I'm not sure if we have an audio thread in the hardware section so I hope it's ok that I post a new topic to ask this; The onboard audio on a friend's gaming PC has stopped working and his board is out of warranty. Rather than replace the board we have decided to take the easier option and install a PCI-E sound card. Anything will be an improvement over the onboard audio hardware anyway, and this way I don't have to drain two loops, dismantle the machine, and then re-plumb everything. It's also hopefully going to mean less downtime, but what would you recommend? Any decent card with 5.1 will do but I know the drivers and software for sound cards can be extremely hit and miss. I don't even get on that well with the app for controlling the features of my own Xonar D2X so I aim to find him something that's better or at the very least no worse than that. He does listen to music as well, but I'd hardly call him an audiophile. It's mainly a gaming rig, he plays a lot of competitive shooters like CS:GO and BF4.
I bought this recently. Night and day compared to my old onboard And only £20 on Scan https://www.scan.co.uk/products/creative-soundblaster-audigy-fx-51-soundcard-pci-express-oem I am also a casual music listener and I am currently playing BF4..great card for no money.
As someone that HATES Creative drivers and software, I'd suggest something by Asus. I have a Xonar U7 (external USB)
Personally id stay clear of creative, Asus xonar with custom drivers are brilliant, even there low end DG/ DGX cards.
I've got both but just lately Creative have absolutely nailed their drivers, making the Asus ones look archaic. I also hate how the front audio ports on my Asus card are manual and you have to switch the headphones on yourself. As such my vote remains Creative.
Not had one driver issue with the latest Creative card I have mentioned earlier. Think they have sorted their **** out after years of justified criticisms of **** drivers.
Yes they have. Believe me I was their enemy for years but over the past year they have absolutely nailed it.
I've got one of these and it's very good, right at the top of your budget though; https://www.scan.co.uk/products/asu...m_medium=cpc&gclid=COW81PyW_MoCFSoKwwodK4gEVw
I second Creative SoundBlaster Z. Simply outstanding hardware. The software is limited, but somewhat useful, the only caveat is Scout Mode [for gaming], it is completely worthless.
Bump for this thread with another question. Is there a decent sound card on the market short enough to fit in the PCI-E 1x slot highlighted on an EVGA X58 Classified board?
the Xonar D2X may fit (as reviewed by BitTech http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/2008/01/13/asus_xonar_d2x_pci-express_soundcard/1)