sound card for gaming?

xslynux · 02-06-2004, 12:48 PM

can you guys recomend a good cheap sound card for gaming

Big B · 02-06-2004, 12:17 PM

If you can find it, Philips Dynamic Edge is a great card. Also, any of Hercules budget cards are a solid pick (eg. Fortissimo II, Fortissimo III)---if you can find them. Best Buy sells the Dynamic Edge.

xslynux · 03-06-2004, 05:57 AM

i called my local bestbuy this afternoon and they dont have the dynamic edge. but they do have a creative labs sound blaster 16 for 19$. is this card good enough? i just dont like my processor taking a hit from the onboard sound while gaming

Anti-Trend · 03-06-2004, 08:50 AM

DON'T GET A SB 16. If you don't want your CPU taking a hit while gaming, avoid this fossil at all costs. Look at an Audigy 2 instead.

harrack52 · 03-06-2004, 11:16 AM

Let's take it step by step.
How much are you willing to pay for your sound card ?

Big B · 03-06-2004, 12:30 PM

For the price $19 is alot for a simple card like the SB16. You might as well just stick with your onboard sound for that.

xslynux · 03-06-2004, 04:38 PM

i have 50$, i think im gonna get a Turtle Beach 6-Channel PCI Sound Card, Model "Santa Cruz" -OEM or
Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy ES PCI Sound Card, Model "SB0162" -OEM
what do you guys think i should go for?

Big B · 03-06-2004, 08:45 PM

I've not used the Santa Cruz myself, but it's got a very solid reputation. I don't really care for Creative. Their software tends to be bloated and their support isn't really something I'm too confident in. I don't know how much you shop online, but the Santa Cruz runs $36 @ Newegg. The Audigy ES runs $42.

Anti-Trend · 03-06-2004, 09:22 PM

The Santa Cruz is great for recording, MIDI and plain old audiophilia. However, it's not very good for gaming. For gaming, a Phillips Dynamic Edge or an Audigy would be a better choice.

Like B, I also hate Creative. I hate their customer service, I hate their lack of innovation, I hate their tech support, and I *really* hate their software. But Live/Audigy cards utilize the EMU10k1 chipset, which are currently the best for hardware accellerated gaming audio. Phillips DE is a much better card than the Audigy in many respects, and it's even EAX & A3D compatible. However, its processor just can't touch the EMU10k1 for acoustic multi-effect processing.

The bottom line is that you can go with a card that won't perform as well in games, or one that will support a monopolistic company who doesn't give a crap about you. Which is the lesser evil?

-AT

xslynux · 04-06-2004, 03:02 AM

thanks for the replies.
but it hink im gonna skip getting a sound card for now. cause im probably gonna get another stick of micron 512mb next week so i can use dual channel

Anti-Trend · 04-06-2004, 04:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xslynux

thanks for the replies.
but it hink im gonna skip getting a sound card for now. cause im probably gonna get another stick of micron 512mb next week so i can use dual channel

More RAM never hurts

02-06-2004, 12:48 PM	#1 (permalink) Top
xslynux Geek Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 64 Status: Offline	sound card for gaming? can you guys recomend a good cheap sound card for gaming __________________

02-06-2004, 12:17 PM	#2 (permalink) Top
Big B HWF Godfather Join Date: Dec 2001 Age: 28 Male Posts: 9,640 Times Helpful: 585 My Mood: Devilish Status: Offline My Computer	If you can find it, Philips Dynamic Edge is a great card. Also, any of Hercules budget cards are a solid pick (eg. Fortissimo II, Fortissimo III)---if you can find them. Best Buy sells the Dynamic Edge. __________________ Hardware Forums\|HWF Rules\|My DVD's\|PSU FAQ\|HWF Folding Team\|2CPU

