Should I get an internal sound card or DAC? Do I need it?

[MattC231]

As the title says, should I get one?

 

[Math Geek]

what are you going to be doing that you think you may need one?

generally answer is no unless you are working in sound creation and editing. otherwise mobo built in is plenty good enough

 

[MattC231]

ok, so I don't need to get one. Was just curious if it would be worth it. BTW, I mostly game.

 

[Math Geek]

yah for gaming, no need. mobo sound is more than good enough

they've come a long way since the old days of missing or really junk built in sound.

happy gaming!!

 

[ingtar33]

well this is a loaded question.

The onboard sound card (that comes with most motherboards) generally if you look strictly at the specs are better quality than the human ear can hear. Even the ones on the low quality motherboards generally "in theory" are better quality then the human ear can differentiate.

THAT SAID - if you're a bit of an audiophile, you might notice some differences between the audio quality of the sound on motherboards. Many boards lack high quality gold plated interface jacks, many aren't EM shielded, meaning all the electronic devices in your motherboard will influence the quality of the audio as well. This is why I said the question was a bit loaded. In theory, going strictly by the specs for each of the onboard sound cards on these boards, they all should be far better then your ears could ever differentiate, yet in practice you probably will be able to tell.

High end motherboards don't necessarily mean their sound is any better too, unless the sound card is electronically isolated, many of them also have the same issues. Even on the ones who DO isolate the sound card, many lack quality audio jacks on the IO panel. Finally, if you have some crappy dollar store speakers you'll never tell the difference no matter what motherboard you have anyway.

SO - assuming you have high end speakers
AND - assuming you have a motherboard which isolates the sound board from the rest of the parts, plus has gold plated jacks
then you don't need anything else.

If you have high end speakers but a "normal" motherboard, you probably will notice a lack of audio fidelity, and getting a well made sound card could be an option

If your speakers are junk, I wouldn't bother with a high end sound card.

 

[smorizio]

it depends on the sound chipset and mb you have and the sound card you buy. the stock realteck chipset (8xxx) is not bad with standard speakers. with higher end headphones sound cards and mb that have built in headphone amps have better sound. on my asus sabertooth z77 mb i turned ther sound card off and got a refurbed sound blaster recon 3d for a few years now. though headphones the after market sound card has great sound with my gaming headset. if you have a new gaming build try onboard sound if it has issues like hisses or out of synk sound with the newest drivers. then look at an after market higher end sound card.

 

[MattC231]

well this is a loaded question.

The onboard sound card (that comes with most motherboards) generally if you look strictly at the specs are better quality than the human ear can hear. Even the ones on the low quality motherboards generally "in theory" are better quality then the human ear can differentiate.

THAT SAID - if you're a bit of an audiophile, you might notice some differences between the audio quality of the sound on motherboards. Many boards lack high quality gold plated interface jacks, many aren't EM shielded, meaning all the electronic devices in your motherboard will influence the quality of the audio as well. This is why I said the question was a bit loaded. In theory, going strictly by the specs for each of the onboard sound cards on these boards, they all should be far better then your ears could ever differentiate, yet in practice you probably will be able to tell.

High end motherboards don't necessarily mean their sound is any better too, unless the sound card is electronically isolated, many of them also have the same issues. Even on the ones who DO isolate the sound card, many lack quality audio jacks on the IO panel. Finally, if you have some crappy dollar store speakers you'll never tell the difference no matter what motherboard you have anyway.

SO - assuming you have high end speakers
AND - assuming you have a motherboard which isolates the sound board from the rest of the parts, plus has gold plated jacks
then you don't need anything else.

If you have high end speakers but a "normal" motherboard, you probably will notice a lack of audio fidelity, and getting a well made sound card could be an option

If your speakers are junk, I wouldn't bother with a high end sound card.

Ok, I have an MSI Z270 Gaming M7 board and Logitech Z323 speakers, but I primarily use my Corsair HS40 headset.
So, reading what you wrote and what I have, I should be good, correct?

 

[photonboy]

Logitech Z323 speakers are okay, but I doubt a good sound card would sound much different than the onboard audio solution you have with that MSI motherboard.

