AnimeSuki Forums

Galaxian · 2015-04-19, 01:03

Never done anything to my computer hardware before. The Realtek High Definition sound card has a couple of years and is showing signs of trouble (a buzz/static sound specially when I'm playing games) and I'm looking for a replacement. Could anyone help me pick one? Like I said, I know next to nothing about computer hardware.

iceyfw · 2015-04-19, 02:13

usb external audio adapter if you really want the easy route for plug and play. amazon examples

or cheap internal sound cards amazon examples. refer to your motherboard manual if you want to know the board has one.

IceHism · 2015-04-20, 03:24

I would recommend either getting a headset or external speakers. Those are often more higher in quality and reputation. Also easier to use.

I recently built a PC and the sound card really isn't that worth.
However, if you want to go the sound card way, any will do since they all connect through PCI-E anyways and all motherboards have those. Just look for ones with decent review on amazon

Irenicus · 2015-04-20, 04:09

^Am I misunderstanding something -- don't headsets or external speakers rely on a sound card or an audio adapter of some kind, anyway?

It sounds like the OP is having trouble with an on-board motherboard sound card and is looking for an alternative to bypass the problem, rather than replacing the whole motherboard. Nothing to do with where to invest to get the "best" audio setup on a new rig.

In any case, I did something like that once before because of the same reason. I added a cheap Asus Xonar card combined with custom external driver, UNi. OP, if you go with an Asus, I strongly recommend using the external driver rather than Asus' own. Sound cards add another layer of potential software incompatibilities and sound card companies, including Asus and Creative, suck at making drivers.

Also, per iceyfw's point, make sure you read your motherboard's manual and confirm that there's an available slot and what type it is, and buy the right sound card. PCI and PCI-E are two different things: some sound cards come as PCI, and many motherboards will not have the right slot for it.

IceHism · 2015-04-20, 06:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Irenicus

^Am I misunderstanding something -- don't headsets or external speakers rely on a sound card or an audio adapter of some kind, anyway?

It sounds like the OP is having trouble with an on-board motherboard sound card and is looking for an alternative to bypass the problem, rather than replacing the whole motherboard. Nothing to do with where to invest to get the "best" audio setup on a new rig.

In any case, I did something like that once before because of the same reason. I added a cheap Asus Xonar card combined with custom external driver, UNi. OP, if you go with an Asus, I strongly recommend using the external driver rather than Asus' own. Sound cards add another layer of potential software incompatibilities and sound card companies, including Asus and Creative, suck at making drivers.

Also, per iceyfw's point, make sure you read your motherboard's manual and confirm that there's an available slot and what type it is, and buy the right sound card. PCI and PCI-E are two different things: some sound cards come as PCI, and many motherboards will not have the right slot for it.

They do not. Speakers and headsets have their own drivers and "sound card" built into them. They work regardless whether your PC has one like my sound works fine with my Logitech headset even though I never bought a sound card.

larethian · 2015-04-20, 06:53

IceHism is right. An output sound device that plugs into usb port have their own DACs. Sound is transmitted digitally via the USB audio layer and you don't need any 'sound cards' (on board or not). OS takes care of everything. If it doesn't, just install the drivers for the device as per normal. Can't really suggest anything since I don't care that much about sound and dont playe games and stuff. Depends on your needs. But make sure you are getting one with USB and not analog jack. If you really want a card, you need to provide more details on your rig. You can google how to pull out system info of your PC.

SeijiSensei · 2015-04-20, 12:54

Follow the first link in iceyfw's posting above. I've used one of these devices when a laptop's audio jack broke. Be careful and turn the volume down before you first connect to it; the one I have produces a much louder output than did the laptop's onboard sound card.

Galaxian · 2015-04-21, 15:35

Thanks for all your advice. I'll try the external audio adapter first.

Galaxian · 2015-05-27, 12:21

Finally got the external audio adapter and it worked perfectly. I do not hear any static when I use it. Thanks for all of your help.

2015-04-19, 01:03	Link #1
Galaxian Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2013	Replacing Sound Card Never done anything to my computer hardware before. The Realtek High Definition sound card has a couple of years and is showing signs of trouble (a buzz/static sound specially when I'm playing games) and I'm looking for a replacement. Could anyone help me pick one? Like I said, I know next to nothing about computer hardware.

2015-04-20, 12:54	Link #7
SeijiSensei AS Oji-kun Join Date: Nov 2006 Age: 74	Follow the first link in iceyfw's posting above. I've used one of these devices when a laptop's audio jack broke. Be careful and turn the volume down before you first connect to it; the one I have produces a much louder output than did the laptop's onboard sound card. __________________ Taking Anime Seriously - Politics by the Numbers - Sports by the Numbers - MAL List - Avatars - Images

2015-04-19, 02:13	Link #2
iceyfw Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Age: 35	usb external audio adapter if you really want the easy route for plug and play. amazon examples or cheap internal sound cards amazon examples. refer to your motherboard manual if you want to know the board has one.

2015-04-20, 03:24	Link #3
IceHism Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2014	I would recommend either getting a headset or external speakers. Those are often more higher in quality and reputation. Also easier to use. I recently built a PC and the sound card really isn't that worth. However, if you want to go the sound card way, any will do since they all connect through PCI-E anyways and all motherboards have those. Just look for ones with decent review on amazon

2015-04-20, 04:09	Link #4
Irenicus Le fou, c'est moi Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Las Vegas, NV, USA Age: 34	^Am I misunderstanding something -- don't headsets or external speakers rely on a sound card or an audio adapter of some kind, anyway? It sounds like the OP is having trouble with an on-board motherboard sound card and is looking for an alternative to bypass the problem, rather than replacing the whole motherboard. Nothing to do with where to invest to get the "best" audio setup on a new rig. In any case, I did something like that once before because of the same reason. I added a cheap Asus Xonar card combined with custom external driver, UNi. OP, if you go with an Asus, I strongly recommend using the external driver rather than Asus' own. Sound cards add another layer of potential software incompatibilities and sound card companies, including Asus and Creative, suck at making drivers. Also, per iceyfw's point, make sure you read your motherboard's manual and confirm that there's an available slot and what type it is, and buy the right sound card. PCI and PCI-E are two different things: some sound cards come as PCI, and many motherboards will not have the right slot for it.

2015-04-20, 06:53	Link #6
larethian Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010	IceHism is right. An output sound device that plugs into usb port have their own DACs. Sound is transmitted digitally via the USB audio layer and you don't need any 'sound cards' (on board or not). OS takes care of everything. If it doesn't, just install the drivers for the device as per normal. Can't really suggest anything since I don't care that much about sound and dont playe games and stuff. Depends on your needs. But make sure you are getting one with USB and not analog jack. If you really want a card, you need to provide more details on your rig. You can google how to pull out system info of your PC.

2015-04-21, 15:35	Link #8
Galaxian Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2013	Thanks for all your advice. I'll try the external audio adapter first.

2015-05-27, 12:21	Link #9
Galaxian Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2013	Finally got the external audio adapter and it worked perfectly. I do not hear any static when I use it. Thanks for all of your help.