Sound Card ?

[Laeritides]

Dose running a PCI sound card instead of onboard sound free up some processor power? If so what are some decent sound cards for under $50(if there is such a thing)

[Daleon]

What motherboard?

Generally using a dedicated sound card frees up some cpu cycles. Depends on quality of the onboard sound chip compared to quality of sound card you get. You can usually find first generation Audigy's in the $50 or less range online. And Audigy 2ZX for $75 range would be much better.

[Laeritides]

It is an abit th7-Raid. has AC'97 Digital Audio controller integrated

[TheRagingGerbil]

Audigy's work very nice, I have an Audigy 2 and that thing rocks. The EAX3 sound and 5.1 speakers with planetside is the shit. I love it with audio amp I can hear every direction that people are located in a base.

[Rbstr]

yes a sound card will free up some cpu ticks but only is you have a nice higher end card would you realy see the difference, or if you have a game with alot of unplanned sounds (ala planetside) man i hope i get the Audigy 2 ZS for xmas.

[Laeritides]

Doing a lil looking around on the net and looks like the Audigy 2 is the way to go. Will put that on the list right after I get another 512mb of Ram.