CS:GO Audio

[blankoos]

Extra sound card or built-in motherboard sound card?

 

Hi.

I'm building a computer and was wondering if I actually need a sound card for gaming.

I play a lot of competitive CS:GO so good audio is important. 

 

Headset: Astro A40 + 2013 Mix Amp (7.1 SS)

 

And if so, which one? 

(Not too expensive)

[BoredErica]

Wrrrrong forum subsection. Belongs in the audio subsection.

 

It won't matter unless your onboard is exhibiting hissing or other oddities.

[ag90]

you really dont need a soundcard if you arent a total audiofile. and csgo hasnt got the best sound ever so the audio on your motherboard is not a bottleneck

[GlassBomb]

Since you have the mix amp with your A40's I really would say no, you don't need a sound card.

 

You would gain Zero benefit from having a sound card, since the audio goes straight through USB to the mix amp. If you weren't using a mix amp, then it's a different story. And you might have wanted some kind of amp with the A40's.

[blankoos]

Since you have the mix amp with your A40's I really would say no, you don't need a sound card.

 

You would gain Zero benefit from having a sound card, since the audio goes straight through USB to the mix amp. If you weren't using a mix amp, then it's a different story. And you might have wanted some kind of amp with the A40's.

It actually uses a optical cable.

Does that make a difference? 

[BoredErica]

My opinion is this: Don't worry too much about the onboard or external sound. Buy whatever motherboard you want based on other factors (bling, features like chipset, etc). If you're looking to step up on the audio game maybe what you should do is get new headphones. People say they like the Q701 or the AD700x for these purposes.

 

I don't play CS GO but I heard the sound engine on that is already top notch. If it really is, then perhaps virtual surround won't help. If you are looking for virtual surround, there is Razer Surround which is free. SBX is not. You might just decide nothing is better than virtual surround though. Let your ears be your guide.

[GoodBytes]

Moved to Audio.

-> A good dedicated sound card will get you a cleaner, better, more lively, interference free sound experience. If you listen to a lot of music or seek the best gaming experience with true sound, and use good headphones, it is a worthy investment on that front. However, these days you can find external audio solutions which uses USB to connect to your system. The up sides is that due to a higher competitive environment, you can get a better sound quality for your money, and no drivers needed. But you have a box on your table, and possible another power cable.

However, if you are you connected an receiver/amp/DAC to your computer from optical connector, then the data form your optical out should be passed in raw format, if I am not mistaken, so a dedicated sound card is not needed.

[BoredErica]

Moved to Audio.

-> A good dedicated sound card will get you a cleaner, better, more lively, interference free sound experience. If you listen to a lot of music or seek the best gaming experience with true sound, and use good headphones, it is a worthy investment on that front. However, these days you can find external audio solutions which uses USB to connect to your system. The up sides is that due to a higher competitive environment, you can get a better sound quality for your money, and no drivers needed. But you have a box on your table, and possible another power cable.

However, if you are you connected an receiver/amp/DAC to your computer from optical connector, then the data form your optical out should be passed in raw format, if I am not mistaken, so a dedicated sound card is not needed.

Goodbytes, there are now two threads to the same problem in the audio subsection (originally one in general, another in audio subsection, now two in audio subsection).

 

http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/366446-csgo-audio/

[blankoos]

My opinion is this: Don't worry too much about the onboard or external sound. Buy whatever motherboard you want based on other factors (bling, features like chipset, etc). If you're looking to step up on the audio game maybe what you should do is get new headphones. People say they like the Q701 or the AD700x for these purposes.

 

I don't play CS GO but I heard the sound engine on that is already top notch. If it really is, then perhaps virtual surround won't help. If you are looking for virtual surround, there is Razer Surround which is free. SBX is not. You might just decide nothing is better than virtual surround though. Let your ears be your guide.

I ask about on-board vs sound card and you tell me to buy a new headset.

Like, wtf.

The Astro Mix Amp is one of the best options for FPS gaming.

 

AD700x offers a great sound stage but so does the Astros, maybe not as good, but hey, thanks for answering something I wasn't even questioning. 

I would even have to get a 3rd party Mix Amp in order to get any use out of the AD700x.

And Q701s? Yeah, maybe if I were to listen to some Michael Jackson while gaming. 

[GoodBytes]

Goodbytes, there are now two threads to the same problem in the audio subsection (originally one in general, another in audio subsection, now two in audio subsection).

 

http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/366446-csgo-audio/

Thanks! Merged

[creatip123]

Okay, imagine this: you got a broken down old car that's neither of sentimental value, antique, or rare, and you want to fix it. Now the fixing cost sums up to $20.000. What wizzie is saying is that the option of fixing it isn't even worth it, when you can get yourself a brand new decent car with the fixing money. So he's saying that you should just forget about the idea of fixing the car, and focus on better options. While you're still clinging on the idea of wanting to fix the car, and scolding him for giving the idea of better options.

