Do I need a sound card?

[Stevo]

Here is my motherboard specs: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6813188013

My question is, would there be any benefit to getting a sound card over using the built in audio? Would there be any improvement in sound quality? I listen to a lot of music on this and play games and stuff, so any improvement would be nice.

Also does anyone have any recommendations for a good sound card?

[MrBlah]

I have the same board and truly, the best way to get the best sound would be to get something like a Creative XFi XtremeGamer(what i got) and then you need a nice pair of headphones to compliment it like Bose Triport AE (what i got)

[Stevo]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6829102006

Is that the card you would recommend?

[DeafOfficeWorker]

I have one of those too. You'll notice an increase in overall performance too as a sound card takes some of the burden off your CPU.

[mujo]

Yup, I've got the Xtreme Music Edition of the XFI Creative cards. I've noticed about 10% improvement on benchmarks on the CPU. games do run better. And the sound is superb. Are they nice? Yes. Do you 'need' one? Thats up to you

[Stevo]

I need everything that I want...and I want that.

[llama_beans]

The on board sound card is not great but it is not bad. Depending on which model you got. I would look at what they said and get the Creative card. Be warned I have read of some problems with the x-fi card on the nvidia chip set, but I think it was fixed a bios patch or two ago. The only negative I have seen with this card is the mic input. Mine seems really low and nothing helps.

If you are getting and older than 680i board the performance increase is greater. The latest one is not near as CPU hungry as on the older boards.

[Stevo]

Yeah there were some complaints of mic problems on that card. This one might be better: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6829102013

[Clay Pigeon]

Ive had no problems with my audigy 4 light and my nforce 590 setup.

[llama_beans]

I'm sorry I said card. I meant with the onboard sound. the x-fi card works great for the people I know that have them. Right now compus ahas the x-fi plat card for $150 through the 8th.

[Gen.Ben]

An X-Fi would be a good choice. Just make sure you dont get a SounBlaster Live as their drivers for Vista are a crapshot.

I had a sound blaster SB0100, and then I installed Vista only to find that it is unsupported. So I traded some guy my sound card and some memory for his sound card. The sound card that I have now is an Audigy, I love it.

You will notice some more FPS in games because it takes some load off the CPU and the sound is great. You will hear things you have never heard before with onboard if you have a decent pair of speakers/phones.