Which should I use with my 4790K? (VRM phase count doesn't matter)

[Dabombinable]

So I bought a Z97 Sabertooth MKII a few months ago to go with my 4790K as I figured it'd be nice to have the ability to adjust the BCLK, and reserve the H87M Pro for my i5 4440. However soon after I bought the Sabertooth its onboard audio died and I had to use HDMI audio for a while with my 1080p screen. Now my circumstances have changed and I've only got access to an old 1440x900 display with only DVI and VGA for the next 3-8  months so I no longer have any sound with this rig. Since no one answered my topic on what a good PCIe soundcard would be I'm left with these options.

• Use my fully functional Asus H87M Pro (fully capable of overclocking my 4790K past 4.8GHz-8pin CPU connector+the option to overvolt in the bios)
• Use my Asus Z97 Sabertooth MKII with dead onboard audio

Now to be clear, I was looking at just getting a random $50 sound card for this motherboard, but considering that I've had less problems with my H87M (especially when overclocking oddly enough) I just don't think its worth it. And apparently other people have had audio issues with the Z97 Sabertooth as well.

 

BTW: The problem with most sound cards is no front panel HD/AC97 audio header. And my current (and mostly good) sound cards are PCI or ISA.

 

Edit: The i5 4440 is dead BTW-apparently Haswell can be undervolted to death.

[flibberdipper]

I say the H87M Pro just because it actually has working audio.

[thekeemo]

Use the PCI card and just plug the headphones into the back

damn no PCI slots H87 then

[Dabombinable]

Use the PCI card and just plug the headphones into the back

Its PCI not PCIe which is what I need.

[ImBleu]

I'd vote H87M as well. It sounds like you'll fix one thing with your Sabertooth and then something else will end up breaking.

[thekeemo]

Its PCI not PCIe which is what I need.

I assumed it had a PCI slot 

H87 it is

[Dabombinable]

I'd vote H87M as well. It sounds like you'll fix one thing with your Sabertooth and then something else will end up breaking.

Probably like my P5Q Deluxe-its got the same problem, and yet my cheaper P5Q Turbo (and P5KVM-before I fried it) had their audio work without issues (though the P5Q Turbo has lost 2 RAM slots and the latch on another). Maybe I shouldn't have gone with one of Asus's higher end motherboards again.

[ryanmmax]

Ummm...  Buy a cheap USB DAC or a Cheap PCI sound card.  It sounds like you dont have amazing speakers/headphones since you were using monitor speakers so I would say ANY DAC or sound card would work...

 

For $6

http://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-External-Adapter-Windows-AU-MMSA/dp/B00IRVQ0F8/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1452208807&sr=8-4&keywords=sound+card

 

 

for $15

http://www.amazon.com/Rosewill-Channels-Interface-Sound-RC-701/dp/B004F3BAKM/ref=sr_1_2?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1452208853&sr=1-2&keywords=sound+card&refinements=p_36%3A1253503011

 

 

For $30

http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Blaster-Audigy-Performance-Headphone/dp/B00EO6X4XG/ref=sr_1_2?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1452208890&sr=1-2&keywords=sound+card

 

 

Or RMA the Board? 

[Jumper118]

You should sell both and get a decent board

[Dabombinable]

You should sell both and get a decent board

I suppose I could use my QX6850 (less messing around than my Xeon), and my P5Q Deluxe does have PCI slots for the sound cards. I'll keep that in mind.

 

 

Ummm...  Buy a cheap USB DAC or a Cheap PCI sound card.  It sounds like you dont have amazing speakers/headphones since you were using monitor speakers so I would say ANY DAC or sound card would work...

 

For $6

http://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-External-Adapter-Windows-AU-MMSA/dp/B00IRVQ0F8/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1452208807&sr=8-4&keywords=sound+card

 

 

for $15

http://www.amazon.com/Rosewill-Channels-Interface-Sound-RC-701/dp/B004F3BAKM/ref=sr_1_2?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1452208853&sr=1-2&keywords=sound+card&refinements=p_36%3A1253503011

 

 

For $30

http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Blaster-Audigy-Performance-Headphone/dp/B00EO6X4XG/ref=sr_1_2?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1452208890&sr=1-2&keywords=sound+card

 

 

Or RMA the Board? 

Its hard to tell if its worth getting a PCIe soundcard for it. I really don't want to spend money on a motherboard that is supposed to be highly durable and yet has developed problems before a budget H87M motherboard.

 

BTW, I was using the headphone jack on the back of the screen-I've only ever used monitor/screen speakers when I didn't have any alternative.

[ZestyJalapeno]

Uhh dude, a lot of sound cards have conventional front panel audio. My ASUS D1 has one. Asus' cheapest PCIe (DGX) has one too. I think you should just get one since it's a lot cheaper than buying a new motherboard.

[ZestyJalapeno]

 

 

Its hard to tell if its worth getting a PCIe soundcard for it. I really don't want to spend money on a motherboard that is supposed to be highly durable and yet has developed problems before a budget H87M motherboard.

 

BTW, I was using the headphone jack on the back of the screen-I've only ever used monitor/screen speakers when I didn't have any alternative.

 

I'd definitely recommend getting a sound card. They're robust and better EM shielded than integrated audio. I bought my ASUS D1 from 2009 and it's still kicking like a mule as if it's new even when I've mated it to like 5 different motherboards without even bothering with anti-static wristbands. 

 

They also have all the ports you'd need; FP audio internally, and on the backplate there's AUX, 5.1, SPDIF and even optical if you're old school. And ofc you get the added bonus of superior, superior audio quality too and a dedicated ASIO driver. 

[Dabombinable]

I'd definitely recommend getting a sound card. They're robust and better EM shielded than integrated audio. I bought my ASUS D1 from 2009 and it's still kicking like a mule as if it's new even when I've mated it to like 5 different motherboards without even bothering with anti-static wristbands. 

 

They also have all the ports you'd need; FP audio internally, and on the backplate there's AUX, 5.1, SPDIF and even optical if you're old school. And ofc you get the added bonus of superior, superior audio quality too and a dedicated ASIO driver. 

I'll see which of my older components are worth selling then-and I know of soundcard benefits-I'd have been using my Sound Blaster Live 5.1 (2001) from the day I got the Sabertooth its audio quality is that much better than onboard audio. Although it does help more with my older computer as it it allows me to use EAX and take a bit of the load off the CPU in games that support it.

[ImBleu]

Probably like my P5Q Deluxe-its got the same problem, and yet my cheaper P5Q Turbo (and P5KVM-before I fried it) had their audio work without issues (though the P5Q Turbo has lost 2 RAM slots and the latch on another). Maybe I shouldn't have gone with one of Asus's higher end motherboards again.

 

I've had zero issues with my Z97 Maximus Hero since I bought it on launch