Audio Question

I know everybody says that using a dedicated sound card is better than using integrated sound, so I just thought I'd ask a question. (sorry, I know there's a better way to word that but whatever.)

Anyways, I will be getting a DFI Lanparty mobo this summer and there's integrated sound on it. It is the Realtek ALC885. I do have a dedicated sound card. Does anybody know if the EMU10K1 processor from Creative is better than the Realtek? It's like 1998 or something. The name of the sound card is Creative Sound Blaster Live! SE. It's 24-bit.

 

I use onboard audio for everything. If you're looking for louder output, you'll need an amplifier. A pair of speakers can do that. I always plug my headphones in the maxed-out speakers and use Windows volume to control volume.

 

I was thinking in terms of sound quality, because apparently some cards render better than others. I have also heard that onboard sound takes away from your CPU cycles (or something). I just want to make the most of sound quality because I have a 5.1 surround sound already which I am using on the Creative sound card.

 

There are several benifits to having a separate sound card in place of onboard sound, saving cpu cycles is probably not one of them. The biggest complaint about onboard sound is because the sound systems wiring on the mobo runs so close to other wires on the circuit board that cross talk results and creates noise in the background. Plugging the card in an available pci slot gets the wiring away from the board and produces a cleaner sound. Also if you google "alternate drivers for creative sound card" you will find several people have made drivers for the creative cards with much better sound than creatives own drivers. They even allow you to use Audigy4 drivers on a Creative Live card.

Code:

http://kxproject.lugosoft.com/index.php?skip=1

Code:

http://www.driverheaven.net/kx-project-audio-driver-support-forum/

Try those drivers.

 

Alright, thanks. I'll do those when I get my new computer. Meanwhile, I will save the links so I won't have to ask again.

Thianks

 

Yup, the onboard audio does make use of the cpu, so do an add-on sound card cuz it needs drivers to work. The driver will use some cpu resources. I don't think that's a big concern as the cpu usage is under 5-10%.

Many other tasks will use the cpu resources as well. Like background apps, or even in-game engines/subroutines. Also, other parts' drivers. Like onboard LAN.

However, with a good sound card supporting EAX, you can tell where for example a gun shot is fired.