New sound card

Posted by: drakino

New sound card - 18/08/2004 16:40

I recently bought a set of Logitech Z5300 5.1 speakers to enjoy Doom 3 a bit more. Right now the onboard sound " AC97 2.2 6 Channel sound" on my Shuttle SB51G is driving them, and seems to do fine to give me surround sound in Doom 3 and a few other games.

So, what would buying a sound card like the Creative Audigy 2 ZS get me, beyond 200 megs of crap utilities? Anything noticible in the sound experience, or is EAX just marketing hype still? Last time I really paid attention to this was when I got my old Turtle Beach Montego II Quadzilla, and it did A3D, regarded at the time as better then EAX. Creative now has ensured they have crushed any competiting technology, resulting in only them for a true gamer sound card it seems. My only other solutiion would seem to be NVidia's Soundstorm, but thats an integrated solution that I hope to have with my next Shuttle mid next year.
Posted by: RobotCaleb

Re: New sound card - 18/08/2004 19:28

some of the levels in UT2k4 with EAX effects sound phenomenal
Posted by: drakino

Re: New sound card - 19/08/2004 06:20

Quote:
some of the levels in UT2k4 with EAX effects sound phenomenal

Just fired up UT2K4 and it lets me set the sound to HW 3D + EAX with no problems. The more I look at it, the only real benefit I can see is regaining my line in for my empeg. I'd then loose the front panel connectors though.