Which Sound Card should I get?

BWX

I will be using them mostly for games. I want the best performance in games too- I know that a soundcard that doesn't use as many CPU cycles will translate into better game performance. So I am going to spend 40 to 60 dollars, here are the choices:

Fortissimo III 7.1 or Audigy 1. I have read some reviews and I think the Hercules drivers are better, but the Audigy seems like a more powerful card w/ more features. I will probably use some of the extra features in games. (extra filters)- I may try out the KX drivers if I get the Audigy. I will use headphones at first, but will probably upgrade to a 5.1 or better speaker system someday soon and will probably hook up my 600 watt dolbydigital/DTS 5.1 (or 5.2--2 subs~same channel ) up until I get a dedicated PC speaker system..... I have a SB pci16 currently and it sux @$$ BAD!! I just haven't gotten around to upgrading, but it is way past due-

I know comparitively little about soundcards, (although I have been installing Car stereos since the age of 12 (18-19 years) - more than 70~at least~ so far- many with multiple amps, X-overs(passive & active) and multiple subwoofer/speaker combos. I have also read books about and have built many of my own subwoofer/speakers and 2nd,3rd, and 4th order enclosers. I just don't know everything about soundcards)

Anyway, I want the best sound quality/ features/ performance for the price. I can live w/ buggy drivers if the sound is up to par. I have seen tests where the Audigy will give better performance in games (in FPS) compared to a fortissimo III 7.1. But either will be a huge step up from what I have now, so I just want to know if any of you guys have any experience with one or both of these cards and what you think about them. I have heard alot about the audigy and the horrible creative drivers--I will NOT be happy with pops/ snaps in games or otherwise, but for all I know the KX drivers or the newest Creative drivers are better. But I haven't heard so much about the Herc. Fort. III 7.1, accept good reviews about the sound quality and drivers- although most say sound quality isn't quite as good as the audigy.

Any and all comments welcome. I almost bought the Fort III, then decided to get the audigy- Then read some more reviews and articles, now I just don't know- I am looking at a used audigy for the same price as a new Fort III- So if that deal doesn't fall through I may just do that anyway- If not I'll be paying more for the Augigy. As you can see I don't know WTF to do ....... Thanks in advance.

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Necrosis

How much for the used Audigy?

You can get an OEM A2 for around $7X.

Honestly, I think if your going to go Creative that it's better to get the A2 so you won't have to do the little driver dance to get it to work right.

BWX

What exactly do you mean? "driver dance"- the stock drivers don't work? I may be able to pick one up for 35 to 40 dollars (audigy shipped)- that's all I can spend right now- Well, I don't know- I can't get an Audigy 2 yet- maybe in a few months (4 to 6)- but for now it's going to be an augigy or that FortissimoIII- I don't mind a driver dance if it will end up working well in the end- I just don't know exactly what you mean by that.

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DallasStar

This driver dance

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"A picture of my existence... would show a useless wooden stake covered in snow... stuck loosely at a slant in the ground in a ploughed field on the edge of a vast open plain on a dark winter night." --- Franz Kafka

BWX

OMG, what a bunch of $H!t THAT is!!!!! Creative is a POS company, I know that now for sure!!! I'll have to go check out the KX drivers before I buy ANY CL product. I don' teven know where to start- there are so many threads--- I've never payed too much attention to those threads because of my crappier than crap sound card-

I don't know, that FortissimoIII 7.1 is looking better and better- I'm not paying 70 dollars for a sound card when I need to upgrade my CPU/MEM/MB- If the KX driver looks anything like the creative drivers to install, it is going to be a Herc. Fort. III for me until the rest of my system is upgraded fully, and I have extra to blow on an Audigy 2-


**EDIT** I just ordered the Guillemot Hercules GameSurround Fortissimo III 7.1 - RETAIL - I realize it isn't the best sound card- but I haven't heard much bad about it---- it will do for now I suppose. And no headaches w/ the drivers.

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RIV@NVX

Actually a good decision. Hercules drivers are good.

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-- Vedran

BWX

Thanks, I'll let you guys know how it goes- It seems like a straight forward card with easy to use drivers, we'll see in a few days.....

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digitalwanderer

I was going to recomend either the TBSC or the FortissimoII as both great cards, but methinks you're going to be VERY happy with the FortyIII. Hercules software is excellent and I haven't a single complaint with me FortyII's performance, it's been outstanding for me! Dumb question, but what kind of speakers do you have?

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WTF is up with the sigs?

JavaFox

I'd just upgrade my motherboard (dude, AMD761!) and use SoundStorm.

JLP

I would also go with Hercules or Turtle Neach card. Their drivers are very good. I also had Creative card before and sold it because of driver problems. now I have Hercules Game Theater XP 7.1 and it is working much better and much more stable.

RIV@NVX

AMD 761 is pretty decent chipset

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-- Vedran

BWX

I know, LOL- you are right- Actually I really like my motherboard- It is getting old thought- it has an AMD 761 north and a VIA 686B south- But I'm impatient and want some good sound now, then get a 1700 tbred B next, than an Nforce2--(maybe vise-versa on those two) then some fast memory. Then I'll start the proccess all over again when all that starts sounding "slow" compared to the new stuff. (pretty much a never ending cycle that I stay behind a little on to save about twice the money) But I'll be happy with the Fort. III when I get it, then maybe I'll sell it or use it in another rig when I get a soundstorm MB. Sound like a plan?

Anyway, thanks for all the help- I'm glad I saw that thread about the audigy drivers, damn, that looked like a head-ache in the making!!

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BWX

Hmm, don't know why I didn't see this post before-
but anyways- on my home theater system I have some JBL "Music one's" I bought years ago (expensive at the time- about 500 dollars) that have 2 sats and 2 subs. they are rated at 400w for the whole set- they run parallel (sat and sub on each channel) so you can run them as a 2 channel settup at 8 ohms, a three channel, combining the subs (in series or parallel to create whatever ohm load you want) as they have built in passive X-overs) or run the subs through a separate amp im stereo and have that amp connected to the sub out on the receiver (how I have it set up) for the main front 2 channels and the sub channel. Then I have a set of Cerwin Vegas for the surround and center channel- Nothing to amazing, but very nice speakers- I hardly ever use my home theater and PC at the same time- I think I am going to (after I move in 2 weeks) set up my PC in the same room as my home theater- it isn't right now, then I can just switch between the inputs and use the 600w home theater setup for my PC speaker system.
Right now I have some pretty normal (crappy) sounding creative speakers hooked up on the top of the desk and a small home stereo with the speakers under the desk detached from the main box and positioned on either side. But mostly I just use headphones for games. Anyway I'm moving in to an apartment where I won't be able to crank the speakers like used to anyway- and no matter what there are only certain times when you can crank a subwoofer without pissing someone off. - So I might get a PC only 5.1 setup, but maybe not- it might not be worth it after spending all that money on the home theater (over 1000 bucks) just sitting there being wasted most of the time now. It is a Technics Dolby Digital and DTS decoder (with multiple optical inputs) with a remote - So that's probably the best thing to use . you can use a home theater reciever with a soundcard and get the full DolbyDigital affects right? I figured that's what the optical out is for.

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{Sniping}Waste

Take a look at www.hoontech.com. They have powered by a yamaha 754 DSP.