XFi vs onboard w/ Win7

**PP Mguire** · 10-30-2011, 06:32 PM

Got an X-Fi Xtreme-Music and I've had it since when they came out. They were all the rage when XP was around and now I'm starting to wonder if there is a point to have hardware sound if games are getting so much better through software. What does B3D think? Keep the X-Fi around and continue using Alchemy, or put it in my XP play thing machine and just use onboard in Windows 7 since there is no point?

Games I'm currently playing and wondering about are more modern.
Battlefield 3
Mafia 2
Metro2033
Dirt 3
And later Skyrim.

I know back in the day they were great to offload sound processing from the CPU, but now wondering if it matter anymore with such beefy CPU's.
Anybody else ditch their dedicated sound?

Forgot to mention, I'm currently using 3 different devices for sound.
Razer Orca for quiet gaming straight to sound card
Logitech 11 dollar cheapo speakers for background noise when in kitchen
EQ'd PA speakers for anything else.

**arshadkoda** · 11-11-2012, 03:33 PM

thats nice

**PP Mguire** · 11-11-2012, 06:07 PM

This is a very old thread.

**ryandigweed** · 11-11-2012, 11:32 PM

Old topic. But good its brought up. I own a Z77 deluxe board by ASus. Currently don't remember the model. But I was wondering if it will be an upgrade if I would install a pci sound card.

**peti1212** · 11-11-2012, 11:51 PM

Yeah, might be old, but I actually find it interesting. I am running a ASUS Xonar Xense card right now, which is not supported on Windows 8, but there are people out there that modified the drivers to add support to Windows 8. Since ASUS discontinued the card, they don't have Windows 8 support for it. Sucks, but what can you do. :/

Either way, I feel a difference in music when playing it through the Xonar instead of just the Realtek onboard audio. Could be because I'm using high-end headphones that need more power to get good quality and high-volume music out of them. This is where i find audio cards helpful. Otherwise unless you have good speakers you won't see the difference in quality.

If you're on a budget, by all means stay with the onboard audio. It's not bad, and I use it on many systems that don't have a dedicated audio card, but for my ultimate entertainment and gaming system I still use a dedicated audio card. Few advantages is that you start hearing sounds that were previously unheard due to the limitations of the number of sounds the audio card can play at the same time, and the noise-to-audio dbA. Sometimes the crisper content can get lost due to a lower noise-to-audio ratio.

I'd like to hear other's opinions on this. I might upgrade to an even better audio card for my future builds, that have native Windows 8 support, but I don't think that will happen anytime soon.

**PP Mguire** · 11-12-2012, 12:01 AM

The only reason to get a sound card these days is due to higher quality DACs and amps. If you don't actually have cans or speakers capable of the quality difference then no reason to drop a hundred on a sound card. The only problem with onboard is if you have a ground buzz for any reason. Other than that the quality difference wont be heard. Most good gaming headphones these days come with an external amp which modifies quality anyways, so having a sound card wont make a difference there either.

**najiro** · 11-12-2012, 01:12 AM

the reply got my laughing

anyway since this was revived, might as well give my thoughts. yes motherboard today would have built-in 5.1 or 7.1 audio but audio cards will still give a crisp and clearer sound. The difference is quite noticeable I believe. Im using an ASUS ThunderFX external audio card now using audio devices I listed on my signature. I like the improvement on bass.

**PP Mguire** · 11-12-2012, 03:44 AM

Depending on what your onboard DAC is I doubt seriously there is any difference on those 2, no offense. The specs on both aren't good enough to tell a real difference. Any kind of treble or bass differences are different internal EQs which can be changed by you.

The headset has its own amp which changes the sound quality coming out of your sound card, and the Creative 2.1 has worse specs than my JBL 2.1.

Seriously, the difference is only noticed on audio equipment that has good specs like studio cans or studio bookshelf speakers which have SNR and frequency response that you wont find on something that only costs a few bills.

**ryandigweed** · 11-12-2012, 06:48 PM

Originally Posted by peti1212

Yeah, might be old, but I actually find it interesting. I am running a ASUS Xonar Xense card right now, which is not supported on Windows 8, but there are people out there that modified the drivers to add support to Windows 8. Since ASUS discontinued the card, they don't have Windows 8 support for it. Sucks, but what can you do. :/Either way, I feel a difference in music when playing it through the Xonar instead of just the Realtek onboard audio. Could be because I'm using high-end headphones that need more power to get good quality and high-volume music out of them. This is where i find audio cards helpful. Otherwise unless you have good speakers you won't see the difference in quality.If you're on a budget, by all means stay with the onboard audio. It's not bad, and I use it on many systems that don't have a dedicated audio card, but for my ultimate entertainment and gaming system I still use a dedicated audio card. Few advantages is that you start hearing sounds that were previously unheard due to the limitations of the number of sounds the audio card can play at the same time, and the noise-to-audio dbA. Sometimes the crisper content can get lost due to a lower noise-to-audio ratio.I'd like to hear other's opinions on this. I might upgrade to an even better audio card for my future builds, that have native Windows 8 support, but I don't think that will happen anytime soon.

I've got two Sony Hifi-s. So i guess I won't be seing any quality

What kinda sounds can you hear in with the card that you couldn't normally hear? Just asking, coz many people love their Music in FLAC. they usually have some High end audio home theatre by Onkyo or something to enjoy the kick. Also would like to mention that im using the RCA jacks for the Hifi, would it be better if i used the Optical Wire for the hifi? :S

**ryandigweed** · 11-12-2012, 08:19 PM

OK thanks. I got an old optical cable which was lying with my spare parts without a cover. I hope the optical contacts aren't damaged.

Otherwise ill have to get a new one..my Sony hi fi does have a digital port behind so that does mean its digital right? And my speakers are on the floor. So they aren't so clear anyway

**PP Mguire** · 11-12-2012, 10:35 PM

Depends on the circuitry and what happens after the signal hits the port and before it reaches the amp. Some older receivers have older amps and use low quality DACs to convert the signal digital rendering everything useless anyways.