I need a specific sound card

[BigToe]

Hi guys,

I'm currently running an Audigy2 (can't remember which model exactly) on an ASRock 775DUAL-VSTA motherboard.

The problem is the two seem to conflict, and after googling it would seem others are having similar problems. My system will just hang randomly when playing sound, be it an mp3, MSN audio call or sometimes even just a windows sound. Since my switch from XP to 64-bit Vista, the problem has gotten worse with more frequent crashing. Disabling the sound card or using the onboard sound fixes the problem.

Anyway, what I need is a fairly basic sound card that will match the following criteria:-

• Absolutely must have digital output, preferably with coax (my flimsy optical cable bugs me )
• 64-bit Vista compatible
• Solid unbloated drivers
• Preferably around £20, which is what I paid for my Audigy2

That's about it really. I don't care if the sound quality is poor as I will be using an Audio Alchemy DAC, so any card with digital output will sound just as sweet as the next. I also don't really care about EAX or other gaming features as I don't play too many games.

So what do you reckon?

Cheers!

 

[kumar101]

Hi guys,

I'm currently running an Audigy2 (can't remember which model exactly) on an ASRock 775DUAL-VSTA motherboard.

The problem is the two seem to conflict, and after googling it would seem others are having similar problems. My system will just hang randomly when playing sound, be it an mp3, MSN audio call or sometimes even just a windows sound. Since my switch from XP to 64-bit Vista, the problem has gotten worse with more frequent crashing. Disabling the sound card or using the onboard sound fixes the problem.

Anyway, what I need is a fairly basic sound card that will match the following criteria:-

• Absolutely must have digital output, preferably with coax (my flimsy optical cable bugs me )
• 64-bit Vista compatible
• Solid unbloated drivers
• Preferably around £20, which is what I paid for my Audigy2

That's about it really. I don't care if the sound quality is poor as I will be using an Audio Alchemy DAC, so any card with digital output will sound just as sweet as the next. I also don't really care about EAX or other gaming features as I don't play too many games.

So what do you reckon?

Cheers!

Try getting hold of 2nd hand Zoltrix Nightingale Pro 6:
http://www.z-cyber.net/Products/8738MX+.htm#description

Its a clone of the Audiophile M-Audio Dio 2496. Havent used mine for a while but the M-Audio drivers use to work fine with it.

 

[BigToe]

Hi, thanks for the suggestion, it looks like a good card

I've actually solved my problem now, it turns out I could connect an old ASUS SPDIF module to the HDMI header on my mobo for digital output - I had one lying around from an old Socket A board. So now I'm running my onboard sound through my DAC and experiencing no crashes!