About a year ago I built a new computer after stretching my last one 6 or 7 years via overclocking and such. This time around, I thought I'd try the integrated sound on the msi Z87-G45 GAMING mobo. It comes with some Audio Boost onboard audio and some Sound Blaster Cinema software which never seems to remember the settings I set and seem to be geared more towards modifying how headphones sound, or stretching 2 channel audio over my 5.1 speakers. It has a few things on it like Crystalizer, Smart Volume (normalization), bass boost, and Dialogue Plus, which are automatically enabled or set to certain levels with some presets--nothing too impressive. There are 7.1 audio jacks in the back, but the performance doesn't really impress me. Nothing seems as crisp on my high end speakers as the dedicated audio solution I had before and I have to turn up the volume knob higher (above the halfway mark) for acceptable volume on the speakers themselves than I used to on the old computer, where usually around 30-40 (out of 80) was plenty unless I was rocking out loudly (beyond 40). Is this due to a weaker signal from the motherboard audio?
These few options pale in comparison to the suite of software and features I had with my X-Fi Fatal1ty on my old computer which came with a useful front panel that is installed in an optical bay which I used for plugging in a guitar for some recording. Games sounded great (EAX?) and the software had some great EQ settings I could play with and really enhanced my music, including Stereo Surround which I really enjoy for music. Plus, the gaming audio sounded great on my Klipsch 5.1 ProMedia Ultra speakers with spot on positional audio which helped out in FPS games and allowed me to hear other characters and sounds near my characters in various MMO games.
Anyway, my old card is Legacy PCI and my new computer doesn't have any slots for it. Can anyone recommend a new card with my music, gaming, and audio creation needs in mind?
These few options pale in comparison to the suite of software and features I had with my X-Fi Fatal1ty on my old computer which came with a useful front panel that is installed in an optical bay which I used for plugging in a guitar for some recording. Games sounded great (EAX?) and the software had some great EQ settings I could play with and really enhanced my music, including Stereo Surround which I really enjoy for music. Plus, the gaming audio sounded great on my Klipsch 5.1 ProMedia Ultra speakers with spot on positional audio which helped out in FPS games and allowed me to hear other characters and sounds near my characters in various MMO games.
Anyway, my old card is Legacy PCI and my new computer doesn't have any slots for it. Can anyone recommend a new card with my music, gaming, and audio creation needs in mind?
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram