Computer Assembly - How To Assemble A PC
The Sound Card and Speakers
The ASUS M2N32-SLI Deluxe has very good built-in sound. Good enough that an add-on sound card is not needed. I'm not an aficionado, but I do appreciate good quality sound. And the sound is definitely richer and more detailed with the Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer add-on sound card. It also improves performance by 5 to 15 percent by off-loading sound generation chores from the motherboard and processor. And this improvement usually comes when it's needed most - when the system is already heavily loaded keeping up with a graphically intensive application such as a top-tier game. And, of course, speakers are needed whether the motherboard has built-in sound or not.
The Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi throws in FireWire support along with the sound. Quite a little bonus, that is. The card provides so many connections that a second PCI slot cover, but not the PCI slot itself, is required to use them all. The second PCI slot cover provides a single connection and it's for a joystick. I'm an occasional gamer myself and my kids use the edutainment packages frequently, but most software packages work quite well without a joystick and we get by without one just fine.
The Creative Cambridge SoundWorks PCWorks speaker system includes two satellite speakers and a sub-woofer. The sound quality is amazingly good. The speakers come with a handy volume control that I like to run right up to the front of the monitor, making volume adjustment and muting a breeze!
My complete recommendations for building a computer with quality components at unbeatable
prices is on my home page at
Build A Computer
Like My Super PC - Cost To Build A Computer. Here again are the recommendations for a sound card!
| Description
| Where I Would Get It Today
| Today's Price
| Comments
|
| ASUS Xonar DX PCI-Express |
Amazon
|
$80.99 |
Free shipping!
Retail box.
Clicking the link takes you directly to it.
An add-on sound card is not needed by most. The built-in sound provided by motherboards such as the ones I recommend will satisfy most listeners, including me.
But a sound card provides noticeably better sound and improves performance.
|
|
Back to My Super PC - Home Page
How To Build A Computer. Step By Step Instructions To Assemble. Skip To Any Assembly Step.
Back to My Super PC - Home Page
© 2001-2010, Rob Williams, all rights reserved.
|
|
