Sound Card Quality?

Question

Is the sound card i have good enough for a 5.1 surround sound system.

Here is what i can tell you about it.

Emachines : 512RAM, 100GB

DEVICE
Name : Realtek AC97 Audio
Type : WDM

DRIVERS
Name : ALCXWDM.SYS
Version : 5.10.0000.5900 (English)
Date : 9/26/2005

If not, then how can i tell if it is or not, or what do i need if it isn't. Also if it isn't, then how much will it cost.

Answer 1

You don't actually have a soundcard, you have onboard sound. And it will give you 5.1 sound if they gave you enough outputs, but the quality is inferior to a regular soundcard because the chip is on the motherboard and you'll get interference from the all of the other circuits and whatnot in close proximity to it.

The onboard sound can get the job done, but if you really want good sound, I would recommend a Creative Soundblaster card. Depending on your budget, you can either get an Audigy 4 or an X-fi.

The X-fi is the newest and absolute best card on the market, and you can get a music version for about $100. The platinum and fatal1ty versions will cost around $200. The differences are only in the extras that come with the card. In other words, whether you pay $100 or $200, the basic hardware (the soundcard) will be the same.

The Audigy 4 is the previous generation of Creative soundcards, but they'll still do the job just fine. You can find them for almost half the price of the X-fi.

Getting digital out can come in handy, but it will cost more. The bonus for that is that those speakers are interchangeable between your PC and home theater. Otherwise, you can just get normal 5.1 for PC. The extra two outputs aren't that big of a hassle.

I don't know if you have 5.1 speakers already or not, but if not, the Logitech Z-5300e will give you the best "boom for your buck." I have them, and they are amazingly loud, I have 5.1 surround for movies, and they cost under $150.

Answer 2

well really most of ur sound quality is going to be in the actual speaker system but if ur looking for actual true surround seperation u need a card that will put out at least 5.1 and prefferably u want a card with a digital out and a speaker system that can handle the digital in .. so u only have a one-wire hookup .. some motherboards have 5.1 capability built in to their on-board sound .. u need to find out ... google the model .

Answer 3

DEVICE
Name : Realtek AC97 Audio
Type : WDM
this is the cheapest soundcard you can get, i would advise getting a creative sound card. i use a sound blaster audigy 4
this has easy 5.1 sound.
plus lots of advanced options to control the sound.

http://search.ebay.com/audigy any of these cards will work nice.

Answer 4

you have already have been given a valid card fixed that's what your approach is expounded to by using the three.5 jack. No sound card no sound. the 1st-fee of sound is basically no longer more desirable by using putting in an more desirable sound card . it quite is the amplifier which you acquire it related to that makes the replace.

Answer 5

yes it's enough
but you must configure your software to change " LineIn " and
" Mic " to output .
there is a wizard with your driver ( I don't know if you have installed it too or not )
if not :
go to start menu > control panel > sounds and audio devices
choose advanced button,
in speakers setup choose : 5.1 surround speakers

if you wanna have a good amilified audio with high definition
you would better buy a "creative" sound card

Answer 6

I take it that it is a on board sound card. I have the same one on my Gigibyte board. It works just fine. So good that I didn't bother installing the Sound Blaster one that I have!!!

Answer 7

Yes, it'll do 5.1. It won't do it as well as Creative's X-Fi Xtreme Music card, but it'll do it good enough for most.
http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Sound-Blaster-X-Fi-XtremeMusic/dp/B000AY7A1I/sr=8-1/qid=1165088454/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-2801794-7600733?ie=UTF8&s=electronics