I've compared MANY solutions and found that from worst-to-best (that I can tell with GOOD speakers and heaphones):
3. older Realtek(2012)
2. newer Realtek (2017)
1. High quality sound card ($100+)

I see a HUGE difference between #3 and #1 with quality speakers.

I see SOME difference between #3 and #1 with cheaper speakers (similar to Z323).

I see LITTLE DIFFERENCE between #2 and #1 with cheap-to-okay speakers. (by "okay" I still mean fairly good in general)

 

[MattC231]

Logitech Z323 speakers are okay, but I doubt a good sound card would sound much different than the onboard audio solution you have with that MSI motherboard.

I've compared MANY solutions and found that from worst-to-best (that I can tell with GOOD speakers and heaphones):
3. older Realtek(2012)
2. newer Realtek (2017)
1. High quality sound card ($100+)

I see a HUGE difference between #3 and #1 with quality speakers.

I see SOME difference between #3 and #1 with cheaper speakers (similar to Z323).

I see LITTLE DIFFERENCE between #2 and #1 with cheaper speakers.

ok, thnx

 

[photonboy]

Also, make sure you installed the software from the MSI site.
Under "support"-> "drivers"-> and Realtek audio is currently version 6.0.1.8216

and..

you may want to NOT use some of the audio processing functionality. I'm not sure what's on by default but I disabled EVERYTHING for my sound card.

*I also see confusing info about the KILLER NIC software. Not sure how good it is now, but in the past people would just use the DRIVERS ("driver only" as shown in the list) and not install the software package.

FAN CONTROL is probably in the Utility section part of the COMMAND CENTER though I'm guessing.

 

[MattC231]

i mainly use the nahimic software and software for my hs40

 

[MattC231]

yah for gaming, no need. mobo sound is more than good enough

they've come a long way since the old days of missing or really junk built in sound.

happy gaming!!

well this is a loaded question.

The onboard sound card (that comes with most motherboards) generally if you look strictly at the specs are better quality than the human ear can hear. Even the ones on the low quality motherboards generally "in theory" are better quality then the human ear can differentiate.

THAT SAID - if you're a bit of an audiophile, you might notice some differences between the audio quality of the sound on motherboards. Many boards lack high quality gold plated interface jacks, many aren't EM shielded, meaning all the electronic devices in your motherboard will influence the quality of the audio as well. This is why I said the question was a bit loaded. In theory, going strictly by the specs for each of the onboard sound cards on these boards, they all should be far better then your ears could ever differentiate, yet in practice you probably will be able to tell.

High end motherboards don't necessarily mean their sound is any better too, unless the sound card is electronically isolated, many of them also have the same issues. Even on the ones who DO isolate the sound card, many lack quality audio jacks on the IO panel. Finally, if you have some crappy dollar store speakers you'll never tell the difference no matter what motherboard you have anyway.

SO - assuming you have high end speakers
AND - assuming you have a motherboard which isolates the sound board from the rest of the parts, plus has gold plated jacks
then you don't need anything else.

If you have high end speakers but a "normal" motherboard, you probably will notice a lack of audio fidelity, and getting a well made sound card could be an option

If your speakers are junk, I wouldn't bother with a high end sound card.

it depends on the sound chipset and mb you have and the sound card you buy. the stock realteck chipset (8xxx) is not bad with standard speakers. with higher end headphones sound cards and mb that have built in headphone amps have better sound. on my asus sabertooth z77 mb i turned ther sound card off and got a refurbed sound blaster recon 3d for a few years now. though headphones the after market sound card has great sound with my gaming headset. if you have a new gaming build try onboard sound if it has issues like hisses or out of synk sound with the newest drivers. then look at an after market higher end sound card.

Logitech Z323 speakers are okay, but I doubt a good sound card would sound much different than the onboard audio solution you have with that MSI motherboard.

I've compared MANY solutions and found that from worst-to-best (that I can tell with GOOD speakers and heaphones):
3. older Realtek(2012)
2. newer Realtek (2017)
1. High quality sound card ($100+)

I see a HUGE difference between #3 and #1 with quality speakers.

I see SOME difference between #3 and #1 with cheaper speakers (similar to Z323).

I see LITTLE DIFFERENCE between #2 and #1 with cheap-to-okay speakers. (by "okay" I still mean fairly good in general)

thnx all for your input!