 

He knows which is which and what is what. Neither a good onboard nor a good soundcard will give the same upgrade margin as a headphone upgrade, because that's the actual part that produces the sounds. Think about this: if you have a $10.000 speaker amp that's connected to a pair of $10 speakers, will you get a good sound? 

[blankoos]

Okay, imagine this: you got a broken down old car that's neither of sentimental value, antique, or rare, and you want to fix it. Now the fixing cost sums up to $20.000. What wizzie is saying is that the option of fixing it isn't even worth it, when you can get yourself a brand new decent car with the fixing money. So he's saying that you should just forget about the idea of fixing the car, and focus on better options. While you're still clinging on the idea of wanting to fix the car, and scolding him for giving the idea of better options.

 

He knows which is which and what is what. Neither a good onboard nor a good soundcard will give the same upgrade margin as a headphone upgrade, because that's the actual part that produces the sounds. Think about this: if you have a $10.000 speaker amp that's connected to a pair of $10 speakers, will you get a good sound? 

But I wasn't looking for anything to do with my headset. 

If I were to build a computer, which I stated in my original post, I want to know if I put my money on a sound card or motherboard when prioritizing audio for CS:GO.

So your hypothetical answer doesn't really apply, since I don't have "the car" yet.

 

I am looking to invest in a new pair of headsets to work my Amp in the future but as of now, I'm focusing on my computer.

Which he time and time again failed to realize.

[GoodBytes]

That video has so many things wrongs. I would not recommend it.

Basically everything he says on dedicated sound cards is completely wrong, and doesn't make any sense, and should really open a book on physics.

[BoredErica]

I maintain that while the technical reasons behind some of the advice given on that video are off, the actual advice is typically, generally, solid.

[GoodBytes]

I would agree on you that. But the problem is knowing for a person that knows nothing, which is right or wrong.

[Tuloth]

I would agree on you that. But the problem is knowing for a person that knows nothing, which is right or wrong.

Jon Snow status here, so I had no idea.  Seemed informative to me, back to the drawing board!

[SSL]

@blankoos Looks like some joker deleted your post, pm me so I can know what nasty thing you said.

[BoredErica]

@blankoos Looks like some joker deleted your post, pm me so I can know what nasty thing you said.

He called me the c word! I want my mommy!

[creatip123]

But I wasn't looking for anything to do with my headset. 

If I were to build a computer, which I stated in my original post, I want to know if I put my money on a sound card or motherboard when prioritizing audio for CS:GO.

So your hypothetical answer doesn't really apply, since I don't have "the car" yet.

 

I am looking to invest in a new pair of headsets to work my Amp in the future but as of now, I'm focusing on my computer.

Which he time and time again failed to realize.

 

And that has also been answered:

 

My opinion is this: Don't worry too much about the onboard or external sound. Buy whatever motherboard you want based on other factors (bling, features like chipset, etc). If you're looking to step up on the audio game maybe what you should do is get new headphones. People say they like the Q701 or the AD700x for these purposes.

 

It's very simple to derive a solid point from that statement: buy whichever mobo you want, and don't base it on their onboard audio chip. Reason? Very simple: with what you got now, the A40, you won't get the upgrade you want from changing the source. Use whatever budget money left to get a new and better headphone, maybe sell the old one to add up the money, because that's where the real improvement will be.

 

If after that you're still not satisfied with the onboard, like static, no loud enough, or just because you want to, then get an extra solution, like an external dac/amp, when and if that problem presents itself. 

 

In a nutshell: get the standard one on the less important aspect, and focus on the most important aspect.

 

Believe it or not, A40 isn't very good. Decent maybe, passable most likely, but not good. You'll understand this when you try more of real headphones from real audio brands.

 

Audio is audio. If it's good for music, then it's most likely good for games, movies, porns, etc. I'm using HE400, what people always dub as 'audiophile standard planar headphone' as my gaming headphone for FPSs and couldn't be happier with the sound I'm getting. 

 

Believe it or not, people are giving real solid answers to your question, to avoid you burning away your money for nothing. We could, for instance, say something like 'oh you totally must get the best sound card money can buy, something like the $400 Asus Essence ST 24/192'. And when you do starve yourself to scrounge up the $400, and you found that you're not getting the 400 bucks worth of results, we'd just laugh our bellies off at that sucker. But we didn't do that, did we?

[blankoos]

And that has also been answered:

 

 

It's very simple to derive a solid point from that statement: buy whichever mobo you want, and don't base it on their onboard audio chip. Reason? Very simple: with what you got now, the A40, you won't get the upgrade you want from changing the source. Use whatever budget money left to get a new and better headphone, maybe sell the old one to add up the money, because that's where the real improvement will be.

