OT: Building a new box

PvK · #1 February 2nd, 2007, 07:57 PM

Vista is evil. Just say NO!

Atrocities · #2 February 2nd, 2007, 08:07 PM

I am so pathetic.... I am actually considering buy a computer when I know that I am burned out on PC gaming, most likely won't live past another year, and already have five PC's. WTF am I thinking? And to boot VISTA!!!???? Please someone just shoot me.

narf poit chez BOOM · #3 February 3rd, 2007, 04:50 PM

Suicide Junkie · #4 February 3rd, 2007, 06:23 PM

Atrocities, you need some remedial SE3 under win3.11 on a 66mhz 486.

Also, take two Scorched Earth and a Doom2 and call us in the morning.

Possum · #5 February 3rd, 2007, 09:02 PM

No, no, no onboard sound, thank you.

I'll get the best sound card Creative Labs sells, short of the musician-equipment ones. Having used an Audigy2 for the last 3 years, I'm spoiled!

And damn sure no Vista. I know MS too well to buy the first generation of any new OS like that. Cutting edge is one thing, bleeding edge is something else.

Hell, this is going to be my first bawx with XP. I'm still running 98SE on my current rig

And definitely at least 2 gigs of RAM, possibly 3 or 4.

Possum · #6 February 3rd, 2007, 09:05 PM

Atro, the desire for a new bawx is like the desire for a new GF - Too strong to be denied, and too irresistible to bother apologising for

Main difference is, I'm usually happy with a new 'puter for at least a year

"Show me that gamer who is not passion's slave."

Phoenix-D · #7 February 3rd, 2007, 09:17 PM

Keep in mind if you get 4 GB of RAM Windows will only address about 3.2 GB. This applies to both Vista and XP.

Fyron · #8 February 4th, 2007, 05:57 AM

Possum said:
No, no, no onboard sound, thank you.

I'll get the best sound card Creative Labs sells, short of the musician-equipment ones. Having used an Audigy2 for the last 3 years, I'm spoiled!

In terms of audio fidelity, creative cards are not much better than on-board chipsets. Also, Creative doesn't make anything that is really appropriate to label as "musician-equipment."

Will · #9 February 4th, 2007, 03:57 PM

IF, have you actually used any integrated sound recently? There isn't much of a point in getting a seperate card anymore, as most boards will support 7.1 surround no problem, with connections for both 1/8" jacks for "computer speakers" (gonna sound not-so-good no matter where the signal comes from) and either coaxial or optical (or both) S/PDIF for connection to an amplifier for "real speakers". The audio quality is no different between onboard and a seperate PCI card.

It *USED* to be true that you wanted to pay a little extra for a sound card because it was on the same bus as the integrated modem, however, there aren't many system boards that I have seen recently that even bother with modems anymore. The only reason I can think of to buy a seperate soundcard is if:
A) you have an older systemboard or one that does not have adequate sound hardware (or any sound hardware, for that matter)
or
B) you are building a system to do sound recording approaching studio-quality, in which case you probably will want something a little pricier, with an external box connecting to the card with multiple line-ins for mixing.

Anyway, if you're looking for real sound quality, you aren't going to get it from a $30 sound card. Shell out the cash for shielded speakers, a spool of speaker wire (14 gauge is safe for most home sound systems, 12 if you're wiring all through the house, although I know some audio nuts who insist on 10 gauge for a 6-ft connection), and a good amplifier/reciever.

Fyron · #10 February 4th, 2007, 04:21 PM

Unless there are motherboards that integrate an Envy24 chipset (which would be awesome), you can still get improved fidelity from a separate sound card... Just having 7.1 channel support and having a coaxial/optical jack is irrelevant if the audio chipset is not very good. Ports != quality. Being on the same bus as the modem is also not particularly relevant, especially if you never used a modem; no longer having a modem doesn't automagically make the audio chipset better technology.

The Chaintech AV 710 is not quite as good as the more expensive Envy24 chipset cards (eg: m-audio revolution), certainly, but it beats integrated and Creative chipsets. I think you underestimate the Chaintech though... I seem to get real sound quality from my $20 Turtle Beach Santa Cruz (an older envy24 budget card) connected to my stereo speakers. Certainly the audio chipset is only one component involved, but it doesn't hurt to go for the best..

For reference, if you want to approach studio-quality recording, you will probably want something from E-mu, not Creative.

Anyways, the point was that you can get better quality sound for less money than buying a Creative card. Or you could get much better quality for about the same money. If you are happy with your integrated chipset, then by all means, don't throw money away on separate cards.