Is a soundcard worthwhile?

Daftbrown

Daftbrown

Daftbrown

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Hi

I built a gaming PC a few months ago and wanted 5.1 surround sound. I bought an Onyko HTX-22HDX speaker system with two speakers. I have more recently bought some Q Acoustics front and centre speakers and so now have the 5 speakers + sub required for the setup.

I have the Onkyo receiver connected via optical to the S/PDIF output on my motherboard (Gigabyte OC Force with Realtek AC898 codec).

What I want to know is it worthwhile buying an internal soundcard to connect instead of using the onboard Realtek? Eg: Soundblaster Z or ZxR.

I've read various things and I'm confused as to whether the fact that I have the speakers connected via the Onkyo system would mean the soundcard was redundant?

PC is used for gaming and playing music.
 
the 898 codec is pretty good tbh

if you did install a sound card you would be using that if you hooked up to it via optical port

aslong as you have decent speakers to start with a sound card wouldn't add much imo but maybe try one and see
 
Does your motherboard audio encode Dolby Digital Live / Dolby Home Theatre? If not you'll only be getting stereo over optical, possibly upmixed by your receiver.
 
Mr_Orange said:
As it's via optical I doubt you would see much (if any) difference.
Click to expand...

Correct. From a sound quality point of view, a sound card is irrelevant when using digital connection. When using digital connection the Onkyo is processing the sound, not the onboard audio, so whether that data is sent from a SPDIF connection on a motherboard or from one on a £100 sound card, it's still the same data.
 
Soundblaster Z OEM, would be a good choice. It has both Dolby Digital Live and DTS Connect. No point spending any more, as you all you need is one of those real time 5.1 encoders.
 
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