Sound card or Onboard Audio

[calarahil]

Debating on whether to stick with the sound card I have now or go with onboard Audio. I know a dac amp setup would be ideal but thinking just for right now without spending money. Reason I'm debating is my temps run more warm with a card versus w/o

 

Headphones

Sennheiser 58x Jubilee

 

Sound Card

ASUS Essence STX

 

Onboard Audio  (Gigabyte Z390 ultra)

Realtek ALC1220-VB

[Bartholomew]

2 minutes ago, calarahil said:

Debating on whether to stick with the sound card I have now or go with onboard Audio. I know a dac amp setup would be ideal but thinking just for right now without spending money. Reason I'm debating is my temps run more warm with a card versus w/o

 

Headphones

Sennheiser 58x Jubilee

 

Sound Card

ASUS Essence STX

 

Onboard Audio  (Gigabyte Z390 ultra)

Realtek ALC1220-VB

If you already own both why not give it a try and revert if its not to your liking?

(Maybe i misunderstood that you already own and use all components?)

[Tigerleon]

6 minutes ago, calarahil said:

Debating on whether to stick with the sound card I have now or go with onboard Audio. I know a dac amp setup would be ideal but thinking just for right now without spending money. Reason I'm debating is my temps run more warm with a card versus w/o

 

Headphones

Sennheiser 58x Jubilee

 

Sound Card

ASUS Essence STX

 

Onboard Audio  (Gigabyte Z390 ultra)

Realtek ALC1220-VB

 Those headphones got a low impedance so I don't think you need to spend money on that. Others will say. Oh fuck sound cards they suck. Not really. They haven't given them a chance yet since like 10 years ago when sound cards probably weren't even protected from EMI.

The DAC chip on the ALC1220 is not bad. I have it and I have used it with my DT 990 pros before. But they are hard to drive so I got my SB ae-9 soundcard.

!EDIT! : Misread the post. Stick with your Soundcard.

[Tigerleon]

You most likely wont hear a difference between a 100 to 200 dollar Amp/dac combo or stack compared to your soundcard.

[calarahil]

8 hours ago, Tigerleon said:

You most likely wont hear a difference between a 100 to 200 dollar Amp/dac combo or stack compared to your soundcard.

I thought as much was hoping I could move away from my soundcard I've used it for many years. 

[rice guru]

Have you tried playing with your fan curves and Improving the overall airflow in the PC?

[calarahil]

7 hours ago, rice guru said:

Have you tried playing with your fan curves and Improving the overall airflow in the PC?

It's not my fans per say I have 6 noctua fans a mix of 120 and 140 mm fans. I thinks it's just the occupying slot carrying the heat much like I'd you ran without a graphics card the airflow leaving your case would be chilly. Just a self observation