 

If after that you're still not satisfied with the onboard, like static, no loud enough, or just because you want to, then get an extra solution, like an external dac/amp, when and if that problem presents itself. 

 

In a nutshell: get the standard one on the less important aspect, and focus on the most important aspect.

 

Believe it or not, A40 isn't very good. Decent maybe, passable most likely, but not good. You'll understand this when you try more of real headphones from real audio brands.

 

Audio is audio. If it's good for music, then it's most likely good for games, movies, porns, etc. I'm using HE400, what people always dub as 'audiophile standard planar headphone' as my gaming headphone for FPSs and couldn't be happier with the sound I'm getting. 

 

Believe it or not, people are giving real solid answers to your question, to avoid you burning away your money for nothing. We could, for instance, say something like 'oh you totally must get the best sound card money can buy, something like the $400 Asus Essence ST 24/192'. And when you do starve yourself to scrounge up the $400, and you found that you're not getting the 400 bucks worth of results, we'd just laugh our bellies off at that sucker. But we didn't do that, did we?

 

Finally, the answer I was looking for. 

Thanks for not spitting gibberish.

[Fluffinator]

Finally, the answer I was looking for. 

Thanks for not spitting gibberish.

I made it to Eagle with my Astro A40's but as the other posters said once you get a real headset..you'll see the difference or really any non gaming headset, however sound isn't really necessary for CSGO as their sound packs suck anyway, most pros use throw away Siberia V2's and crappy sponsored brands such as Razer and there still great at the game.

[creatip123]

I made it to Eagle with my Astro A40's but as the other posters said once you get a real headset..you'll see the difference or really any non gaming headset, however sound isn't really nexxessary for CSGO as their sound packs suck anyway, most pros use throw away Siberia V2's and crappy sponsored brands such as Razer and there still great at the game.

 

Yes. To avoid possible future confusions, better headphone/set = better audio, but not necessarily better performance/skill. While it's kinda true to some extent, it's not the major factor. I find that using a better headphone make games a lot more enjoyable, but doesn't necessarily increase my skill. 

 

It's like I can wear a $1000 running shoes in a race, and bare footed Bolt will still make me eat his fart when he left me so far behind.

[d1screet]

Expensive audio hardware doesn't make a difference if the source your using isn't that great to begin with.

 

Just use what is comfortable for CS:GO

[creatip123]

Finally, the answer I was looking for. 

Thanks for not spitting gibberish.

 

Actually nobody was spitting gibberish.

 

Wizzie's advice was solid and sound. If you read it again closely, I just repeated the exact same thing as what he said, about the relatively insignificant role of the onboard audio compared to the headphone itself.

 

For example, I have the Q701, and it's superb in gaming, due to its clear mids and wide soundstage. The only reason why I'm not using Q701 for my daily uses is because for everything else beside games, I like HE400 more, and it's a hassle to keep changing headphones. 

 

The only 'missing link' I can think of is that while his answer was solid and true, it was 2 steps beyond your understanding. Even so, it's entirely not his fault. Who could really know the level of comprehension ability of a complete stranger? As far as I know, he's not a psychic that can read the minds of complete strangers.

 

TBH, you owe him an apology. He went out of his way to give you a solid and sound advice (remember, he doesn't have any obligation to give any answers, but he did), only to be scolded because you didn't really understand what he was saying. Simple logic: don't understand? Ask. Still don't understand? Keep asking. Shearme, the local audio wizard here loves people who keep asking legit questions, because that means that people really do intend to learn.

[BoredErica]

Actually nobody was spitting gibberish.

 

Wizzie's advice was solid and sound. If you read it again closely, I just repeated the exact same thing as what he said, about the relatively insignificant role of the onboard audio compared to the headphone itself.

 

For example, I have the Q701, and it's superb in gaming, due to its clear mids and wide soundstage. The only reason why I'm not using Q701 for my daily uses is because for everything else beside games, I like HE400 more, and it's a hassle to keep changing headphones. 

 

The only 'missing link' I can think of is that while his answer was solid and true, it was 2 steps beyond your understanding. Even so, it's entirely not his fault. Who could really know the level of comprehension ability of a complete stranger? As far as I know, he's not a psychic that can read the minds of complete strangers.

 

TBH, you owe him an apology. He went out of his way to give you a solid and sound advice (remember, he doesn't have any obligation to give any answers, but he did), only to be scolded because you didn't really understand what he was saying. Simple logic: don't understand? Ask. Still don't understand? Keep asking. Shearme, the local audio wizard here loves people who keep asking legit questions, because that means that people really do intend to learn.

Awwww.

Now I know why we're still butt buddies.