Should I Get A Sound card?

JCX50 · 13 Dec 2012 at 14:34

Hello all,

I already have a 5.1 Surround sound card inbuilt onto my motherboard and i'm not sure if I should get a 7.1 surround sound Zonar card. Any advice or suggestions would be good.

Thanks

JCX50

stuie · 13 Dec 2012 at 14:46

it depends what are you plugging into it?

JCX50 · 14 Dec 2012 at 11:37

The Mobo?

Marsman · 14 Dec 2012 at 11:41

He means what speakers and/or headphones/headset.

Banzai_Joe · 14 Dec 2012 at 11:47

stuie said:
it depends what are you plugging into it?

JCX50 said:
The Mobo?

LMAO......

Sorry dude....couldn't resist

Yes if you have a decent speaker setup and you don't think your onboard 5.1 quite cuts the mustard, then by all means invest in a decent add-in card.
You mentioned 7.1 card, do you have a 7.1 speaker setup?

whiteshadow · 15 Dec 2012 at 08:46

I'd defo say get one.

Onboard sound has improved a lot over the years but it's still no match for a dedicated sound card.

I record music so I've got a Focusrite Saffire LE External soundcard and the difference in quality between it and the onboard sound is like night and day.

I think you'll notice the improvement easily if you get a good card.

RogerMesenseless · 15 Dec 2012 at 13:49

Even for headphones a fairly inexpensive soundcard will make a noticeable difference IMO.

Banzai_Joe · 17 Dec 2012 at 08:37

SoundDoctor said:
Even for headphones a fairly inexpensive soundcard will make a noticeable difference IMO.

Really? Your ears are that sensitive to differentiate between an onboard 5.1 card and an add-in?

Not convinced, but hey, i don't have your ears.

Back to basics though, as they don't cost the earth, it's probably worth getting one, seeing as the question is being asked in the first place.
I'm a gamer and have a good Altec Lansing speaker system. Never felt the need to use anything other than onboard sound.
Maybe it also depends on the quality of the mobo too?

melmac · 17 Dec 2012 at 14:33

I wouldn't get a 7.1 sound card since there are very few games that use 7.1. Of course if you have a 7.1 speaker system then it might be worth investing in a 7.1 sound card.

Marsman · 17 Dec 2012 at 21:49

Banzai_Joe said:
Really? Your ears are that sensitive to differentiate between an onboard 5.1 card and an add-in?

Not convinced, but hey, i don't have your ears.

It isn't necessarily about sensitive ears, but more that headphones are more sensitive than speakers. You're more likely to hear any sound improvement with decent headphones than speakers. When using headphones, unless you are using ones that require a headphone amp, then there is nothing between the headphone and sound card. When using speakers, there is extra amplification at work. If it's a decent amplifier, it can do a good job of making some sources sound better than they actually are.

That isn't going to be the case for everyone, as we all hear differently. More, there is a 'better' chance of hearing an improvement with headphones.