a sound card.
 
You've gotta be a pretty hardcore audiophile to actually invest in a soundcard these days.

Taking off sound processing from the CPU = LOL these days. I think those concerns were pretty much moot about 5 years ago, and today they're just ridiculous/stupid. Even if a game was implemented to take advantage of the pathetic processing capabilities of a sound card, the "offloaded" load would probably be like 1% of the processor's capability anyway... and most games today are not.

EAX 5.0 is unfortunately dying. All the effects in BC2 and BF3 are completely CPU-based, and sound exactly the same (except any fluff (proprietary post-processing a la X-Fi "Crystalizer")/electronics (amp?) quality) on an on-board "card" as they do on a dedicated card...

The last "generation" of games to really use hardcore EAX 5.0 was 2005-6-7 I think, which is where the engine for BF2/2142 came from anyway.

Gosh, I miss aureal. They were really doing some cool stuff for sound processing back in the days. I sometimes wonder where we'd be today had they not died.
 
Well after few hours of talking with you and nobody was answering me, I find ou that my mic is dead... :(
After I read on usb headset performance, it makes sense that audio card provide more quality cause the usb needs a kind of an audio card in the headset to perform.
Im supposed to have way more money in a few, so now I'll go cheap and buy something like this (anyways always good to have a backup headset): Newegg.ca - ROCCAT Kulo 3.5mm/ USB Connector Supra-aural Virtual 7.1 Gaming Headset
[video=youtube_share;fT0B4VXVH8A]http://youtu.be/fT0B4VXVH8A[/video]
 
On-board sound will do you just fine, if not better then *most* dedicated sound cards. If you are getting 50+ FPS, you are fine. Obviously, Sixer's card is an exception.
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Yeah, I got really picky about the sound and despite what some say there is a dramatic difference with this sound card and onboard sound since the card includes an amplifier...things go BOOM now!
 
sixer9682 said:
Yeah, I got really picky about the sound and despite what some say there is a dramatic difference with this sound card and onboard sound since the card includes an amplifier...things go BOOM now!
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More like, things go BOOM now and really rumble. You seemingly miss an entire octave when using the integrated audio's 3.5mm ports. I don't know exactly how well the Xonar STX will do but I know it's got a good chipset and the headphone is no slacker either. It's probably equal or a little better than a Zero DAC/Amp.
 
The amplifier is why I posted the sound cards I did. I currently use a Corsair headst and on board sound does not have enough amplification for the drivers. If you must have it louder the link I posted will not disappoint you.
 
I do have to say, shit is too loud most of the time now. I keep my Win7 sound settings at 75%, in game sounds at 70% and my headphone sound is turned all the way down and big explosions make my ears cringe sometimes, just how I like to hear shit :)
 
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