PCI or not

conoflex

conoflex

conoflex

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Ordered my parts for rebuild and forgot about the sound card run out budget for new one.
So my question is, Is there such a thing as PCI to PCIe adapter ? so I can use my Xonar D2/PM in a PCIe slot.
Or do I have a new one :(
 
First of all, yes there is. You can search it on google.

However, being a audiophile my self, I would not recommend a PCIe sound card.

You will be a whole lot better off using audio quality USB DAC, like Audioquest Dragonfly.

It cost ~30 quid more but it is a lot more handy + nice quality.
 
USB DAC ? must be way behind the times never heard of that :D

I will have a look see what they are like, cheers deFiniLoGy
 
Just one point about it tho is that I use toslink to connect sound card to my cambridge soundworks amp would I still be able to use that with a USB DAC system. (please excuse my ignorance)
 
conoflex said:
Just one point about it tho is that I use toslink to connect sound card to my cambridge soundworks amp would I still be able to use that with a USB DAC system. (please excuse my ignorance)
Click to expand...

Erm. That is an interesting case.

If you are using Toslink connecting to the amp, then you are basically using the dedicated DAC integrated in the amplifier.

In that case, using a sound card will be unnecessary as the improve will be minimal (assuming you have toslink on your motherboard)

In terms of USB DAC, yes you can still use it, but I would compare the DAC quality between the Dragonfly vs the one in your Cambridge Soundworks before drawing conclusion on which one is better... But you can still use it, it basically will be mobo -> USB DAC -> 3.5 interconnect/RCA -> Amp/subwoofer
 
Ok thanks very much, just to make sure i'm going the right way with this my new motherboard is a Asus MAXIMUS VI HERO it has a toslink socket and if
I use that I won't see any difference from using dedicated sound card ?

I have also found a PCI to PCIe adapter that has had good reviews so I can go that way as well, more options than I thought I would have. ;)
 
I will be installing my Hero next week and am not even bothering with my sound card. The Hero has excellent onboard sound from what i have read so will be trying that first.
 
No problem :)

As a rule of thumb, sound cards developed by gaming vendors are almost always optimized for sound effects in games.

If you are looking for sound quality as in music, then you would better off putting your money on other solution like dedicated DAC and such :)
 
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