Main Area and Open Discussion > Living Room

Need a new sound card (non Creative)

(1/4) > >>

kartal:
Hi

I have been having massive issues with Creative Audigy under windows7 64. And it is time to move on to another product line. I always thought that Creative hardware is good but their software sucked to death, always, no matter what product line you use. I have used their jukeboxes, soundcards, mp3 players etc. The software or the driver was always an issue. So I am fed up enough about Creative`s software side issues.

I also hate massive driver downloads Creative, same with Logitech. All I need a stupid mouse driver, and these companies force you to install something like 60+mb(setup size) drivers-apps.

So I am looking for a new soundcard that might be in the range of 30-60$. I do not need a highend card, something decent. Naturally I am looking for something that also runs flawless under 64bit Windows7

f0dder:
Doesn't your motherboard have onboard audio? :)

kartal:
I do not like the quality on those :)

nite_monkey:
I guess I just can't tell the difference then. I used to have a fairly decent creative sound card until it died, but now I am using the onboard audio and it sounds just as good.

Innuendo:
Ever since the release of Windows Vista & Microsoft boned gamers around the world by removing hardware-accelerated sound the need for a separate, discrete soundcard has been dwindling to near nothing.

If you have a recent motherboard & you haven't listened to on-board audio in a while you may be surprised. Realtek (Blech! I know, right?) actually has competent audio chipsets out there that provide surround sound, Dolby, DTS, and NEO. Realtek's drivers are actually stable, full-featured & they are very aggressive about fixing bugs as they release new driver versions with great frequency....the exact opposite of Creative. I'd only recommend Realtek if you are using one of their 888, 889, or 890 audio chipsets, though.

However, if you are still dead-set on getting a separate soundcard then there aren't too many options in that price range that are not Creative. Auzentech's X-Raider is one I'd seriously research.

Avoid everything made by Turtle Beach at all costs. Turtle Beach's drivers will make you think Creative's drivers were written by the gods & delivered to your PC on the backs of angels.

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page