Question about sound cards

[Magical Fruit]

Ok I have the old sound blaster live! and I have onboard sound on my msi kt3 ultra. I was wondering if it was better to just use the onboard sound or my old card? I have been using the live! card for awhile since i just assumed it would be better than the onboard stuff. After downloading the latest driveres for it though I am only getting sound out of my front speakers. The onboard is 6 channel audio and says it has multi speaker 3d audio. I have the logitech z-560 speakers and I'll get a better sound card when I get more cash,but what is better till then?

[aphremen]

In most cases using the soundcard will free up more system resources, iirc.

[Bluu]

use the Live! if it is working fine...

[Rhenna]

First, get your "two channel only" issue resolved. When that's straightened out, run some games you can benchmark after setting the audio the way you like.

If you're up to the hassle, uninstall the Live!, (or, maybe you can simply disable it if you're using WinXP. (???)) Then enable the onboard sound, and run the same benchmarks again. You'll always wonder what you're missing if you don't check 'em both, I guess.

One of them might have a lower percentage of CPU utilization, and therefore, (hopefully), give higher framerates.

BTW, I have the same set of speakers and I'm VERY satisfied with them. I'm running a SB Live! on that particular rig. Good Luck!

[mdruce]

Its important that you benchmark in GAMES when testing with/without soundcard... this is because (obviously to most but not some!) 3D benchmarking utilities do not use the sound chip. Also, haveing read a sound card test over at TomsHardware.com (http://www6.tomshardware.com/game/20030405/index.html im pretty sure you will stick with your live. I hade a Live a while back which died... then my mobo (and every one since) has had onboard audio (mostley the AC '97 - a.k.a RealTek ALC650). Seeing as I couldn't really hear the diference in the games, I stuck with the onboard. I put toms benchmarks into action for myself and was stunned to see the diference was for real. As now, I am waiting on a SB Live! Audigy2 to arrive.

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MSI KT4V-L
1024gb PC3000 (1.5cl) DDR
AthlonXP3000+ Barton
4x120GB IBM HDD (7200rpm)
Pioneer AO2 DVD Writer
Acer CDR-RW
AC'97 Audio (embarrased...see above post!!)
19" TFT (with 25ms response)

[sushi128]

actually, the one test in 3Dmark03 that has a definite purpose are the sound tests. u can actually see how your system performs with no sound, 24 voices and 60 voices. problem is, u have to run EVERY test if you don't pay 40$ for the program. i'll PM you a register key if you want, cause as of now, i despise madonion for changin their name and SEVERELY crippling a very anticipated application.