Tips on budget Soundcard upgrade?

Soloboy · Oct 14, 2003, 12:45 AM

I was able to buy some Altec 251 5.1 speakers

, a nice jump over my old $20 stereo speakers.
However my Sblive decided its not going to work with them in anything but stereo

So after trying to get that to work, I finaly gave up and switched to my onboard audio which is just the Realtek ALC650 chip. Everything is working OK but with this onboard I cant play music and a game at the same time, music goes gargly(main reason I was using the sblive), and EAX just doesnt seem to work right (things echo in games when they shouldnt...).

I want to get a new soundcard and am willing to spend around $50 on one but Im not sure what to get.

I have heard the Fortissimo III and the Voyetra Turtle Beach Santa Cruz are both good cards.

So I am wonder if I should go for another creative card or to try out one of the above.

Soloboy

Necrosis · Oct 15, 2003, 12:30 AM

Hmm...well I haven't heard too many complaints about the cards you are thinking about purchasing. In which I've owned one of these cards in the past, and owned a different model from Hercules. I would lean more towards the "Fort" basically because it's a newer card & the SC is started to be a little aged as far as sound cards go.

Soloboy · Oct 15, 2003, 03:14 AM

Just ordered the Fortissimo III, will hopefully be here in a few days. I look forward to something better than this onboard.

Soloboy

RIV@NVX · Oct 16, 2003, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Soloboy
Just ordered the Fortissimo III, will hopefully be here in a few days. I look forward to something better than this onboard.

Soloboy

I heard it's a great card with good drivers.

Soloboy · Oct 17, 2003, 11:05 PM

Just got it today. I am very very happy with it. I turned on the small speaker option and everything sounds so much clearer and precise.

Soloboy

spark rain fire · Oct 17, 2003, 11:11 PM

i have the fort 3, i love it. so much better than the creative cards i've had in the past

Oct 14, 2003, 12:45 AM	#1
Soloboy DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 21 Rep Power: 0	Tips on budget Soundcard upgrade? I was able to buy some Altec 251 5.1 speakers , a nice jump over my old $20 stereo speakers. However my Sblive decided its not going to work with them in anything but stereo So after trying to get that to work, I finaly gave up and switched to my onboard audio which is just the Realtek ALC650 chip. Everything is working OK but with this onboard I cant play music and a game at the same time, music goes gargly(main reason I was using the sblive), and EAX just doesnt seem to work right (things echo in games when they shouldnt...). I want to get a new soundcard and am willing to spend around $50 on one but Im not sure what to get. I have heard the Fortissimo III and the Voyetra Turtle Beach Santa Cruz are both good cards. So I am wonder if I should go for another creative card or to try out one of the above. Soloboy

Oct 17, 2003, 11:11 PM	#6
spark rain fire i am rad. Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: central pa Posts: 236 Rep Power: 0	i have the fort 3, i love it. so much better than the creative cards i've had in the past __________________ ---- [color=red]http://www.invalidsystemdisk.vze.com[/color]

Oct 15, 2003, 12:30 AM	#2
Necrosis HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Ohio Posts: 8,838 Rep Power: 131 System Specs	Hmm...well I haven't heard too many complaints about the cards you are thinking about purchasing. In which I've owned one of these cards in the past, and owned a different model from Hercules. I would lean more towards the "Fort" basically because it's a newer card & the SC is started to be a little aged as far as sound cards go.

Oct 15, 2003, 03:14 AM	Thread Starter #3
Soloboy DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 21 Rep Power: 0	Just ordered the Fortissimo III, will hopefully be here in a few days. I look forward to something better than this onboard. Soloboy

Oct 17, 2003, 11:05 PM	Thread Starter #5
Soloboy DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 21 Rep Power: 0	Just got it today. I am very very happy with it. I turned on the small speaker option and everything sounds so much clearer and precise. Soloboy