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Average sound card for a average pc

D4RK
By D4RK
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Go to solution Solved by kirBi,

If you have rather old desktop, it might have horrible implementation on on-board soundcard so even though it is usually better to get decent headphones first, you might wanna consider buying a dac.

 

That said, do NOT buy a soundcard. Get an external DAC. Fiio is a cheap option, ODAC for best price to performance ratio.

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i have a somewhat old desktop with a H61 motherboard, it have a PCIe 2.0 1x empty slot, i was wondering if there is any good sound card that would run on that slot " not much experince in sound cards" also would the card run at its 100% preformance?

my budget limit is $ 100, thank you guys.

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Interested in a USB solution or does it need to be a PCI/PCI-E card?

"Pardon my French but this is just about the most ignorant blanket statement I've ever read. And though this is the internet, I'm not even exaggerating."

 

 

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Get an asus one that fits your budget.

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Xonar DX or DGX

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planing to get a new headphone as well so taking care of the sound card part first

 

 

 

would a USB card be as good?

NO no no no no no no,   Headphones first, always improve the weakest link first. In this case the headphones are what you need to spend the most on.  then you worry about soundcard/usb/onboard after that.

 

For the record USB craps all over the other options, because they are usually cheaper than a sound card and compatible with way more headphones. next best is on board for compatibility with headphones and the worst is a sound card which people usually buy for either the wank factor or because they have been hoodwinked into thinking it is somehow better.

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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So many Xonars, I think this thread is dominated by audiophiles. 

or people who have not been taught how to think critically about marketing and just believe what the box tells them.  But you already said that :lol:

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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  • Solution

If you have rather old desktop, it might have horrible implementation on on-board soundcard so even though it is usually better to get decent headphones first, you might wanna consider buying a dac.

 

That said, do NOT buy a soundcard. Get an external DAC. Fiio is a cheap option, ODAC for best price to performance ratio.

Two revolutionary dance tones

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If you have rather old desktop, it might have horrible implementation on on-board soundcard so even though it is usually better to get decent headphones first, you might wanna consider buying a dac.

 

That said, do NOT buy a soundcard. Get an external DAC. Fiio is a cheap option, ODAC for best price to performance ratio.

Audya quailTAH!

If you have rather old desktop, it might have horrible implementation on on-board soundcard so even though it is usually better to get decent headphones first, you might wanna consider buying a dac.

 

That said, do NOT buy a soundcard. Get an external DAC. Fiio is a cheap option, ODAC for best price to performance ratio.

Because you don't need an amp either, just a dac.

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I use the onboard on my ASUS P4P800 SE, and it's really good. But I still like my SoundBlaster Live! 5.1 Digital more. But that's my two cents, so get a SoundBlaster that will work with that slot, if they have any.

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TBH I wasn't even sure whether the OP will buy a pair of headphone that will need an amp.

But yeah, good to have an amp as well :D

Buying a dac is kinda useless, the on your motherboard will do plenty fine.

I use the onboard on my ASUS P4P800 SE, and it's really good. But I still like my SoundBlaster Live! 5.1 Digital more. But that's my two cents, so get a SoundBlaster that will work with that slot, if they have any.

How about no soundcards and we see if he has headphones that would make use of anything in the first place. 

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would a USB card be as good?

 

asbsolutely.  If it's a class 1 device, it'll work without drivers.  No fancy surround features though, not that you need them for video games.

"Pardon my French but this is just about the most ignorant blanket statement I've ever read. And though this is the internet, I'm not even exaggerating."

 

 

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Buying a dac is kinda useless, the on your motherboard will do plenty fine.

 

Well, it depends. Newer mobos are well designed with decent chips on it, and sounds good enough.

Older motherboards, not really.

H61 is fairly new and seems to have something like ALC 889, so DAC might not be necessary, but it is always good to have an external DAC for your laptop, etc.

Two revolutionary dance tones

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Well, it depends. Newer mobos are well designed with decent chips on it, and sounds good enough.

Older motherboards, not really.

H61 is fairly new and seems to have something like ALC 889, so DAC might not be necessary, but it is always good to have an external DAC for your laptop, etc.

Are decoding anything that a ten year old motherboard can't?

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Are decoding anything that a ten year old motherboard can't?

Not sure what you are asking, but it was mostly about noise in the analog sound after the conversion due to bad design. Also partly due to the fact that people were using XP back then.

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solved2.jpg

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audio-technica ATH-T400 - CHC Silverado and Laredo - Clip-On Headphone Roundup - Sony LinkBuds

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or people who have not been taught how to think critically about marketing and just believe what the box tells them.  But you already said that :lol:

You mean... these don't work?

 

post-15851-0-26389600-1384216384.jpg

 

They're only $159.00...

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You mean... these don't work?

 

 

I think they work better if you put them in your ears first, then wrap your head with tape.

that way they filter the sound right as it goes in your ears.

Will work for electronic components and parts


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