Question Need Recommendations on Alternative Internal and/or External Sound Cards for Gaming PC

[MasterYoda327]

I have recently exchanged my Creative Sound Blaster G8 for an identical one, but I have run into similar problems with the second one compared to the first. With the first device I had issues with the volume lagging with the knob and the volume level indicator and level fluctuating with me not changing the volume at all. I did troubleshooting steps such as disabling my motherboard's onboard audio, factory resetting the device, uninstalling and re-installing the Creative App software and associated drivers, and changing USB ports and cables. None of that helped. I assumed there might have been a hardware problem with the G8 so I returned it and got an exchange. With the replacement G8, I am still having issues with the volume level lagging and the volume making big adjustments in loudness with only small moves of the knob. I disabled my onboard audio again and tried to see if there was some setting in the Creative app that could fix the volume adjustment level for the knob, but no luck. I now suspect that the issue is with the Creative App software. I plan to return the G8 sound card and look at possible alternative internal and external sound cards. I plan to build a new PC soon that is intended for gaming use with additional uses being for listening to music (mostly FLAC), and basic YouTube content creation and running Windows 11. What I am looking for is an internal/external sound card to connect both my Logitech Z407 speakers and G432 gaming headphones, provides 7.1 surround sound (real or virtual), has game mode settings, an EQ (e.g. rock, classical, dance, etc.) and environmental settings (e.g. concert hall, auditorium, stone room, etc.), and good audio and microphone quality when chatting online with other gamers. With the internal sound card, I want it to have good shielding from interference from the other PC components. I am not looking at an overkill sound card, but somewhere around the best value range in terms of price and performance. My budget is around $150. I have looked at alternative sound cards. I am considering Creative's Sound Blaster Z SE and Sound Blaster X AE-5 Plus [(https://us.creative.com/p/sound-blaster/sound-blaster-z-se and https://us.creative.com/p/sound-blaster/sound-blasterx-ae-5-plus ) as long as they don't require Creative App and work with Windows 11], Asus Xonar AE (https://shop.asus.com/us/90ya00p0-m0ua00-xonar-ae.html ), and EPOS GSX 1000 2nd Edition (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BHL8CNWD?tag=td089-20&th=1). I am no expert on audio. The mentioned cards are based on reviews I looked at, but I am open to alternative suggestions for reliable and good quality sound cards.

Thanks.

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[LordVile]

Just use the MB audio bud. Sound cards haven’t really been advantageous for years now and just cause issues. If you really want to be overkill get an external DAC and Amp but even then your “gains” will be minimal. All of what you want can be done in software because guess what, that’s all the sound card is doing.

 

[MasterYoda327]

I will take your word for it. Will the onboard audio from these two motherboard's be sufficient for my gaming, music, and YouTube content creation needs?

GIGABYTE X870E AORUS Elite WIFI7 AMD AM5 LGA 1718 Motherboard, ATX, DDR5, 4X M.2, PCIe 5.0, USB4, WIFI7, 2.5GbE LAN, EZ-Latch, 5-Year Warranty (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DGVBM73J?tag=pcpapi-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1)

MSI MAG X870E Tomahawk WiFi Motherboard, ATX - Supports AMD Ryzen 9000/8000 / 7000 Processors, AM5-80A SPS VRM, DDR5 Memory Boost 8400+ MT/s (OC), PCIe 5.0 x16, M.2 Gen5, Wi-Fi 7, 5G LAN (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DT55ZJM7?tag=pcpapi-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1)​