Mayh3M

Thank you for the advice. I will check GPU / CPU statistics tomorrow and consider how things are.

My question is can I get 85 fps instead of 80? or 90 instead of 85? or 75 instead of 70 etc. If yes, I'll upgrade and future proof too.

Would I benefit from moving to a ninth gen processor? I game at 3440x1440 100hz. 95% of my usage is gaming. Sometimes I do some encoding stuff but it's rare. Is four cores completely outdated now? If I don't upgrade now I'll upgrade next year for sure with 10th gen.

OK Problem fixed. Needed to uninstall drivers and reinstall them.

So I've finally set everything up but I'm not getting any sound. The LEDs are turned on for both speakers and the 2i2, and playback device is set to Scarlett 2i2 USB. I tried manually installed the latest drivers to no avail. I'm using balanced TRS cables.

Just noticed the new M-Audio BX5 D3 is out. No reviews yet but anything specs/designwise to indicate it might be worth going for above the LSR305s?

I'll go with the 2i2, since that what everyone seems to be pairing the LSR305s with everywhere I look. Should be all set now, thanks.

So all I need is the balanced audio functionality since I have no interest in music production, as it's not like there's improved sound quality with higher end models for listening only. How do I tell which audio interfaces have it this function. What's they keyword? The descriptions don't seem to refer to balanced/unbalanced. I'm looking for the cheapest one on gears4music.com.

I am buying everything on gears4music.com, including an audio interface. I have some questions: Does it matter if I buy the monitors individually or should I buy them as a pair? They're cheaper individually. What do audio interfaces do exactly? The most attractive feature to me is the Scarlett 2i2's large volume knob... but I prefer the black of the Roland Duo Capture EX. Which is better? What cables do I need exactly on gears4music.com? They have so many. What does TRA/RCA/balanced/unbalanced etc, mean?

I guess I'll see how things are using my onboard audio first. Many thanks for being so helpful.

Thanks. Is that the only cable I need? Do I need a DAC?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/JBL-LSR305-White-Monitors-Pair-with-Isolation-Pads-Cables/232415991294

Found this on eBay: JBL LSR305 White Monitors (Pair) with Isolation Pads & Cables Happy to pay £250 for that. Are those pads useful? What other cables do I need? Also, would a DAC notably enhance my audio experience?

Thanks for the info. Much appreciated. I'm considering buying a larger desk. If desk space was no longer an issue, what speakers would you now recommend? Also I should clarify that I'm looking for speakers that sound clear - I really hate it when audio sounds muffled. I don't mind 'fun' sound at all as long as it doesn't sound muffled. I'm not sure if this means the same thing necessarily as being high in clarity. I often find in games I can't hear character voices over background noises. This is also why I said I'm looking for clarity.

I can fit speakers up to 20cm in height. Are there any good ones you can recommend that fit this dimension? I'm willing to spend £300+ on speakers and/or DAC for a quality setup.