Need a new gaming sound card

Rob · 31-May-07, 11:56 PM

Well, after almost a year of delays, money shortages, and outright procrastination, I'm at the point where I'm going to build a new computer.

Here are the specs...

AMD Opteron 146
DFI LanParty UT nF4 SLI-DR Expert
Kingston Hyper-X PC-3200 (2x1G)
Sapphire Hybid X800 video card

I like to game so I'm looking for a good gaming card around $100 or cheaper. I don't know if they make sound cards PCI-E compatible yet or not, but I would prefer to have one. Oh, and I've given up on Creative to, but might reconsider given that they pretty much dominate the field.

So...your recommendations?

Thanks,

Rob

godfoot · 01-June-07, 12:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob


	Well, after almost a year of delays, money shortages, and outright procrastination, I'm at the point where I'm going to build a new computer. Here are the specs... AMD Opteron 146 DFI LanParty UT nF4 SLI-DR Expert Kingston Hyper-X PC-3200 (2x1G) Sapphire Hybid X800 video card I like to game so I'm looking for a good gaming card around $100 or cheaper. I don't know if they make sound cards PCI-E compatible yet or not, but I would prefer to have one. Oh, and I've given up on Creative to, but might reconsider given that they pretty much dominate the field. So...your recommendations? Thanks, Rob

Asus is coming out with a PCI-e sound card (called the Xonar) but it has not hit the market yet that I have seen.

I have been researching this too (and have been impatiently waiting on Asus honestly) and other than the potential Asus card, I am liking the Auzentech X-Meridian but it will run you $169 at the egg, maybe a bit cheaper elsewhere.
Because of your DVD collection though, you may also want to check out their XPlosion model for $79.99.

Rob · 01-June-07, 12:13 AM

I was looking at that one pretty seriously, but then I went and read the reviews. One guy said that the card was incompatible with nForce4 motherboards so I don't know if they fixed the problem yet or not.

I'll drop them a line and see what they say.

Rob

eascarface · 01-June-07, 12:23 AM

Well Auzentech has one coming out soon that uses the X-Fi chip. Which means you get all the benifits of the x-Fi without having to deal with Creatives sh** drivers. Heres a dailytech article about it. It should be availible within the next few weeks and is probably worth waiting for. (In my opinion anyways.

Hope that helps

godfoot · 01-June-07, 03:34 AM

Thanks for making up my mind for me eascarface, that looks to be worth the wait.
The 4 OP Amps are nice on the X-Meridian, but the added EAX 5.0 adds support for the game I want to play most this year. Maybe I will get an X-Meridian for my second rig afterwards.

31-May-07, 11:56 PM		#1 (permalink)
Rob Advocatus Diaboli	Need a new gaming sound card Well, after almost a year of delays, money shortages, and outright procrastination, I'm at the point where I'm going to build a new computer. Here are the specs... AMD Opteron 146 DFI LanParty UT nF4 SLI-DR Expert Kingston Hyper-X PC-3200 (2x1G) Sapphire Hybid X800 video card I like to game so I'm looking for a good gaming card around $100 or cheaper. I don't know if they make sound cards PCI-E compatible yet or not, but I would prefer to have one. Oh, and I've given up on Creative to, but might reconsider given that they pretty much dominate the field. So...your recommendations? Thanks, Rob

01-June-07, 12:13 AM		#3 (permalink)
Rob Advocatus Diaboli	Re: Need a new gaming sound card I was looking at that one pretty seriously, but then I went and read the reviews. One guy said that the card was incompatible with nForce4 motherboards so I don't know if they fixed the problem yet or not. I'll drop them a line and see what they say. Rob

01-June-07, 12:23 AM		#4 (permalink)
eascarface Apex Tech God	Re: Need a new gaming sound card Well Auzentech has one coming out soon that uses the X-Fi chip. Which means you get all the benifits of the x-Fi without having to deal with Creatives sh** drivers. Heres a dailytech article about it. It should be availible within the next few weeks and is probably worth waiting for. (In my opinion anyways. Hope that helps

01-June-07, 03:34 AM		#5 (permalink)
godfoot A George Orwell fan...sorta	Re: Need a new gaming sound card Thanks for making up my mind for me eascarface, that looks to be worth the wait. The 4 OP Amps are nice on the X-Meridian, but the added EAX 5.0 adds support for the game I want to play most this year. Maybe I will get an X-Meridian for my second rig afterwards.

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