RIP Sound Blaster Audigy :(

BAdD0gg · Feb 18, 2005, 09:30 PM

OK so I go to turn on my comp yesturday and nothing happens. I thought for sure that my old 350w psu had finally had enough and threw in the towel. I knew that my Mobo was gettin power so I tried to get her to p.o.s.t. When I unplugged everything she fired right up. So now I'm thinking that I am smart and have the problem nailed down. $75 was not going to keep me from my quest to become the badass Night Elf Druid that I know I am. So down to microcenter I went and picked me up THIS.
Its a cool little power supply that has 3 adjustable fans. I thought I was in business. This PSU is slightly larger in size then my last one so it was a bit tight. With alittle sweat and alot of curse words I got everything hooked up and tidy. Fire her up and nothing AGAIN?!! After throwing a temper tantrum that would make any 3 year old proud I decided to figure out what really was going on. A rum and coke with a hardware guru got me convinced that my mobo was toast. I wanted to make sure. I dont want to upgrade my mobo untill a Socket 939 MATX comes out. I was determined to proove him wrong. I go through the process of taking things out again to try to get her to fire up. Everything unplugged...good. All disk drives...good still fires up. With a cringe and a prayer I install video...wow still posting, good. Thats when I had one more piece in my hand. My SB audigy. I put her in and BAM nothing.

This card has gotten me through dozens of songs on reason. Helped me mix live shows and CD's and provided me with a few years of solid gaming sound. Now it is destined for the graveyard and a younger more contemporary generation will take it's place. So if your still around and reading this far into my ramblings then this question is to you. Is the new Audigy 4 any good? I loved my audigy 1 so I want to stick with that. Is the newer version better than the older ones. Are thier bugs to look out for in certain versions? What are some your suggestions?

**dj_stick** · Feb 18, 2005, 10:01 PM

your sig mentions Audigy PE - is that with the front bay drive?
if so a cheap OEM Audigy ES can still be used with that drive bay

BAdD0gg · Feb 18, 2005, 10:13 PM

^^^
Yes it is I actually still have the breakout panel in my case becuase i lost the blanks. That is an option but I want to see if it is worth the extra money to upgrade. Right now I have onboard sound that works well but not as good for mixing things when you need to hear every clip and hiss. It works though for games and stuff. If its not worth the money to upgrade then I would just replace the PCI card.

**dj_stick** · Feb 18, 2005, 10:20 PM

well it depends on what you actually do

using reason, that's software mainly - you're not doing any recording from say a microphone all that often? you're probably best off saving your money and getting an AUdigy ES, and if you need to record, use the higherquality inputs on the drive bay - those inputs will still beat those on an Audigy 2 ZS PCI card

BAdD0gg · Feb 18, 2005, 10:44 PM

I do use reason but I also use the inputs on the front for recording vocals and instruments. I also need high quality output for mixing down live recordings. I make CD's of rehersals and shows, so I need to be able to get rid of background noise. I have to be able to hear high frequencies without having to pick through extra white noise that the onboard has. So your saying that I should just replace what broke becuase it's better? I am looking for high quality. I used to do all this kind of stuff in a anolog studio but now I can bring my comp to work. Gives me alot more time to do it. My computer feels naked without it.
BTW thanks for the help dj_stick!!

**dj_stick** · Feb 18, 2005, 11:06 PM

the Audigy ES is equivalent to your old Audigy card, so if the quality of the inputs on your bay drive are satisfactory for you, pick one up

for vocals and all, for better quality - you might be better off getting an Audigy 2 ZS Platinum, Audigy 2 ZS Platinum Pro or the Audigy 4 Pro - the only real difference between the A2ZS PP and the A4P is that the A4P has higher output quality

but with those models, the inputs should be of higher quality (with the ability to use 24/96) than your audigy bay drive

BAdD0gg · Feb 19, 2005, 01:34 AM

Cool thanks!! I will look into those. I used to just run software and have all the recording done somewhere else. But since I got the hardware I have been able to do alot more. I was happy with the quality that I got with my old card but any improvements are always good. I could always sell the front panel, it works perfectly.

