Budget Sound Card Choice

[FourScience]

I have been an excellent listener in CS, but I've only had onboard audio (Asus A7N8X Deluxe mobo) until now. Everything I read says that a good sound card makes an equivocal difference as upgrading from onboard video to a AGP card.

My computer is an $800 box from almost 2 years ago. It's budget minded. I can't spend much until maybe a year from now, so I'd like to go with a $28 card sold by NewEgg.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=29-102-177

With current sub-$100 Sound Blaster cards, there is this (the Live! 24-bit), the Audigy2 Value, and the Audigy2 ZS. I don't want to fork the cash an Audigy2 ZS would cost, and I read somewhere reputable that the Live! is better value than the Audigy2 Value. That was only one source though, so I'm curious if anyone really thinks the Value or the ZS are worth it.

My needs:
CS:Source, plain and simple. I enjoy music and movies but I don't care so much about audio these days for that.
I just have budget Labtec speakers and Altec Lansing headphones ($35 model). I don't have any needs for high quality sound input or surround sound technologies.

Anyone with recommendations based on experience?

[SK_CROW]

I have Live Platinum, and Audigy Platinum with Klipsch speakers and Plantronics headphones and I really didnt see a big difference in output sound during games.  With the current set up you have the Live version would probably suffice.

[Maveric]

That soundblaster card you are looking at used to be the standard (only in 5.1, this is a newer design) for sound until the audigy series was released, it is a good all around card, and you should see an improvement in your game sound going to that.

My first card was this same card only in the 5.1 version, i really liked it until my computer had a fit and decided to fry it......

I definately think that for the money you are going to be getting a very useful card that you won't need to be replacing in the near future.  Just remember, throw away the driver disk that comes with it and get the latest drivers from the web!

[Balaso]

Hey! Excellent find! I too have been looking for a decent budget card. It's on the way now.

[FourScience]

Thanks for the feedback! I'll be ordering it myself then.

You're actually ordering it right after a $4 price drop (I signed up for a price change alert). $4 here and there adds up quick with computer gear.

Yay!

[Impolite]

I have been an excellent listener in CS, but I've only had onboard audio (Asus A7N8X Deluxe mobo) until now. Everything I read says that a good sound card makes an equivocal difference as upgrading from onboard video to a AGP card.

My computer is an $800 box from almost 2 years ago. It's budget minded. I can't spend much until maybe a year from now, so I'd like to go with a $28 card sold by NewEgg.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=29-102-177

With current sub-$100 Sound Blaster cards, there is this (the Live! 24-bit), the Audigy2 Value, and the Audigy2 ZS. I don't want to fork the cash an Audigy2 ZS would cost, and I read somewhere reputable that the Live! is better value than the Audigy2 Value. That was only one source though, so I'm curious if anyone really thinks the Value or the ZS are worth it.

My needs:
CS:Source, plain and simple. I enjoy music and movies but I don't care so much about audio these days for that.
I just have budget Labtec speakers and Altec Lansing headphones ($35 model). I don't have any needs for high quality sound input or surround sound technologies.

Anyone with recommendations based on experience?

Wait!  The A7N8X uses Soundstorm audio.  That isn't your typical onboard audio, and in most reviews beats the Live! series hands down.  You would get an increase in quality going to an Audigy 2 derivative, but not a huge one - you would need good ears to detect it.  Read some soundstorm reviews before you purchase a replacement card.  I suspect you would be well into diminishing returns.  Spend the money on a high-end set of headphones if you don't already have them.  That would give you much more bang for your buck for gaming sound.

[FourScience]

I've heard mixed reviews comparing the Soundstorm on-board audio (for my mobo) to this card. At least two sources said that their sound improved, while one website claimed that the onboard is better.

I already ordered it, so I'll be trying it out for myself. I can always sell it if I need to.
Thanks though.

[Impolite]

I've heard mixed reviews comparing the Soundstorm on-board audio (for my mobo) to this card. At least two sources said that their sound improved, while one website claimed that the onboard is better.

I already ordered it, so I'll be trying it out for myself. I can always sell it if I need to.
Thanks though.

