Sound card needed?

liquidfire · 1 Jan 2013 at 21:42

Right I've searched but nothing hits my question exactly so I'm inclined to trouble everyone with my question sorry.

I love crisp clear sound and have purchased some Bose 5.1 speakers for my computer.

Ok so in my new build I have purchased a sabertooth x79 board

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-489-AS&groupid=701&catid=5&subcat=2174

The computer is mostly used for graphic design and CAD so I know its a bit overkill for gaming. I'd wondering how the onboard sound fairs and weather it's worth purchasing a sound card for when I do settle in for a long night of fps

If you'd reccomend a sound card my budget would be around £70 i don't believe I can justify much more when it won't be used primarily as a gaming machine.

Thanks for any advice in advance

Marsman · 1 Jan 2013 at 23:43

What Bose speakers do you have?

liquidfire · 1 Jan 2013 at 23:57

I have the accoustimas 6 I got them 2nd hand from a friend for a great price

Marsman · 2 Jan 2013 at 01:17

Looking at the manual it would seem that these need to be connected to a receiver. I take it you also have a receiver?

liquidfire · 2 Jan 2013 at 01:40

I presume so, ill double check when I pick them up Friday.

I didn't even consider that. That's for pointing it out.

synixx · 2 Jan 2013 at 17:13

The Xonar DX or Creative Soundblaster Z are good choices at £50. Out of those two I would definitely get the DX for a 5.1 setup as the Soundblaster Z only has a high quality output for the front channel (ie. it has a high quality dedicated DAC). The other channels are processed by the onboard CPU which apparently aren't nearly as good. £70 is almost a no mans land. Some places still stock the X-fi Titanium at around that price but the Soundblaster Z is a better bet for less money as the titanium was practically the same as all the lower end X-fi cards with the exception that it was pci-e. Avoid the Recon3D cards at that price too, they are basically the same as the Soundblaster Z but without the high quality DAC (which is why the Z got good reviews and the Recon 3D didn't). You could stretch a bit further and get the Xonar D2X but a lot of people feel it sounds too similar to the DX to be worth it.