On board sound or sound card

[KoN_]

Hi all a quick poll ............i guess

who uses their on board sound card and who uses a sound card . best price and is there a real difference ..

at the moment im using on board sound with my MSi gaming rig .

[Emgy]

Some motherboards have pretty good on-board sound.

 

I have a mid-priced motherboard where the on-board sound produces noticeably poorer quality sound, compared to a decent sound card.

 

Do you use headphones? Some headphones need some power to run well, and cheap on-board simply does not provide the amps for that. I have a headset which barely produces bass when I used it with this on-board sound.

 

(Some headsets designed for mobile use, like portapros, run well even on low power.)

 

And even if you are using just speakers, you don't need to be an audiophile to hear the difference between a low quality on-board soundcard and a decent (not very expensive) Asus xonar or soundblaster model.

Edited September 4, 2014 by Calvamos

[Vaxxtx]

I used to be a a big believer in sound cards. Creative is a popular one. That is back in the day when on-board sound could affect PC/Proc performance, before dual and quad etc. etc. Also the on-board use to be of mediocre quality.

 

Nowadays I see no need for one. On-board sound is rock solid on most mobos and plenty of proc power to run them. I see it as easier to use on-board, unless you are editing music professionally I see no reason for a card.

 

Wow....lots of replies in a minutes time.

Edited September 4, 2014 by Vaxxtx

[71st_AH_Mastiff]

yes there is a deference in using a sound card, it frees up CPU cycles and places more on the card also helps with bottle neck of the PCIE or express data, from loading on the south bridge.

 

I use Xf1 ultra gaming card. by sound blaster. Creative labs. Listen to people talk on TS and when you hear them distorted when talking its there CPU cycles bottle necked with other data transferring and trying to get used first through the controller.

 

you will see varying opinions but I have dealt with this issue since 1999. Sounds cards will always be better. don't believe the hype that the onboard makers put out there. they are just trying to sell onboard chips. you will also see stuttering on graphics cards when using a onboard sound.

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&Description=sound+cards&N=-1&isNodeId=1

Edited September 4, 2014 by 71st_Mastiff

[dburne]

In the past I had always used a soundcard, namely Creative.

 

When I built my new system this past Dec, at first I did not put a soundcard in and just used the onboard sound.

I thought it sounded pretty darn good.

 

Then, I had read some good things on the Creative SoundBlaster Z card, so I ordered one and popped it in. Wow, it was quite a difference.

Needless to say I still have the soundcard in, and love the sound I get from it - I would note however I do have it running through a nice Klispch speaker/sub setup.

[KoN_]

just been given a

Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS 

 

Arr it wont fit , its pci

Edited September 4, 2014 by II/JG77_Con

[SCG_Space_Ghost]

This probably belongs in the hardware subforum...

 

Anyway, I've always used on-board for my 5.1 setup - I have a decent motherboard, though.

[=LD=Penshoon]

I'm not sure what I have to be honest. The mobo came with a sound card but it's super small and doesn't use any pci slots. It's called SupremeFX Impact II. 

 

Anyone knows if this works like a on board card? Is it stressing my CPU like a normal on board card?

 

[skouras]

i use an asus z87 pro mobo and the chip is great for sound on my 5.1 speakers!!

i don't even bother to put my old creative card on...

[oneeyeddog]

I have a Sound Blaster Recon 3D. Big improvement in audio and an even bigger improvement in the performance of the ButtKicker Gamer 2.

[LLv24_Zami]

I bought soundblaster z couple days ago and havent regret it. I used realtek alc886 onboard system before and difference is very clear, soundblaster is way better

[Livai]

 My Soundcard is my graphiccard and for Teamspeak its the Onboard Soundcard good enough. This is for Gamer good enough.

[Gambit21]

 

 

you will see varying opinions but I have dealt with this issue since 1999. Sounds cards will always be better. don't believe the hype that the onboard makers put out there. they are just trying to sell onboard chips. you will also see stuttering on graphics cards when using a onboard sound.

 

 

Sorry - your information is outdated by many years.

Sure I had a sound card back in 1998, but nowadays with a decent Mobo it's a waste.

