should i buy a sound card or dac

[did007]

recently i bought logitech z623 2.1 thx speaker. so i was wondering do i really need a sound card or usb dac? i am not a hardcore gammer. i love listening music. my mobo is really old(gigabyte ga-p55-usb3). so i thought that the onboard realtek sound is not enough to produce good quality sound as compared to the speaker. when i turn the volume all the way up in my speker i can really hard the hissing noise comming from my onboard sound. so my question is that really do i need a sound card or any external dac to improve the sound quality. if really i need a usb dac or sound card then pls suggest.


os:windows 10.updated to latest.
mobo: gigabyte ga p55 usb 3
ram: 16gb hyperx furry
graphics: gts 250 xfx

 

[Chugalug_]

You don't need a sound card for those, sound cards are only truly useful for powerful headphone setups, waste of money otherwise.
However, given your on board sound card is old as you mentioned though, i'd pick up a solid budget option, those older sound chips can be dreadful.

 

[Chugalug_]

Get this, 19 bucks after rebate: https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829132020&ignorebbr=1

 

[did007]

Get this, 19 bucks after rebate: https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829132020&ignorebbr=1[/quotem

my realtek sound chip version is alc 888. i dont know xonar dg will be a better choice. help me. or should i buy xonar dx?

 

[Chugalug_]

Yeah get the Xonar, it will help.

 

[did007]

Yeah get the Xonar, it will help.

what about creative sound cards?

 

[Chugalug_]

Not worth the extra cost, the Xonar is the best budget option, and all you need.

 

[did007]

Not worth the extra cost, the Xonar is the best budget option, and all you need.

thanks..i think i will buy the xonar dx or d2x..