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will a sound card make a difference.

maddogl
By maddogl
in Audio
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so as the title says but for use in games and such will i see a big/noticeable improvement with the audio i am thinking of getting an asus xonar DGX, if anyone has had any experience with this card can you please input onto this.

main rig: http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/p/GFvH7P

next upgrades. h440 . 8320.  possible liquid cooling AIO

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A sound card will giving you an improvement over general motherboard integrated sound (some boards have good integrated though) but you would benefit more from an external DAC or external equivalent. 

are there any cheap ones that i can get? as i just want a simple one that is quite cheap?

main rig: http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/p/GFvH7P

next upgrades. h440 . 8320.  possible liquid cooling AIO

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I would recommend the Xonar DGX for a reasonably priced sound card. An important question is what headphones/speakers are you using? If you are using garbage headphones you will notice no difference, if you are using something like HD 800s it is night and day. Not that you would use HD 800s with onboard.

 

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depends how good your ears are too, if you like beats and a very basic type of music and arnt too fussed about the finer notes and sounds then maybe not (i know a few), i can tell the differnce between my onboard and my old but better audigy 2 zs and wont be going back, however others who REALLY love music wont do anything less than the best, you have to find out i think, the xonar range is probably safe bet for anyone though so go for it.
id say a dgx/dsx will be good in the long run, either way you go (not enough of an audiphile to know better than that sorry.

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What headphones are you using?

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I would recommend the Xonar DGX for a reasonably priced sound card. An important question is what headphones/speakers are you using? If you are using garbage headphones you will notice no difference, if you are using something like HD 800s it is night and day. Not that you would use HD 800s with onboard.

 

HD 800s with onboard? :D Would try it but I don't have $1500 :(

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I would recommend the Xonar DGX for a reasonably priced sound card. An important question is what headphones/speakers are you using? If you are using garbage headphones you will notice no difference, if you are using something like HD 800s it is night and day. Not that you would use HD 800s with onboard.

 

What makes you say that?

 

No discernible difference to onboard in most cases.  I would bet the only time you could hear the noise floor from onboard would be when there is no signal present.

 

Please read the faq,

do some research,

get the facts.

Grammar and spelling is not indicative of intelligence/knowledge.  Not having the same opinion does not always mean lack of understanding.  

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What makes you say that?

 

No discernible difference to onboard in most cases.  I would bet the only time you could hear the noise floor from onboard would be when there is no signal present.

 

Please read the faq,

do some research,

get the facts.

OP said he didn't want to spend much, it's pretty much the cheapest you can get. Of course I agree with you about the quality but it's something and pretty much it on a tight budget. OP also didn't specify a budget, I just sorted on Newegg by cheapest.

 

Spoiler

 

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OP said he didn't want to spend much, it's pretty much the cheapest you can get. Of course I agree with you about the quality but it's something and pretty much it on a tight budget. OP also didn't specify a budget, I just sorted on Newegg by cheapest.

 

Then he should stick with on-board, buying a sound card is like paying for the complimentary washer towels and KFC.

Grammar and spelling is not indicative of intelligence/knowledge.  Not having the same opinion does not always mean lack of understanding.  

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I guess, but if OP considers $100+ cheap, then he would notice a difference.

He might notice a difference, but no guarantees it will be a good one. Sound cards just aren't an improvement any more.

Grammar and spelling is not indicative of intelligence/knowledge.  Not having the same opinion does not always mean lack of understanding.  

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I went from on-board VIA 1708S audio chip to Asus Xonar DG to on-board Realtek ALC887. While the sound card was definite improvement over the VIA chip, it was as good as as the Realtek chip for speakers and WORSE for headphones. You have the same Realtek chip on your motherboard so unless you get hiss, crackling or other audio anomalies, you won't really get anything out of a sound card.

 

<insert usual Fiio e10 recommendation>

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so no sound card it is then.

 

I mean, unless you like wasting money...

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I mean, unless you like wasting money...

yeah i don't have money to waste, (still using an 8800gt)  thanks for all of the help guys

main rig: http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/p/GFvH7P

next upgrades. h440 . 8320.  possible liquid cooling AIO

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