need info

[djnocide]

i'm lost when the audio side of my comp is in question. I want to know which card could be a plus for me (listening music a lot, movies and gaming). I need a card that is not specific to gaming or music. Someone can help me out? I can afford 200$ but i want something around 150$. I'm planning to buy an other sound system this summer (i have a 2.1 altec lansing.

[Robscix]

The Prelude or ASUS Xonar should be a good fit for you. Although he Prelude is considered the best gaming card on the planet and the Xonar is considered a HTPC card. Both did retail for $200 each but you might be able to get them for a little less.

[low351]

Here's another option to consider your ASUS P5KC 192Khz/24bit output and 8.1 sound. That's pretty damn good already. It's probably your Altec system that's holding you back even though they are pretty fine.

I popped for an Audigy2 on my P4 board despite having onboard sound a few years back just to get that extra few FPS in my gaming and I regretted it. I should have put the extra $120 towards the Logitech Z680 5.1s that I bought.

Although the Altec lansings are great, sell them for $60 and get yourself a set of these:

Logitech Z-5500 THX Certified 5.1 500-watt Dolby Digital & DTS Hardware Decoding Speaker System 970115-0403 in Canada at TigerDirect.ca

The Z-5500 are the successors to the Z680 and are also THX rated. Believe me these babies shake your dishes when cranked.

[b1lk1]

Well, I just attached a set of Logitech Z-4 speakers to my ASUS Xonar just to test their functonality. I am SHOCKED as how well these budget speakers sound with this soundcard. I then attached them to the onboard sound of my other PC and the sound was instantly muddled and unclear. A real soundcard will make even average speakers sound so much better. I do agree that the Z5500's are ideal to have, but with onboard sound you will be disappointed. I'd get both if possible, but I'd start with a soundcard first since there is no onboard that can even come close to the power of the Xonar and the Prelude. I owned both soundcards and in my humble opinion the Zonar has a far superior sound for music/movies. EAX is not a consideration for me since I never bought into it and never noticed any real difference between a card that has it and a card that does not while gaming. Either way, I'd go with what the wallet supports. If you only have $200 to spend now and cannot get more, get the soundcard and start saving for speakers. Great speakers will be held back by onboard sound greatly.

[low351]

Well if those are the Altec 2.1s that I think they are then they are as good as the Z4 so a new sound card would be cheaper. I'm still not convinced that it would be better than using the optical out of the P5KC with a set like the Z-5500 or Z680.

Perhaps looking for someone willing to part with their Z680s would be an option... Of course that wouldn't be me, I love them. They also make cheap home theatre speakers when I attach them to the optical out of my Videtron HD box...

[enaberif]

Originally Posted by low351

Here's another option to consider your ASUS P5KC 192Khz/24bit output and 8.1 sound. That's pretty damn good already. It's probably your Altec system that's holding you back even though they are pretty fine.

I popped for an Audigy2 on my P4 board despite having onboard sound a few years back just to get that extra few FPS in my gaming and I regretted it. I should have put the extra $120 towards the Logitech Z680 5.1s that I bought.

Although the Altec lansings are great, sell them for $60 and get yourself a set of these:

Logitech Z-5500 THX Certified 5.1 500-watt Dolby Digital & DTS Hardware Decoding Speaker System 970115-0403 in Canada at TigerDirect.ca

The Z-5500 are the successors to the Z680 and are also THX rated. Believe me these babies shake your dishes when cranked.

Onboard audio will never sound as good as a dedicated card to process your audio :)

[djnocide]

i'm not in a hurry to buy (i'm moving out of my parents house in june). The only thing missing in my config is the audio side. my altec lansing are at least 6 years old ( Amazon.com: Altec Lansing ACS45.2 PowerCube Computer Speakers (3-Piece): Electronics ) . i was thinking of maybe the logitech g51 for the speakers, and the auzentech HDA X-plosion.

[low351]

Ah okay, those aren't the altecs I was thinking about. These are:

NextGen Electronics - Altec Lansing VS4121 Speaker System Review

enab, I can't argue with that. I'm just saying I'd get my speakers up to snuff before my card, everyone had different priorities. Now all this talk has made me think about a discrete card... hmmmm.

[reaverclan]

Originally Posted by low351

Ah okay, those aren't the altecs I was thinking about. These are:

NextGen Electronics - Altec Lansing VS4121 Speaker System Review

enab, I can't argue with that. I'm just saying I'd get my speakers up to snuff before my card, everyone had different priorities. Now all this talk has made me think about a discrete card... hmmmm.

I HAVE THOSE SPEAKERS IM USING THEM THIS INSTANT THEY FING RULE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I GOT THEM FOR 68 ON SALE LIKE 3 YEARS AGO THEM WITH MY X-FI XTREME GAMER OWNS MY LITTLE ROOM LOL

[low351]

Originally Posted by reaverclan

I HAVE THOSE SPEAKERS IM USING THEM THIS INSTANT THEY FING RULE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I GOT THEM FOR 68 ON SALE LIKE 3 YEARS AGO THEM WITH MY X-FI XTREME GAMER OWNS MY LITTLE ROOM LOL

Reaver just to clarify I wasn't dissing the VS4121, in fact they are one of the best deals around.

When I spoke about getting speakers up to snuff I was meaning that dj has an older version of the Altecs that aren't as good and he is willing to put $150-200 on a new sound card, IMHO he needs better speakers. Yours would do fine, just no optical.

[djnocide]

Ill try to get the auzentech prelude and the logitech z-5500 but i don't think ill buy the speakers before may so i can change my mind (not enough place for a 5.1 sound system). I'll check the net to see any on the auzentech and the logitech. Thanks for the info u gave me guys.

[low351]

Well the Z-5500 will blow you away, literally.

But you should pick up the new Altec's they always go on sale at Futureshop for around $99. They are one of the best 2.1 systems I've heard. I was at my bro's at xmas and he had some great sound playing so being curious I went to find out from what, there they were, the altecs attached to his iMac...

[djnocide]

just a question, is there any good with low price cordless 5.1 speakers?

[turtletrax]

Originally Posted by reaverclan

I HAVE THOSE SPEAKERS IM USING THEM THIS INSTANT THEY FING RULE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I GOT THEM FOR 68 ON SALE LIKE 3 YEARS AGO THEM WITH MY X-FI XTREME GAMER OWNS MY LITTLE ROOM LOL

Holy Caps Lock Batman...

[reaverclan]

lLOL