Do you use a sound card for games?

I use X-Fi Platinum hooked up to my Pioneer A-605R amp and either through some bookshelf speakers or my Goldring DR150 headphones, leaps and bounds better than the onboard on my X38 mobo.
 
X-Fi extreme music with Z5500s. Had this setup for a few years and has served me well. Didn't do it for gaming though, mostly for videos/music making apps and listening to music. Just happens to be an added bonus for games. Would have probably made do with the onboard sound if it was only games I played on my rig.

Having said that, this setup doesn't really cut it anymore...I'm itching for another upgrade sound-wise.
 
Years and years old X-FI Fatal1ty with Z5500s here. Everytime I change my motherboard I give the onboard another try but so far every onboard has had plenty of crackles and pops. Even my other computer mostly used as a server has a dedicated soundcard (Audigy 2, must be nearly 10 years old) as onboard cards still lack the features I need for video/audio streaming.
 
I went from a X-fi xtreme gamer to Essence STX, was really worried for gaming at first but after using it for so long I wouldn't dare go back, the sound is phenomenal and even more so with high end phones and gear.
 
i have a pretty basic logitech 5.1 system with the x-fi fatality sound card but i rarely use them with my logitech clearchat wireless headset as it has built-in codecs which are seperate to the sound card, so its 1 or the other :/

i love my headset but i wish i cud use both
 
Onboard sound usually steals memory I always hated that as a kid, always wanted a creative AWE 32/64gold but never did get one! :( :p

Only reason I got the audigy was for the breakout box so I could hook up phono leads and IR remote.
 
To my shame I have bought not just one, but two sound cards (cheap but well reviewed) in recent years, and haven't got round to installing either.

Some say you gain CPU cycles. Some say you gain quality. But I say I am a lazy barsket who'll probably never find out! :-)

I think part of my laziness is down to "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" syndrome.

Andrew McP

PS Thinking about it, I suppose part of me still lives in the early 90's and feels that no self-respecting PC should be without a sound card. I started gaming before sound cards were an option, and having the chips on the motherboard just doesn't feel the same somehow. Either way OcUK have gained cash while I have gained more electronic clutter.
 
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Had x-fi extreme since release never had any issues with it sounds great especially thru my senheiser hd25's had it for years now money well spent.
 
Never seen the point unless you're very into your music or sound editing now we have on-board cards. It's another drivers that can corrupt and something else that can go pop :)

Perhaps I'm just old and remember all the problems with Soundblaster cards waaaay back in the stone age of computing though!
 
I have a really good onboard with the X58M but I have been getting crackles and pops when using my z5500s and its not the speakers as had them replaced.

Going to try my Xfi extreme music I have kicking about. I also found my old audigy2 while looking good times lol :D
 
I was using the onboard realtek but i picked up a cheap XF-I (proper) from fleabay for £20 and that runs fine on Win7 64 bit with some wierd drivers i downloaded, KPAX or somehting i dont know now!

I then output to a Denon AMP and then to two Mercury Tannoy F1 speakers:)
 
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