onboard audio 97 or pci512 ?

[dhkimboa]

I'm currently using my onboard audio 97
but I have an old creative sound blaster pci512

which one is better ?

[kairi00]

I'd say the creative.... I mean, I had an old SBAWE64 before (an ISA card to boot), and it sounds much much better than the AC97 onboard audio. :)

[Zero-Omega]

I'm also using on-board ac97 audio and I think it sounds pretty good, would I notice that much improvement in quality if I get a PC sound card if I mostly use headphones and listen to alot of mp3's and play games?

[dhkimboa]

I need some help here
I was trying to install pci512 instead of using onboard 97 audio.
the first time windows tries to install the drivers for this.
but I after I restart the machine ( onboard 97 audio disabled ) when it tries to enter Windows Xp it hangs up.
can anyone tell me what's going on ?

[Abyss]

i have a Sound Blaster Live! 5.1 sound card and i see great defference in games, much more precis sound... plus you get even more Sound fx then ever :)

[Shiori]

it only matters if you're an audiophile. i'm not, so AC97 audio for me. Frees up an irq and a PCI slot too for better air circulation in the case.

[Kane]

Originally posted by dhkim
I need some help here
I was trying to install pci512 instead of using onboard 97 audio.
the first time windows tries to install the drivers for this.
but I after I restart the machine ( onboard 97 audio disabled ) when it tries to enter Windows Xp it hangs up.
can anyone tell me what's going on ?
Try taking out the 512. Leave the AC97 off, goto safe mode, remove all the drivers for both sound cards, shut down, install the 512.

[Ma'anagal]

You could try to put it in another pci slot as far away from any other card as possible. It worked for me once, has something to do with irq (or something like that) and cooling

[dhkimboa]

ok guys thanks
will do that :)

[Iran]

PCI 512 is better than older older ac97 built in audio but newer mobo with the latest built in ac 97 audio are now better than the PCI 512 card and they now even support 4 and 5 channels sound

[dhkimboa]

4 or 5 channels ?
I think you're talking about some mobos that come with creative onboard sound instead of audio 97.
like gigabyte's mobo 7vtxh or +

[Kane]

No, coz my board has it too (disabled of course). You install the subwoofer and centre channels from a little expansion card

[ToM_E]

I got a new motherboard with the onboard AC 97. And guess what...Its better then my friends sound blaster live. :D :D His card and mine has very similar sound. The echoing and stuff.

[Kane]

is it an nForce board?

[ToM_E]

eh?!

[Kane]

is it based on nVidia's nForce chipset?

[Phuzzi]

Not all onboard sound is either immensely ****, or an nForce.
Read around for chrissakes.

[Kane]

I was just wonerin wherther or not he had an nForce! Chill out"

[Betamax]

Sb Lives! in both of my Athlons, The K6 has a sb128 and the laptop has some unknown one.