I'm in the middle of parting together a home media box, using my old Lanparty and Opty combo. I'm at a bit of a crossroads right now though. I have the option of getting a dedicated soundcard, or using the karajan onboard sound. I'm not going to have a super-massive expensive speaker arrangement (maybe a $100 2.1 setup)... so I question getting something like an X-FI.

What do you guys think? Worth it to get the soundcard, or go with onboard?

PS this is a Blu-Ray box, and for streaming internet tv and radio.

If you're going to stick with 2.1, then I think it won't make that much difference between using a sound card or on-board in a typical home lounge (aka living room) environment. (I'm assuming your 2.1 speakers will have an built-in amplifier). The main advantage in going with a soundcard in that configuration would be the I/O options would likely be a bit more flexible (e.g. optical I/O, SPDIF, etc.) as compared to most on-board audio I/O connectivity. If your speakers don't have a built-in amp, then you might get a soundcard capable of higher outputs at lower distortion levels.

For optimum performance, make sure whatever you use is properly impedance matched between the audio output and your speaker inputs. Also watch out for specs on power output (Watts) that are based on 4-ohm loads. Marketing often uses that to make the claimed output appear more powerful than it really is, in cases where you are using 8-ohm speakers. Also pay attention to distortion claims. For example, 1% THD may sound low, but it is in fact very high compared to a good sound system.

If for pure media then stick with the onboard sound, remember that if you do stick with onboard sound that the CPU has even more work to do thats why I say it. Then again to even get a xfi card is not that dear anymore.

D.


does your mb have optical/coaxial digital out?

does your 2.1 capable of receiving optical/coaxial in?

If you say yes to both.... then I would use the optical/coaxial digital route. This would be the best sound for the least money.


If you only have analog on the mb... then it is up to you if you are willing to shell out a little more $$ to have better analog output and added features of optical/coaxial digitals.... If you want to keep the cost down to a minimum...... go with the onboard... it will be just adequate.... if you want the best sound as possible.... then go with a X-Fi card... If possible a Titanium PCi-e version... but that is gonna run you around 85.00bucks... but you can get a PCI version in the X-Fi in other flavors that is a lesser cost. The only reason I meantioned the PCI-e flavor is that this format seems the most stable of them all....

Onboard sound does not work well in vista with most motherboards....you will get the random BSOD....(Blue Screen and Down)

Get the best sound card you can afford as it puts even more strain on the powwer supply.

BSOD....(Blue Screen and Down)

???

biting my tongue..... not gonna say it..... i'll just let you all digest it for a bit....


Onboard sound having issues with Vista which causes wide spread BSOD (Blue Screen and Down)..... uh Huh..... yep..... ok...

Tom Jones said:

And your source for this Vista + motherboard onboard sound = BSAD claim is ???


(and no...I'm not gonna say anything about the "Blue Screen and Down" either....Uh uh. Nope. Not gonna do it. Wouldn't be prudent.)


edit: change BSOD to BSAD because the abbreviation for "and" is "A", not "O"

Tom,

All due respect mate but......

Are you a PROFESSIONAL a.s.s-hole, or just a gifted AMATEUR?