5.1 gaming and GOOD sounding soundcard

[PDream]

I'm finally going to go for 5.1 sound in two months, my new computer will come slightly before that, but of course I want to be prepared.

I want a card that supports 5.1, has nice gaming support and also sounds very nice for plain music.

I was thinking of the A2ZS (I know, it probably doesn't sound well), but it's a tad expensive. How good is the 5.1 card from Terratec?

http://sounden.terratec.net/modules....rticle&sid=222
Or
http://sounden.terratec.net/modules....rticle&sid=147
I read that the latter is with gaming support, but is it not the same card? Is it just drivers and will it work well with games?

Othewise, an Audigy 2 Value and a ZS might be options, but both will be bulk versions. Will this be a problem for gaming?

I won't easily get other sound cards, it's rather hard to find them in Holland.

I can also get this weird unit, sorry for the dutch page:
http://www.alternate.nl/html/shop/pr...rtno=KK%23T43&
It looks like the front module of the 7.1 Universe, but I cant find out anyhting about it. It seems not to exist in Terratec's page.

 

[Edwood]

Do you want to game in 5.1 or not?

And do you have a Dolby Digital capable receiver or pre amp?

That would limit your choices a lot.

-Ed

 

[PDream]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edwood Do you want to game in 5.1 or not? And do you have a Dolby Digital capable receiver or pre amp? That would limit your choices a lot. -Ed

I want to game in 5.1, yes. I also will be getting a Dolby Digital capable Receiver, if I am correct. Let's just say I'll be getting one. (Unless it's very special. I doubt it.)

Edwood, good luck getting to 10000 posts, congratulations already .

 

[subsea]

Get Revo 5.1
Close to ESI Juli@ and better then A2 in music

 

[PDream]

Quote:

Originally Posted by subsea Get Revo 5.1 Close to ESI Juli@ and better then A2 in music

I'm afraid i am unable to get that one

I doubt my local shop will have it either, though I could check. but, right now, it seems rather unlikely.

How good is the Terratec 5.1's gaming support and does it give me any problems? the unused money could get in handy.

 

[sgrossklass]

Quote:

Originally Posted by PDream How good is the Terratec 5.1's gaming support and does it give me any problems? the unused money could get in handy.

Do you really want a CMI8738 based POS (usually overpriced at that)? Maybe you can find an Aureon Sky / Space instead, or a Guillemot/Hercules Fortissimo IV, or a Prodigy 7.1LT.

I don't know what to make of that "Aureon 7.1 Dolby Digital" yet, perhaps it's a CMI8768+ based card like the X-Mystique. You can't actually buy it yet, I think.

Stuff's a tad more expensive side over there in .nl, I must say. The same dealer over here wants to see 86€ for the Aureon Space instead of 95€, and they also offer the Fortissimo IV for 49€ here. The Dutch offers seem to be a tad outdated and about 10% more expensive on average.

 

[korben_dallas]

Any of the A2's are fine, and prices will be dropping w/ the X-Fi coming. EAX is simply impossible to beat for immersive gameplay. Battlefield 2 is incredible.

Also, w/ Dolby Digital out to a receiver, you will have a small amount of lag between the game video & game sound. It would just depend on you if it is noticeable enough to be an issue.

 

[PDream]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sgrossklass Do you really want a CMI8738 based POS (usually overpriced at that)? Maybe you can find an Aureon Sky / Space instead, or a Guillemot/Hercules Fortissimo IV, or a Prodigy 7.1LT. I don't know what to make of that "Aureon 7.1 Dolby Digital" yet, perhaps it's a CMI8768+ based card like the X-Mystique. You can't actually buy it yet, I think. Stuff's a tad more expensive side over there in .nl, I must say. The same dealer over here wants to see 86€ for the Aureon Space instead of 95€, and they also offer the Fortissimo IV for 49€ here. The Dutch offers seem to be a tad outdated and about 10% more expensive on average.

Welcome to Holland, friend from the close-east. We're so close, yet holland SUCKS so BADLY...For this kinda stuff.

I have access to Terratec and Creative (And trust, but thats not counted as an option), that would be it. I believe you germans are 11 percent cheaper than us dutch people, a magazine told about how great a choice you guys were

Anyway, I am going with the Audigy 2 Zs. It may suck for music, but so be it. not like I can really hear it right now.

 

[cadobhuk]

Only creative cards sound good in games that work through EAX.All other soundcards sound like excrements in games that are supposed to work through EAX.If they use Miles (like half life 2) or some other sound engine they will sound good on any card,however I think non-EAX is also non-multichannel,at least from what I've seen.

 

[necropimp]

Quote:

Originally Posted by cadobhuk Only creative cards sound good in games that work through EAX.All other soundcards sound like excrements in games that are supposed to work through EAX.If they use Miles (like half life 2) or some other sound engine they will sound good on any card,however I think non-EAX is also non-multichannel,at least from what I've seen.

EAX is not a surround thing it's more of an environmental effects thing