Beginner PC Headphone Upgrade help

[Flintstone01200]

So, I have a set of logitech g930s that are starting to go out, and i need a new set of headphones, so i thought i would get something nice for myself for christmas(maybe a little late to be here by christmas, but whatever).  Anyways, i am pretty new to all this, and i was looking at getting some help to set this all up. So my budget is gonna be between 400 and 600 dollars for everything, and as far as sound cards go, it needs to be external. My video cards are covering all available pci slots.  As far as application goes, I do game pretty regularly, mostly FPS, and I also listen to a lot of music.  The music styles i listen to are Metal(Dethklok, Baroness, Mastodon), Jazz(Kamasi Washington, Badbadnotgood, Thundercat), and some Electronic(brainfeeder label, Nicolas Jaar, ect.)
 
Anyways, that bout sums it up, any  help would be greatly appreciated

 

[PurpleAngel]

Here is a good place to ask questions about headphones.
http://www.head-fi.org/f/7840/introductions-help-and-recommendations
 
So are all PCI and PCI-E slot unavailable?
 
One option is to spend less then $100 for an external USB DAC/amp, FiiO E10K or Schiit Fulla.
Some people are ok playing FPS in stereo audio (as USB bypasses sound card features).
Then spend the rest of your audio budget for headphones.
Maybe Philips Fidelio X2?
($287)
 
To still use the features on your motherboard's on-board audio, you might consider an external DAC with optical input.
Like this Schiit Modi Uber, current bid is $91 (+$15 shipping).
http://www.ebay.com/itm/221968152063?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
Then connect a headphone amplifier to the external DAC.
Here is a Magni headphone amplifier for $90.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/252208074605?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

 

[Flintstone01200]

yeah, all pci slots are unusable, thanx for the recomendations. Im not really sure if my mobo offers anything special as far as sound processing goes, My mobo is a asus rampage iv formula with the supremefx iii and im running windows 10. i didnt see anything on the asus website for my mobo about countinued supremefx support apps. just the realtek drivers. do they offer virtual surround?

 

[PurpleAngel]

  yeah, all PCI slots are unusable, thanx for the recommendations. I'm not really sure if my mobo offers anything special as far as sound processing goes, My mobo is a Asus rampage iv formula with the Supremefx iii and I'm running windows 10. I didn't see anything on the Asus website for my mobo about continued Supremefx support apps. just the Realtek drivers. do they offer virtual surround?

 
Your motherboard has zero PCI slots, it has 4 PCI-E X16 slots and 2 PCI-E X1 slots.
So how can you not have any free PCI-E slots?
 
Anyway, you motherboard comes with the Realtek ALC898 audio processor, which is fairly decent, for on-board audio.
And it also has some ported Creative labs software.
I'm guessing the Creative software offers at least a little better headphone surround sound, then the Realtek software.
 
You could get the Philips Fidelio X2 headphones and plug then straight into the motherboard's on-board audio.
Would a Schiit DAC/amp combo be a little better, for plugging the headphones into, yes.

 

[Flintstone01200]

i have a 3way sli, the video cards are covering everything up

 

[PurpleAngel]

  i have a 3way sli, the video cards are covering everything up

 
Your computers into three ways, ok.

 

[kaye23]

I currently have the Fidelio X2 with the Schiit Uber stack (Modi/Magni Uber) that I use for listening to music and playing games. This setup will cost about $600 if you get everything new. InnerFidelity has a good review on the Fidelio X2, plus all the reviews here on Head-Fi. With my current setup, the sound positioning is good which helps for FPS.
 
Here's a thread here on Head-Fi that has a large number of headphones reviewed for gaming.
http://www.head-fi.org/t/534479/mad-lust-envys-headphone-gaming-guide-5-31-2015-beyer-cop-and-shure-1540-added