Again thanks for your help!!
And now a moment of silence for a worthy trooper.......................................*sig h* gonna miss the thing.

Robert McClelland · Feb 19, 2005, 04:30 AM

Just make sure if you want good psu get a rosewell 450watt

so far np with on my computer

Feb 18, 2005, 09:30 PM	#1
BAdD0gg HardwareHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Seattle Washington Posts: 54 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	RIP Sound Blaster Audigy :( OK so I go to turn on my comp yesturday and nothing happens. I thought for sure that my old 350w psu had finally had enough and threw in the towel. I knew that my Mobo was gettin power so I tried to get her to p.o.s.t. When I unplugged everything she fired right up. So now I'm thinking that I am smart and have the problem nailed down. $75 was not going to keep me from my quest to become the badass Night Elf Druid that I know I am. So down to microcenter I went and picked me up THIS. Its a cool little power supply that has 3 adjustable fans. I thought I was in business. This PSU is slightly larger in size then my last one so it was a bit tight. With alittle sweat and alot of curse words I got everything hooked up and tidy. Fire her up and nothing AGAIN?!! After throwing a temper tantrum that would make any 3 year old proud I decided to figure out what really was going on. A rum and coke with a hardware guru got me convinced that my mobo was toast. I wanted to make sure. I dont want to upgrade my mobo untill a Socket 939 MATX comes out. I was determined to proove him wrong. I go through the process of taking things out again to try to get her to fire up. Everything unplugged...good. All disk drives...good still fires up. With a cringe and a prayer I install video...wow still posting, good. Thats when I had one more piece in my hand. My SB audigy. I put her in and BAM nothing. This card has gotten me through dozens of songs on reason. Helped me mix live shows and CD's and provided me with a few years of solid gaming sound. Now it is destined for the graveyard and a younger more contemporary generation will take it's place. So if your still around and reading this far into my ramblings then this question is to you. Is the new Audigy 4 any good? I loved my audigy 1 so I want to stick with that. Is the newer version better than the older ones. Are thier bugs to look out for in certain versions? What are some your suggestions?

Feb 19, 2005, 04:30 AM	#8
Robert McClelland PAX Tweaker, PAX Expert. Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Somewhere in Wood County Ohio Same Town :) Posts: 10,617 Rep Power: 196 System Specs	Just make sure if you want good psu get a rosewell 450watt so far np with on my computer __________________ "XTREME AUDIO IS CRAP!" "There no support for it. It's crapist card on face of the earth it should be throw into the sun" http://www.speedtest.net/result/1949536385.png

Feb 18, 2005, 10:13 PM	Thread Starter #3
BAdD0gg HardwareHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Seattle Washington Posts: 54 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	^^^ Yes it is I actually still have the breakout panel in my case becuase i lost the blanks. That is an option but I want to see if it is worth the extra money to upgrade. Right now I have onboard sound that works well but not as good for mixing things when you need to hear every clip and hiss. It works though for games and stuff. If its not worth the money to upgrade then I would just replace the PCI card.

Feb 18, 2005, 10:44 PM	Thread Starter #5
BAdD0gg HardwareHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Seattle Washington Posts: 54 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	I do use reason but I also use the inputs on the front for recording vocals and instruments. I also need high quality output for mixing down live recordings. I make CD's of rehersals and shows, so I need to be able to get rid of background noise. I have to be able to hear high frequencies without having to pick through extra white noise that the onboard has. So your saying that I should just replace what broke becuase it's better? I am looking for high quality. I used to do all this kind of stuff in a anolog studio but now I can bring my comp to work. Gives me alot more time to do it. My computer feels naked without it. BTW thanks for the help dj_stick!!

Feb 19, 2005, 01:34 AM	Thread Starter #7
BAdD0gg HardwareHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Seattle Washington Posts: 54 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	Cool thanks!! I will look into those. I used to just run software and have all the recording done somewhere else. But since I got the hardware I have been able to do alot more. I was happy with the quality that I got with my old card but any improvements are always good. I could always sell the front panel, it works perfectly. Again thanks for your help!! And now a moment of silence for a worthy trooper.......................................sig h gonna miss the thing.