Sound Blaster CT4830

[tjumper78]

Hi all.
I've been listening to music in my computer via onboard sound of Asus P4C800-E Deluxe mobo and the SoundMax software it came with. I think the sound is pretty good.
Yesterday, my friend gave me a SoundBlaster Live CT4830 sound card.
If i install this sound card in my computer, will I see any improvement in sound?
Thanks in advance.

 

[h4n9m4n]

Due to the age of the card, sound quality may not be that good. If you do decide to try and compare, use drivers from the "kX project" (google it). They are custom drivers that I believe are compatible with this card. Since you are using onboard sound, it is possible to run two sound cards at once. You can switch between them in sound settings in control panel (if you are using windows) very easily if you want to compare.

 

[LawnGnome]

Yes you will. But don't install the creative drivers. Download and install the Kx project drivers.

Much better sound quality because they use the rear outs as the main outs.

Creative used a better codec for the rear outs compared to the front outs.(dont know why) So you get a decent boost in SQ by using the rear outs.

 

[Logistics]

x2 Sound quality will be alot better, especially if you do as LawnGnome said and install the kX Project drivers rather than Creative software. The front Channel of the SbLive! uses the AC'97 Codec, whereas the rear channel uses a stand-alone Phillips DAC.