Replace onboard audio with sound card

[Mr G]

I currently have ALC1220 onboard audio and use decent headphones for sound output.

I'm in the market for a dedicated solution but unsure what to get so any recommendations?

 

[EsaT]

Unless having some more demanding headphones most of them are actually driven quite well by Realtek chips.
But if you play games and watch movies, then other features besides D/A conversion are very useful.
With good binaural sound simulation, actually good headphones give even good feel of distance besides directionality.
Especially Creative has good HRTF algorithm in their sound cards.

But bad/inaccurate headphones simply trash that immersion.
First minute of this is very good quick test for gaming capabilities of headphones:

If headphones are good, there shouldn't be any feeling of sounds coming from next to ear.
In comparison bad headphones sound like having head in bucket under water.