Internal or External Sound Card?

[Marcel91]

Is there any discernible difference with regards to audio in getting a USB type sound card connected outside a pc or a PCIe sound card slotted inside the pc?

[Stahlmann]

External sound cards are more expensive afaik than comparable internal ones. Only problem with internal ones is, they CAN pick up interference when the GPU is working hard and depending on your PCIe slot layout and GPU cooler can block off some GPU fans. This can vary a lot from being a big problem to no problem. In my case it's no problem. I use internal because for a similarly performing external solution i'd pay double. FYI i'm using an Asus Xonar Essence STX II.

[Marcel91]

Oh I see, so they're relatively the same, albeit the external ones cost more. I have no problems with regards to where I would slot it in if ever I would choose a PCIe sound card so that the sound card wont pick much interference from the GPU. USB type sound cards have identical prices with PCIe, from where I am so I guess it all comes down to preference and aesthetics.

[The Flying Sloth]

It depends whether you're talking about external sound cards (dacamps) or audio interfaces, an audio interface has much more IO options and features for less money than a soundcard much of the time but it essentially comes down to preference.