[surrealdeal]

.

 

[VOXMASTER]

There are also usb cards such as:
 
http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Soundblaster-Audio-System-SB1290/dp/B0044DEDC0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1378170585&sr=8-1&keywords=creative+live+go
 
Or: 
 
http://www.amazon.com/Turtle-Beach-Advantage-Digital-Adapter/dp/B0036VO4X4/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1378170838&sr=8-2&keywords=usb+sound+card

 

[surrealdeal]

 .

 

[VOXMASTER]

For Sound Quality USB Should be fine.
Now you said your Usb is dying.
How about something like this:
 
http://www.amazon.com/GMYLE-2-Port-PCMCIA-Cardbus-Notebook/dp/B0027Q4HXG
 
With this path you will be able to upgrade later.

 

[cel4145]

I have this thinkpad with a PCMCIA card and wanted to get the indigo, but if it's substantially better, I would be ok with getting something like a claro II.

How will you put the Claro II in a Thinkpad? I'm assuming you have another computer?