I know this is a dumb question but whats the difference in sound cards. I record on my PC but alot of ppl in the internet say it sounds so much better with an upgraded sound card. I dont c how because what I have now seems good.

well a good motherboard nowadays will have a 7.1 sound with it. I have the Audigy Platinum and it's cool to have. Its just a lil bit of extra hardware with more outputs and all software. Like when I use diff bitrate mp3's I still record them to be at the same lvl and sound of each other. So in the end its all abotu a few xtra hardware functions and software applications.

Hope that helps

If you're only recording single channel audio through your mic port or an adapter of some kind then an upgraded card isn't needed. However, if you're looking to do some more advanced recording/mixing, hardcore gaming, or even using it as a high end media station then the sound card will make a big difference.

If you go for a sound card on an XP machine you can get away with an Audigy pretty cheap or go the extra mile for an X-Fi (About $100 I believe). If you're on Vista then I recommend an X-Fi or nothing at all since Vista can emulate almost everything the Audigy does with the onboard sound card.

yea i agree with spoon. my audigy is 5 years old or so. works great and cost me $100 back then. like i said any newer board will have 7.1 or so, therefore making it not necessary to buy a soundcard. If you're into mixing then Im sure you will have plenty more hardware added as well just a sound card.

alright so this audigy is the best to go with? I have my pc connected to my stereo and im gettin a VGA to RCA box soon to make my comp a mini home theater system, and I record alot of stuff on guitar through mic and direct input, and record mono out stuff for the techno songs I make. so is it worth it to buy this card for all those reasons?

if you have your stereo hooked to it i might suggest the Audigy 2. i had one on my gaming computer and it was amazing. its a little more money, last time i looked like 169....but its probably less then that now. EITHER WAY a regular audigy would probably suit your needs very well. most of the time, unless you are doing some hardcore recording, u will not be able to tell the difference between any newer onboard soundcard and a $xx-$100. even then...its a fairly minimal difference that you will ever be able to detect by ear.

so yes, an audigy should suit your needs fine, and they come with good software. if your doin it online i suggest newegg.com. it is by far the best. their shipping is unprecedented and their RMA service is awesome.

look up a few audigy models and pick your choice for what you have and what you may grow into down the road

Creative is probably the name brand to go with since they make the cards. Here are some goods ones for under $100:

Newegg.com - Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer 7.1 Channels 24-bit 96KHz PCI Interface Sound Card - Retail (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829102006) - $79.99
Newegg.com - Creative Sound Blaster SB0570 Audigy SE 7.1 Channels 24-bit 96KHz PCI Interface Sound Card - Retail (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829102002) - $29.99

Here's what I bought over 4 years ago http://us.creative.com/products/product.asp?product=4915

Here is a bizzare sales price of something made 4 years ago
Creative Labs Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS - Sound card - plug-in card -: Compare Prices, View Price History and Read Reviews at NexTag (http://www.nextag.com/Creative-Labs-Creative-Sound-65772428/prices-html)

So after 20 min or so of searching I found it for you for $69
Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS 7.1 (http://www.infinities.com/onlinestore/detail.cfm?ID=SC-0350ZSB&storeid=1)

would a sound card aid in your computer's performance? i dont really understand why you say that it matters for hardcore gaming. how does it aid your computer?

Here's what I bought over 4 years ago http://us.creative.com/products/product.asp?product=4915

Here is a bizzare sales price of something made 4 years ago
Creative Labs Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS - Sound card - plug-in card -: Compare Prices, View Price History and Read Reviews at NexTag (http://www.nextag.com/Creative-Labs-Creative-Sound-65772428/prices-html)

So after 20 min or so of searching I found it for you for $69
Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS 7.1 (http://www.infinities.com/onlinestore/detail.cfm?ID=SC-0350ZSB&storeid=1)

appreciate it man now one further question. Idk if sound cards work the same way as graphic cards but I know i have a PCI graphic card. no express slot so will that matter for sound cards as well?

Sound cards are typically all PCI.

no the express slot is for graphics card 16x as opposed to the older agp of 4x or 8x. It just gives a bigger pipeline. agp,pci, pcle and pci e are the 4 formats. sound cards are pci.

alright thanks guys. I just didnt wanna buy a sound card and it not work lol cause i did that once with a graphics card cause i didnt know my pos comp over here couldnt go pci express

sure thing man. any more questions just ask away. :-)