Onboard versus pci LAN and sound

  • Thread starter Thread starter Deathwish
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Deathwish

I was wondering if anyone knows the advantages or disadvantages of using the
onboard LAN and sound on the P4C800-E Deluxe mainboard. I have a Creative
Labs Sound Blaster Live X-Gamer sound card and a Realtek RTL8139 LAN card,
and I didn't know if I should use these or just use the onboard stuff. I
didn't know if using the PCI bus would be a disadvantage or not. I have
heard negative comments about onboard sound not being as good, but I just
wanted some opinions. Thanks.
 
You will NOT get any benefit from you PCI LAN card -- you may get more
features from an add-on sound card though. But if you don't need alot of
features, the onboard sound is fine - -for basic gaming and windows. If you
have reallly good speakers, they also might benefit from add-on sound cards.
 
"Deathwish" said:
I was wondering if anyone knows the advantages or disadvantages of using the
onboard LAN and sound on the P4C800-E Deluxe mainboard. I have a Creative
Labs Sound Blaster Live X-Gamer sound card and a Realtek RTL8139 LAN card,
and I didn't know if I should use these or just use the onboard stuff. I
didn't know if using the PCI bus would be a disadvantage or not. I have
heard negative comments about onboard sound not being as good, but I just
wanted some opinions. Thanks.
Click to expand...

Some generic comments:

1) AC97 sound sometimes breaks when overclocking.
2) Many AC97 have no bass/treble controls.
3) Onboard sound makes a poor recording studio - the noise floor of
onboard sound might not be too good.
4) Onboard sound is good enough for gaming or casual listening.

On the built-in Gigabit Lan interface, it is connected to a HI 1.5
interface on the Northbridge (otherwise known as CSA, a 266MB/sec
interface). This is supposed to remove the PCI bus (133MB/sec)
as a bottleneck. This is useful if you connect directly between
two PCs with Gbit LAN interfaces - you don't even need a crossover
cable.

HTH,
Paul
 
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Deathwish wrote:

| I was wondering if anyone knows the advantages or disadvantages of
using the
| onboard LAN and sound on the P4C800-E Deluxe mainboard. I have a Creative
| Labs Sound Blaster Live X-Gamer sound card and a Realtek RTL8139 LAN card,
| and I didn't know if I should use these or just use the onboard stuff. I
| didn't know if using the PCI bus would be a disadvantage or not. I have
| heard negative comments about onboard sound not being as good, but I just
| wanted some opinions. Thanks.
|
|

First off, use the onboard gigiabit adaptor, then high network traffic
isnt loading your PCI bus, it has its own path (CSA) this will give you
lower latency (not higher bandwidth, but ping times etc will be better)

As for the AD1985 I've heard mixed reviews, I *could not* tell the
difference between by SB Live (not 5.1) and the quality of the 1985
chip, as well the 1985 is a surround capable chipset.

However, I most certainly *can* tell the difference between it and my
Audigy.

I think your X-Gamer card will give you more bang in the long run, but
if it ever fails, give the onboard a try :)


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I'm using the onboard LAN and for some reason, it just drops my
connection now and then.Usually about once or twice a day. I haven't
found any solution other than to reboot the machine. I might be
putting a PCI LAN in soon.
 
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(e-mail address removed) wrote:

| I'm using the onboard LAN and for some reason, it just drops my
| connection now and then.Usually about once or twice a day. I haven't
| found any solution other than to reboot the machine. I might be
| putting a PCI LAN in soon.

If you havent already, go into the device settings and uncheck that
'allow windows to turn off this device to save power' box :)

I had this problem twice, and found out that it was checked for some reason.
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Where are the device settings that I have to go to to uncheck the box?
In Windows (Windows XP Pro) or BIOS? Thanks.
 
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(e-mail address removed) wrote:

| Where are the device settings that I have to go to to uncheck the box?
| In Windows (Windows XP Pro) or BIOS? Thanks.

Windows.

Right Click My Computer, select Properties.
Click the 'Hardware' Tab, select 'Device Manager'
Scroll down until you see 'Network adapters', right click on
'Intel(R) PRO 1000/CT Network Connection', select Properties
Select the 'Power Management' Tab
The check boxes are on that page.

hth
Philip
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On the built-in Gigabit Lan interface, it is connected to a HI 1.5
interface on the Northbridge (otherwise known as CSA, a 266MB/sec
interface). This is supposed to remove the PCI bus (133MB/sec)
as a bottleneck. This is useful if you connect directly between
two PCs with Gbit LAN interfaces - you don't even need a crossover
cable.
Click to expand...

This is only true if you have an onboard Intel Gigabit LAN. ASUS went with
3Com Gigalbit LAN for its two primary P4 boards (P4P800 and P4C800) and it
does indeed use the PCI bus.
 
Creative's software bundle is far superior to anything available for the
onboard sound. Ultimate sound quality will probably depend on the quality of
your speakers and SS configuration. Most of us probably started off using
the onboard components then disabled them and added cards later depending on
preference, problems etc. I would install the OS using onboard components,
use the system like that for awhile, then change as preferred in the case of
sound. I did. Change to a LAN card only if for some reason you have problems
with the onboard LAN. I didn't. Transitions are seamless, you won't have to
reinstall the OS or anything like that. You can even change back again.
 
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