I've been using on board sound since my Asus P5B Deluxe Mobo years ago, and with my P8Z68 Mobo now - no stutters, no issue, spectacular sound.

 

Things have come a long way, and it's not "hype". It's not 1999 anymore, in fact sound from a good Mobo can be better than a Creative card for instance.

Keep spending money on sound cards if you wish, but most of us have figured out it's redundant, or even a step backwards.

All an oboard does is give you more 'options' if you're type of person who needs such things...connectivity for instance.

[VBF-12_Stick-95]

ASUS mobo with onboard sound.  Works great, no issues and no need to take up a slot.

[71st_AH_Mastiff]

Sorry - your information is outdated by many years.

Sure I had a sound card back in 1998, but nowadays with a decent Mobo it's a waste.

I've been using on board sound since my Asus P5B Deluxe Mobo years ago, and with my P8Z68 Mobo now - no stutters, no issue, spectacular sound.

 

Things have come a long way, and it's not "hype". It's not 1999 anymore, in fact sound from a good Mobo can be better than a Creative card for instance.

Keep spending money on sound cards if you wish, but most of us have figured out it's redundant, or even a step backwards.

All an oboard does is give you more 'options' if you're type of person who needs such things...connectivity for instance.

Well next upgrade I will give it a try Edited September 4, 2014 by 71st_Mastiff

[FuriousMeow]

There is a noticeable difference between onboard audio and dedicated sound cards. There is even a noticeable audio difference between dedicated sound cards. I went from a Audigy 2ZS to a X-Fi Fatal1ty to the latest SBZ. I upgraded from Audigy 2ZS to X-Fi due to a need for PCI-E sound card, but I did notice some decent improvement. Going from the X-Fi Fatal1ty to the SBZ was a huge step in audio quality, clarity, directional output and it has a built-in amp so when the external power for my headset went out due to shoddy workmanship, it could still be powered.

 

I have tried onboard audio, almost all mobos come with them, but there is still a lack of quality between even the best of onboard audio on today's mobos and dedicated sound cards from the Audigy2 line up.

 

That doesn't mean you have to spend money on them, most will find onboard good enough - but dedicated sound cards certainly are not a waste if you have good hearing and there is a noticeable difference in quality in every way between them. I will never go to onboard when they are Realtek.

Edited September 4, 2014 by FuriousMeow

[SeriousFox]

IMO with a cheap speakers onboard sound card is enough. I'm using SoundBlaster Z but there's not much a difference with my $80 2 channel speaker. (Sound will change thx to equalizer, but not a huge difference)

 

Though I bought the sound card just for use DDL feature, BoS doesn't seem like support multi-channel audio. So don't throw away your money like me

Edited September 5, 2014 by SeriousFox

[pilotpierre]

I had my rig built specifically for flight simming by a guy who specialises in building gaming rigs. His advice 3 years ago - dont waste your money on a sound card, not a requirement any more with the quality of onboard sound.

[FuriousMeow]

Though I bought the sound card just for use DDL feature, BoS doesn't seem like support multi-channel audio. So don't throw away your money like me

 

What do you mean? I have 5.1 and it works wonderfully. The directional audio is outstanding. I have 5.1 going through a true 5.1 headset. I actually have another 5.1 headset that works way better but I'm waiting on a RMA on it because the front left has a buzz but that is a fault with the headset and not my hardware or any title.

 

BoS supports 5.1 very well, I could never go back to less.

[Static]

Sound cards are the better option than even the best onboard sound chips. I still use a Creative Labs XFI pcie sound card. My Asus rampage iv black edition is supossed to have the FX Supreme chip but my old sound card still sounds better than the onboard.

 

Back in 2002ish AMD made a prototype motherboard with small vacuum tubes to power the onboard sound.

 

If you have room and want to spend some money go with a sound card.

Edited September 5, 2014 by Static

[Gambit21]

I had my rig built specifically for flight simming by a guy who specialises in building gaming rigs. His advice 3 years ago - dont waste your money on a sound card, not a requirement any more with the quality of onboard sound.

Yep - been that way for a while now.

Unless your'e some kind of audiophile/sound mixer kind of guy - even then.

