Ideas on a sound card!!

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Hi all, I’ve just added a 2nd water-cooled GTX480 (many thanks to VoG).
The problem I now have is that I don’t have any space for my Auzentech X-Fi Prelude card.
Not sure what to do, what card to buy and where can I fit it, don’t really want to use the on-board sound but if its all I can do.
The two smaller PCI slots look like they are blocked by the chip-set cooler on the motherboard, just wondering if someone has any suggestions.
This PC is only used as a gaming pc, running on old Logitech Z680 speakers.
Thanks in-advance..
 
Hmm, with that layout your only option is to drop in a PCI-E sound card at the top or the bottom of the motherboard. The chipset heatsink won't stop you from fully inserting the card.

On a budget, these would be your options:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=SC-002-AS&groupid=701&catid=11&subcat=

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=SC-065-CL&groupid=701&catid=11&subcat=

OcUK does not stock PCI-E based Auzentech cards, but you can find them online with a bit of effort. Shame you have to lose your Prelude card. Have you considered buying a flexible SLI bridge extension, and moving one of the GTX480 cards down into the bottom slot? This would clear one of your PCI slots, and it will be cheaper than getting a new soundcard.
 
Hmm, with that layout your only option is to drop in a PCI-E sound card at the top or the bottom of the motherboard. The chipset heatsink won't stop you from fully inserting the card.

On a budget, these would be your options:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=SC-002-AS&groupid=701&catid=11&subcat=

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=SC-065-CL&groupid=701&catid=11&subcat=

OcUK does not stock PCI-E based Auzentech cards, but you can find them online with a bit of effort. Shame you have to lose your Prelude card. Have you considered buying a flexible SLI bridge extension, and moving one of the GTX480 cards down into the bottom slot? This would clear one of your PCI slots, and it will be cheaper than getting a new soundcard.

The bottom PCI-E is X8 slot only so don't really want to install the GPU in there, looking at the top PCI-E X4 slot there really doesn't look like there is enough room to install a card in there without it hitting the chip-set cooler..
 
The bottom PCI-E is X8 slot only so don't really want to install the GPU in there

There is almost no hit to framerate between x16 and x8, I don't know how the myth started but for the sakes of maybe 3 or 4 frames, I'd rather use a high end sound card.

Linky - it's for the 5870, but I hardly imagine you'll see a massive difference on a 480.
 
There is almost no hit to framerate between x16 and x8, I don't know how the myth started but for the sakes of maybe 3 or 4 frames, I'd rather use a high end sound card.

Linky - it's for the 5870, but I hardly imagine you'll see a massive difference on a 480.

In this case, the power supply stops you having a water-cooled graphics card in the bottom slot, I don't mind changing the sound card, can always sell this on in the members market or on that well known auction site..
Just would like to replace it but it does look like a really tight fit in the top 4X PCI-E and the chip-set cooler..
 
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