Soundcard recommendation

[t0rek]

I'm planning to buy a set of 5.1 speakers, and in order to get the best of them I have forget about of my current onboard sound.
Almost everyone that has a PCI soundcard has a Sound Blaster. I know it's very ood hardware, but they are being criticized too much lately for poor drivers support, specially for Vista.
My idea was to get a Audigy SE, the X-FI models are too much for me, I just want good 5.1 and a value replacement for onboard sound. So apart from Creative, is there any other good alternatives with good drivers support?

 

[Doomulation]

Your onboard doesn't support 5.1? Most onboard nowadays do.

 

[Clements]

The cheapest AuzenTech card is the X-Mystique. It's cheaper than an X-Fi Xtreme audio, although more expensive than an Audigy SE 7.1 (but it is better). For games, you might want to find an Audigy 2 somewhere. Your onboard audio is the Realtech ALC850, which supports up to 7.1 audio anyway.

 

[t0rek]

Yeah I know my onboard specs, but isn't 5.1 supossed to have an impact in CPU performance? What are your experiences guys?

 

[xneoangel]

Well i can tell that an Audigy 2 is very good i have one since about 2 or 3 years ago (i don't remember exactly) paired with my Logitech Z-5500 and i can gurantee that it rocks.

And yeah 5.1 kinda has an impact on CPU performance but it's not a big deal you shouldn't worry about it.

 

[t0rek]

Why? I do gaming and CPU matters there! I want to know how much CPU impact has, and if there's any difference in sound quality there...

 

[xneoangel]

Well i said that you shouldn't worry because it's a little difference i.e. i remember that when i installed my 5.1 speakers i got about 2 fps lower on the Doom 3 Benchmark than on 2.0.

It's not big and it won't make you downgrade the level of the detail, also playing in a 5.1 speaker system is just awesome specially in FPS, since you can hear the enemies when they are coming from behind.