[SeriousFox]

What do you mean? I have 5.1 and it works wonderfully. The directional audio is outstanding. I have 5.1 going through a true 5.1 headset. I actually have another 5.1 headset that works way better but I'm waiting on a RMA on it because the front left has a buzz but that is a fault with the headset and not my hardware or any title.

 

BoS supports 5.1 very well, I could never go back to less.

 

Maybe my headset is not good enough for multichannel gaming?

 

I'm using Sony MDR-DS6500, I can see Dolby digital enabled on decoder by enabling DDL(or DTS Connect) on Soundcard setup, but when I play BoS, there's not much of a feeling of multi-channel sound unlike other games like Battlefield or Call of Duty that officially supports multichannel audio.

I'm not sure about the BoS though. Is this game supports multichannel audio officially?

Maybe that's a virtual surround you hearing, converted from stereo source.

 

Edit:

This is what I found on 'What we know so far'

• The sound will be designed for stereo (but will work fine with multi-channel output). (LOFT)

Edited September 5, 2014 by SeriousFox

[LLv34_Flanker]

S!

 

 I am using onboard sound card for now. Sure would like a separate card, like the new SoundBlaster X7, but moolah is tight and need to prioritize. Invested in a decent quality headset, helps a lot too. 

[LLv24_Zami]

Well obviously it depends what type of onboard sound chip you have. In my case moving from realtek 887 to Soundblaster z was a vast improvement in overall sound quality, not talking specifically BoS sounds. I have Siberia v2 headphones and even with these I can clearly hear the difference.

[KoN_]

i was looking at the sound blaster Z .

[FuriousMeow]

Designed for stereo doesn't mean it is designed just for two speakers. Most games are designed in that there is a left side and a right side, even Call of Duty. They don't record items from 5+ points of sound. The separation from one speaker to multiple speakers is done in splitting up samples and in the sound scape, not during the recording process.

 

I have a true 5.1 headset, nothing virtual - and the multi-channel effect works. I can hear things behind and to my right, ahead and to my left, etc just the same as I can in other titles such as ArmaII and ArmaIII.

 

Dolby doesn't make it sound 5.1, that is just another audio format  and won't appreciably impact audio in games as they use their own sound engine system (fmod for BoS) that rarely make use of Dolby audio. It's also a virtual 7.1 sound headset. When you have true 5.1+ sound, you have as many speakers or drivers to support that many channels. That headset has two drivers. That is virtual 7.1, its using tricks to get 7.1 sound. My headset(s) both are true 5.1, they have three drivers for each ear and a sub. That is most likely why it doesn't work very well for you as that headset doesn't have the dedicated sound channels and drivers to produce an actual directional audio feedback.

Edited September 5, 2014 by FuriousMeow

[=LD=Penshoon]

Designed for stereo doesn't mean it is designed just for two speakers. Most games are designed in that there is a left side and a right side, even Call of Duty. They don't record items from 5+ points of sound. The separation from one speaker to multiple speakers is done in splitting up samples and in the sound scape, not during the recording process.

 

I have a true 5.1 headset, nothing virtual - and the multi-channel effect works. I can hear things behind and to my right, ahead and to my left, etc just the same as I can in other titles such as ArmaII and ArmaIII.

 

Dolby doesn't make it sound 5.1, that is just another audio format  and won't appreciably impact audio in games as they use their own sound engine system (fmod for BoS) that rarely make use of Dolby audio. It's also a virtual 7.1 sound headset. When you have true 5.1+ sound, you have as many speakers or drivers to support that many channels. That headset has two drivers. That is virtual 7.1, its using tricks to get 7.1 sound. My headset(s) both are true 5.1, they have three drivers for each ear and a sub. That is most likely why it doesn't work very well for you as that headset doesn't have the dedicated sound channels and drivers to produce an actual directional audio feedback.

I have a Razer Tiamat 7.1 headset with like 5 speakers in each cup but the surround effect is still crap compared my home theater. Best Surround I got from headphones is still those virtual haircut videos on youtube. 

 

I put the Razers back on the shelf as the individual speakers in those sucked so much. I prefer two good and speakers in my headphones compared to 10 small and cheap ones. 

Edited September 5, 2014 by =LD=Penshoon