03-06-2004, 05:57 AM	#3 (permalink) Top
xslynux Geek Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 64 Status: Offline	i called my local bestbuy this afternoon and they dont have the dynamic edge. but they do have a creative labs sound blaster 16 for 19$. is this card good enough? i just dont like my processor taking a hit from the onboard sound while gaming __________________

03-06-2004, 08:50 AM	#4 (permalink) Top
Anti-Trend Nonconformist Geek Join Date: Oct 2003 Age: 27 Male Posts: 4,882 Times Helpful: 538 Status: Offline My Computer	DON'T GET A SB 16. If you don't want your CPU taking a hit while gaming, avoid this fossil at all costs. Look at an Audigy 2 instead. __________________ See My Desktop \| Try Linux \| Install Linux \| Visit My Server \| Support Hardware Forums \| Easily rip DVDs in Linux \| Remember Everything

03-06-2004, 12:30 PM	#6 (permalink) Top
Big B HWF Godfather Join Date: Dec 2001 Age: 28 Male Posts: 9,640 Times Helpful: 585 My Mood: Devilish Status: Offline My Computer	For the price $19 is alot for a simple card like the SB16. You might as well just stick with your onboard sound for that. __________________ Hardware Forums\|HWF Rules\|My DVD's\|PSU FAQ\|HWF Folding Team\|2CPU

03-06-2004, 11:16 AM	#5 (permalink) Top
harrack52 Supreme Geek Join Date: Jan 2003 Age: 27 Posts: 1,638 Times Helpful: 16 My Mood: Sick Status: Offline My Computer	Let's take it step by step. How much are you willing to pay for your sound card ?

03-06-2004, 04:38 PM	#7 (permalink) Top
xslynux Geek Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 64 Status: Offline	i have 50$, i think im gonna get a Turtle Beach 6-Channel PCI Sound Card, Model "Santa Cruz" -OEM or Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy ES PCI Sound Card, Model "SB0162" -OEM what do you guys think i should go for? __________________

03-06-2004, 08:45 PM	#8 (permalink) Top
Big B HWF Godfather Join Date: Dec 2001 Age: 28 Male Posts: 9,640 Times Helpful: 585 My Mood: Devilish Status: Offline My Computer	I've not used the Santa Cruz myself, but it's got a very solid reputation. I don't really care for Creative. Their software tends to be bloated and their support isn't really something I'm too confident in. I don't know how much you shop online, but the Santa Cruz runs $36 @ Newegg. The Audigy ES runs $42. __________________ Hardware Forums\|HWF Rules\|My DVD's\|PSU FAQ\|HWF Folding Team\|2CPU

03-06-2004, 09:22 PM	#9 (permalink) Top
Anti-Trend Nonconformist Geek Join Date: Oct 2003 Age: 27 Male Posts: 4,882 Times Helpful: 538 Status: Offline My Computer	The Santa Cruz is great for recording, MIDI and plain old audiophilia. However, it's not very good for gaming. For gaming, a Phillips Dynamic Edge or an Audigy would be a better choice. Like B, I also hate Creative. I hate their customer service, I hate their lack of innovation, I hate their tech support, and I really hate their software. But Live/Audigy cards utilize the EMU10k1 chipset, which are currently the best for hardware accellerated gaming audio. Phillips DE is a much better card than the Audigy in many respects, and it's even EAX & A3D compatible. However, its processor just can't touch the EMU10k1 for acoustic multi-effect processing. The bottom line is that you can go with a card that won't perform as well in games, or one that will support a monopolistic company who doesn't give a crap about you. Which is the lesser evil? -AT __________________ See My Desktop \| Try Linux \| Install Linux \| Visit My Server \| Support Hardware Forums \| Easily rip DVDs in Linux \| Remember Everything

04-06-2004, 03:02 AM	#10 (permalink) Top
xslynux Geek Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 64 Status: Offline	thanks for the replies. but it hink im gonna skip getting a sound card for now. cause im probably gonna get another stick of micron 512mb next week so i can use dual channel __________________

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