NJspeed
Newbie
- Joined
- Dec 28, 2004
- Messages
- 533
- Reaction score
- 1
My new PC is coming with the latest Intel 7.1 Integrated High Definition Audio... My question to anyone who might have/had it, how is it?
I've heard 3 things that may or may not be true:
1) It doesn't reduce performance too much, although it does take up CPU bandwith.
2) The quality isn't the highest.
3) Switching to a seperate sound card WOULD increase gaming performance, albeit slightly - about 5, 6%.
I'd like to learn more about the factors above, if anyone has any information... it's actually been extremely hard for me to find any online articles comparing the Intel Integrated 7.1 versus a good sound card.
Another concern of mine is the way I can hook it up to my present system. Either I can use my 5.1 home receiver or buy a new 7.1 receiver. OR I can just buy a 7.1 speaker set for the PC, which probably wouldn't sound as good as my home theater. Anyone have positive experiences with 7.1 PC speakers?
I'm honestly thinking of buying one of the new X-Fi cards from Creative, but I don't think the lesser expensive ones support 7.1. Which doesn't matter anyway since I don't have 7.1 speakers... yet if I went to another sound card, I'd lose the opportunity for 7.1 simply because I wouldn't have the money for speakers or receiver.
As you can see, I have a lot to consider and my real choice is between using 7.1 onboard and buying a receiver or speakers OR spending a similar amount of $ on a sound card and hooking it up to my existing 5.1 home theater. I'm an audiophile and a gamingophile though, so I want the CPU to perform and I also want great sound.. thats my problem. .
I've heard 3 things that may or may not be true:
1) It doesn't reduce performance too much, although it does take up CPU bandwith.
2) The quality isn't the highest.
3) Switching to a seperate sound card WOULD increase gaming performance, albeit slightly - about 5, 6%.
I'd like to learn more about the factors above, if anyone has any information... it's actually been extremely hard for me to find any online articles comparing the Intel Integrated 7.1 versus a good sound card.
Another concern of mine is the way I can hook it up to my present system. Either I can use my 5.1 home receiver or buy a new 7.1 receiver. OR I can just buy a 7.1 speaker set for the PC, which probably wouldn't sound as good as my home theater. Anyone have positive experiences with 7.1 PC speakers?
I'm honestly thinking of buying one of the new X-Fi cards from Creative, but I don't think the lesser expensive ones support 7.1. Which doesn't matter anyway since I don't have 7.1 speakers... yet if I went to another sound card, I'd lose the opportunity for 7.1 simply because I wouldn't have the money for speakers or receiver.
As you can see, I have a lot to consider and my real choice is between using 7.1 onboard and buying a receiver or speakers OR spending a similar amount of $ on a sound card and hooking it up to my existing 5.1 home theater. I'm an audiophile and a gamingophile though, so I want the CPU to perform and I also want great sound.. thats my problem. .
