Motherboard Sound Cards

[storm slider]

Hello.

Do motherboards that are up to $150 usually have 7.1 surround sound built in?

Thanks.

 

[inzone]

A lot of motherboards now have 8.1 channel surround sound at most prices and the higher the price the more the features like THX , Dolby Digital and Crative EAX.

ASRock Z68 Extreme3 Gen3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
$121.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157271

As an example this motherboard has these features;
7.1 CH HD Audio with Content Protection (Realtek ALC892 Audio Codec), Supports THX TruStudio

 

[inzone]

MSI Z68MA-ED55 (B3) LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard
$139.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130596

This one has ;
THX TruStudio PRO: deliver the fullest audio experience

GIGABYTE G1.Assassin LGA 1366 Intel X58 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 XL ATX Intel Motherboard
$339.99 and a $80 rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128472

Then you have a motherboard like this one;
Onboard Creative Soundblaster X-Fi Digital Audio Processor (20K2) with X-Fi Xtreme Fidelity and EAX AHD 5.0 Technologies
Dolby Digital Live
DTS Connect
Built-in Front Audio Headphone Amplifier
Nichicon High-end Audio Capacitors

These features are built into the motherboard and it almost makes a seperate sound card not nesscesary. There will still be some people that just like to have a seperate sound card.

 

[CaedenV]

What really matters is that you get something with optical output, and put good money into your receiver, speakers, and headphones. Even 'cheap' $100 mobos put out better quality audio than your average speaker system.
Also, remember that God gave you 2 ears not 7, and 2 speakers that cost the same as a 7.1 channel system will sound infinitely better. A properly set up stereo will sound just as 3D as having 100 speakers (granted it is harder to find a room that can manage it acoustically).

 

[inzone]

A good quality pair of headphones is a great option and you don't disturb anybody else if you are cranking up the volume. I used to think that you had to have a killer set of speakers to take advantage of the sound on the MB , untill I got a pair of V-Moda headphones.

http://www.amazon.com/V-MODA-True-Blood-V-80-Noise-Isolating/dp/B0058M3RXW/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1328765841&sr=8-15

 

[storm slider]

MSI Z68MA-ED55 (B3) LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard
$139.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130596

This one has ;
THX TruStudio PRO: deliver the fullest audio experience

GIGABYTE G1.Assassin LGA 1366 Intel X58 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 XL ATX Intel Motherboard
$339.99 and a $80 rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128472

Then you have a motherboard like this one;
Onboard Creative Soundblaster X-Fi Digital Audio Processor (20K2) with X-Fi Xtreme Fidelity and EAX AHD 5.0 Technologies
Dolby Digital Live
DTS Connect
Built-in Front Audio Headphone Amplifier
Nichicon High-end Audio Capacitors

These features are built into the motherboard and it almost makes a seperate sound card not nesscesary. There will still be some people that just like to have a seperate sound card.

Does that MSI have 7.1 surround sound?

 

[inzone]

Yes it says it has 8 channels and to my knowledge 8 channels is 7.1.

 

[storm slider]

Oh. So I won't be needing to spend $30.00 on a 7.1 Surround sound sound card. Thanks.

 

[storm slider]

Best answer selected by Storm Slider.

 

[inzone]

Your welcome.

You do however always have the option to put in a sound card if you want to but I haven't used a sound card for a long time now.

 

[storm slider]

I thought at first that motherboards had bad sound cards or like a normal 5.1 sound, but knowing most have 7.1 surround these days you don't quite need a sound card.

 

[storm slider]

Oh, and uhm, I would appreaciate it guys if I could get some replies from this thread I made:

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/forum2.php?config=tomshardwareus.inc&cat=32&post=280079&page=1&p=1&sondage=0&owntopic=1&trash=0&trash_post=0&print=0&numreponse=0&quote_only=0&new=0&nojs=0

 

[nikorr]

This topic has been closed by Nikorr