Well, good luck!  I hope you like it better.

[Balaso]

I have been running off of a sound blaster USB card. I have had alot of problems with it lagging my system while in vent/game. My mobo's onboard audio decided it didn't want to work anymore (yes, I reinstalled drivers several times) a while back and at the time I owned the USB card so I installed it. I just want to go to something PCI to increase data x-fer.  

[Balaso]

Gentlemen, your assistance please.

My problem: Nasty scratchy/distorted sound from my new soundblaster live! 24bit. I turn up the volume and can barely hear, what I can hear is distorted.

My specs: P4 2.8, Mobo-asus P4S8X, Windows XP PRO, 1.5GB ram.

What I've done: Checked headphones, reinstalled drivers(uninstalled first), reseated card, swapped PCI slots, checked for hardware conflicts(none), disabled mobo onboard sound, pulled out hair, kicked tower.

Anyone think of anything else I could try? It seems that this tends to happen with this card and win XP from what I've read online, couldn't find a solution though. Thanks!

[Blitzkrieg]

Gentlemen, your assistance please.

My problem: Nasty scratchy/distorted sound from my new soundblaster live! 24bit. I turn up the volume and can barely hear, what I can hear is distorted.

My specs: P4 2.8, Mobo-asus P4S8X, Windows XP PRO, 1.5GB ram.

What I've done: Checked headphones, reinstalled drivers(uninstalled first), reseated card, swapped PCI slots, checked for hardware conflicts(none), disabled mobo onboard sound, pulled out hair, kicked tower.

Anyone think of anything else I could try? It seems that this tends to happen with this card and win XP from what I've read online, couldn't find a solution though. Thanks!

Have you already checked your Windows master and source volume levels?

I have noticed that, even with my speaker/headphone volume control turned down, the sound can be distorted by the volume level set in the Windows volume control.  It could be that the Master volume is all the way up, or the specific source volume is turned all the way up....or both...

Another thought....  it could also be that the source you're trying to listen to is set too low (or muted) in the Windows volume control and you have to turn the Master volume up all the way just to hear it, in which case the sound is getting distorted by the Max Master volume level.  Try increasing the source you're trying to listen to and turning the master volume down.  Remebering, of course, that the source you're listening to may be a hidden bar in the volume control window.

This is all super basic stuff that I'm sure you've already checked, but just thought I'd throw it out there cuz I know how the frustration thing goes....real easy to overlook or "forget" certain easy stuff when the frustration level starts to get a little high (i.e. pulling out hair, etc).

Good luck man.....

Blitz

[Balaso]

yes, i've checked the volumes. If I have the volume levels set low, I am not able to hear anything. When I crank the volume up, I can barely hear sound and it's distorted. I have an identical mobo to the one installed that I am going to try and swap out. My onboard audio also is broke so I'm thinking it's all a mobo problem.

My onboard sound has a prob where I also cannot get any sound out. I can go to control panel>sounds>voice tab and hit test hardware and can watch the mike and output level reach excellant levels on the bar indicator, but no sound reaches the line out port. Hopefully this will take care of it.

[SK_CROW]

Try and mute everything in the Surround Mixer except for Volume,MIDI and Wave.  Then un-mute each other inputs as you need it.  Also, uninstall your on board sound driver.

[Blitzkrieg]

can watch the mike and output level reach excellant levels on the bar indicator, but no sound reaches the line out port.

Hmmm...now u got me wonderin about the audio header on your motherboard (if it has one.  My old Abit NF7-S has one, as does my new DFI mobo.  If the loopbacks (where you connect the front panel headphone/mic jacks) aren't connected right, the onboard jacks get disabled.  If you have the header I'm talkin bout, check ur loopbacks.....though it doesn't necessarily explain why your onboard just decided not to work one day (unless of course you were doin some work in there or a cat/dog/kid bumped sumthin loose in there....).

Good luck (again).....

Blitz

[Impolite]

Does this occur in all applications?  Does it occur on both line-out and speaker-out?  Does it happen in the Live! 3D setup test?