Graphics card and sound card?

[oddidude]

So I recently built my first PC and decided that I would upgrade to SLI in the future when I need the extra power. Being an audiophile as well as a tech fan, I want to add a sound card to my PC but am wondering whether it will affect the cooling for two graphics cards.

I have a Msi z97 g45 gaming atx motherboard and a Evga gtx 970 (will get a second one later) and will get a creative sounds blaster z.

The whole thing should look something like this:
Graphics card
Empty slot
Sound card
Empty slot
graphics card

Thanks in advance! 😀

 

[VincentP]

There are lots of options for audio. Just getting a sound card isn't necessarily better than onboard audio.
Headphones or speakers?
Do your headphones or speakers expect stereo or surround analog inputs, or are they connected by USB?
ARe you interested primarily in music or games for sound quality?

 

[ShadyHamster]

That likely wont work due to the limited number of pci-e gen 3 lanes and SLI 8x requirements.
Just use the top pci-e 1x slot for the sound card to avoid issues.

 

[VincentP]

I've just had a look at the motherboard specification and the specification for this sound card.
The onboard audio on the motherboard is very good and comes with the full suite of Creative features.
If you did want to use the card, it will be inserted in one of the PCI-E x1 slots rather than a X16 slot.

Install your graphics card in the top X16 slot (labelled PCI_E2.
This will cover PCI_E3 and I would leave PCI_E4 empty as well if possible.

You could install the sound card in PCI_E6 and the second graphics card in PCI_E7 providing there is clearance for the graphics card and your case has 8 expansion slots.
Alternatively, you may be able to install the sound card in PCI_E1 if your CPU cooler isn't too big.

 

[oddidude]

Thanks for the replies.
Since I am an audiophile, the best sound possible is very necessary for me so I would prefer to get a sound card rather than sticking on the on board audio. To answer you question about headphones/speakers, I am using m-audio bx5 d2 speakers and Sennheiser momentum headphones and will hopefully get surround sound through the headphones only.
Once more thing, would putting the sound card in the pcI-E x1 slot make any significant difference to a pcI-E x16 slot?

 

[VincentP]

Thanks for the replies.
Since I am an audiophile, the best sound possible is very necessary for me so I would prefer to get a sound card rather than sticking on the on board audio. To answer you question about headphones/speakers, I am using m-audio bx5 d2 speakers and Sennheiser momentum headphones and will hopefully get surround sound through the headphones only.
Once more thing, would putting the sound card in the pcI-E x1 slot make any significant difference to a pcI-E x16 slot?

Yes.
With one of the PCI-E x16 slots in use, it operates at X16 speed.
With two PCI-E x16 slots in use, these each operate at X8 speed, sharing the 16 lanes available from the CPU.
With three PCI-E x16 slots in use, they operate at X8/X4/X4 speed.
The x1 slots are connected to the motherboard chipset instead.
The sound card only requires a x1 slot so there is no reason to reduce the bandwidth available to your graphics cards by using an additional x16 slot.

The motherboard you have selected has an ALC1150 audio shipset with a SNR of 115dB:
http://www.realtek.com.tw/products/productsView.aspx?Langid=1&PFid=28&Level=5&Conn=4&ProdID=328
They have additionally added support for Creative SBX Pro Studio which allows features like virtual surround sound from stereo headphones and also added a built-in headphone amplifier.
I honestly think you will be unable to tell the difference if you add a sound card. About the only benefit I can see with the card you have suggested is that it will take some load off the CPU.

 

[oddidude]

Okay. Thanks for the help!