What's better: Old soundcard or new onboard codec?

  • Thread starter Thread starter PSiegmann
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PSiegmann

Hello newsgroup.

I am getting a new computer soon, the mainboard in the new pc has an
onboard audio chip (realtek ACL888).

Now, in my old computer I have the Soundblaster live installed (the
very first version from 1998). I am thinking about what I should using
in the new system: Should I stick with the onboard sound, or install
the soundcard from the old pc in the new one?

I can remember how onboards used to suck very much.. have they got
better? Are the new realteks better than the old creatives?
 
Hello newsgroup.

I am getting a new computer soon, the mainboard in the new pc has an
onboard audio chip (realtek ACL888).

Now, in my old computer I have the Soundblaster live installed (the
very first version from 1998). I am thinking about what I should using
in the new system: Should I stick with the onboard sound, or install
the soundcard from the old pc in the new one?

I can remember how onboards used to suck very much.. have they got
better? Are the new realteks better than the old creatives?
Click to expand...

If you're grating carrots, the SB live will work better.

What do you plan on DOING with the sound?
 
Hello newsgroup.

I am getting a new computer soon, the mainboard in the new pc has an
onboard audio chip (realtek ACL888).

Now, in my old computer I have the Soundblaster live installed (the
very first version from 1998). I am thinking about what I should using
in the new system: Should I stick with the onboard sound, or install
the soundcard from the old pc in the new one?

I can remember how onboards used to suck very much.. have they got
better? Are the new realteks better than the old creatives?
Click to expand...


Onboard audio now has more bells and whistles, and more
channels of output, even digital I/O in some cases but for
overall clean analog output the SB Live is better. I'm
very picky about audio and would say yes, practically all of
the truely onboard audio is horrible, but another person
might hear the same audio and think it isn't so bad, and
their amp/speakers may not be so sensitive to reveal some of
the noise others will hear.

When the "onboard" audio uses a riser card that does more
than just convert output pins to physical jacks, that can
help remove some of the difference but still if the SB live
supports the features you need, it's the best option. If
your card has the onboard speaker amp chip (think it's a
Phillips DIP16 chip towards the top and there'd be a jumper
for speaker vs (headphone?) mode, you'd be better off using
the (headphone?), unamp'd output then a separate amp to
drive the speakers in most cases.
 
Hello newsgroup.

I am getting a new computer soon, the mainboard in the new pc has an
onboard audio chip (realtek ACL888).

Now, in my old computer I have the Soundblaster live installed (the
very first version from 1998). I am thinking about what I should using
in the new system: Should I stick with the onboard sound, or install
the soundcard from the old pc in the new one?

I can remember how onboards used to suck very much.. have they got
better? Are the new realteks better than the old creatives?
Click to expand...

From 1998? Is that PCI or ISA? If it is ISA, then put it on ebay, you'll get
a tenner from someone. If it is PCI, then why not compare and contrast when
your new board arrives...
 
The problem with using onboard audio is that the $5 audio chip on the
motherboard utilizes the CPU and main system RAM to process the sound, thus
slowing down your system.
 
The problem with using onboard audio is that the $5 audio chip on the
motherboard utilizes the CPU and main system RAM to process the sound, thus
slowing down your system.
Click to expand...

So do many sound cards, but neither are much overhead unless
talking about 3D environmental effects in some games.
 
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