Is there a more neglected component than the PSU?

p4radox · 1 Jun 2008 at 10:56

No, it's going the other way.

People buy 600W PSUs for an E2160 and 8800GT, when a 400W unit would be more than enough.

Big PSUs are next to pointless.

And with regards to sound cards: they are overlooked. You should buy a soundcard if you're using anything resembling a decent amp/speaker kit. Onboard is appalling. Unless of course you use the optical out in which case it's perfect, but how many people have DACs or an optical input to their sound system?

Glaucus · 1 Jun 2008 at 11:14

p4radox said:
And with regards to sound cards: they are overlooked. You should buy a soundcard if you're using anything resembling a decent amp/speaker kit. Onboard is appalling. Unless of course you use the optical out in which case it's perfect, but how many people have DACs or an optical input to their sound system?

anyone with a separate amp, should have optical

neon.uk · 1 Jun 2008 at 11:27

I used to think wattage was all that mattered until i was told that its the amps on the 12V rail that is the most important. Now i know why i paid more for my antec earthwatts 380W - it has 34A on the 12V rail.

mejinks · 1 Jun 2008 at 12:45

As an aside, I have a Q-tec 500w PSU that has been in daily use in my webserver for nigh on 4 years.

Glaucus · 1 Jun 2008 at 12:48

mejinks said:
As an aside, I have a Q-tec 500w PSU that has been in daily use in my webserver for nigh on 4 years.

Got a termaltake psu, which has survived since 2001, whilst newer better power supplys have blown up like the hyper.

Getting a Lc-Power this week, for noise reason. but I will be keeping the thermaltake for ever, just in case another modern psu blows.

Cutshaw · 1 Jun 2008 at 13:56

AcidHell2 said:
anyone with a separate amp, should have optical

I'm struggling to find one. Any ideas on some reasonably priced amps with optical in?

Glaucus · 1 Jun 2008 at 14:04

Cutshaw said:
I'm struggling to find one. Any ideas on some reasonably priced amps with optical in?

Any amp, should have optical in. Get a proper amp not a computer amp.
Something like a Denon AVR1907Not sure which are the best these days. been a while since I got my setup.

p4radox · 1 Jun 2008 at 14:05

AcidHell2 said:
anyone with a separate amp, should have optical

But for an amp with optical inputs you need to spend loads. For a lot less you could get a decent soundcard and amp, and just use standard analogue outs.

The soundcard is still far from dead.

Glaucus · 1 Jun 2008 at 14:06

p4radox said:
But for an amp with optical inputs you need to spend loads. For a lot less you could get a decent soundcard and amp, and just use standard analogue outs.

The soundcard is still far from dead.

£150 for an amp.

You'll pay £70 just for a soundcard.

p4radox · 1 Jun 2008 at 14:10

Yes, I suppose if you go for an AV receiver. Although I'm not sure on the stereo quality over a soundcard+2 channel amp for the same price.

Glaucus · 1 Jun 2008 at 14:13

p4radox said:
Yes, I suppose if you go for an AV receiver. Although I'm not sure on the stereo quality over a soundcard+2 channel amp for the same price.

**** all over it.
There's no way I would go back to computer speakers.

james.miller · 1 Jun 2008 at 14:13

av amps arent proper amps lol. a 'proper' stereo amp wont have an optical input unless its a very specialist unit.

the absolute best possible way is pc > spdif > dac > stereo amp. balanced if you really are huning that last drop of performance or have special requirements.

p4radox · 1 Jun 2008 at 14:31

james.miller said:
av amps arent proper amps lol. a 'proper' stereo amp wont have an optical input unless its a very specialist unit.

the absolute best possible way is pc > spdif > dac > stereo amp. balanced if you really are huning that last drop of performance or have special requirements.

That's what I always thought. Would:

onboard optical out -> ~£150 AV amp -> stereo bookshelf speakers

be beaten for example by:

Xonar DX -> 2nd hand Cambridge A1 -> the same speakers?

mame · 1 Jun 2008 at 14:33

not quite the same thing but i always think its a big oversight when high street shops sell 'gaming' PCs with an impressive spec. e.g. q6600, 4gig RAM but with a 7600GS ? just doesnt make sense.

james.miller · 1 Jun 2008 at 14:50

p4radox said:
That's what I always thought. Would:

onboard optical out -> ~£150 AV amp -> stereo bookshelf speakers

be beaten by for example by:

Xonar DX -> 2nd hand Cambridge A1 -> the same speakers?

easily

Glaucus · 1 Jun 2008 at 15:21

james.miller said:
the absolute best possible way is pc > spdif > dac > stereo amp. balanced if you really are huning that last drop of performance or have special requirements.

An av amp is a much better solution for pc, as you would play dvd and games. Which would give a much better sound than a stereo amp, which is fine for music.
As well as giving you the chance to connect your consoles, dvd paleys, tv upto it as well. You can always play it in stereo mode for music. Or select one of the many music options.

p4radox · 1 Jun 2008 at 15:36

AcidHell2 said:
An av amp is a much better solution for pc, as you would play dvd and games. Which would give a much better sound than a stereo amp, which is fine for music.

The stereo amp would sound much better.

As well as giving you the chance to connect your consoles, dvd paleys, tv upto it as well. You can always play it in stereo mode for music. Or select one of the many music options.

You get more connections, but at the expense of sound quality.

Glaucus · 1 Jun 2008 at 15:39

p4radox said:
You get more connections, but at the expense of sound quality.

not really seeing as it has no surround sound, dts or any of the other formats. for pure stereo music maybe. as a setup for a computer an av reciever will be miles better.

james.miller · 1 Jun 2008 at 17:02

AcidHell2 said:
An av amp is a much better solution for pc, as you would play dvd and games. Which would give a much better sound than a stereo amp, which is fine for music.
As well as giving you the chance to connect your consoles, dvd paleys, tv upto it as well. You can always play it in stereo mode for music. Or select one of the many music options.

it is, but the discussion was concerning sound quality. a £150 av isnt going to be great, and its not going to be close in sound quality to a £150 stereo amplifier. regardless of support formats ect.