Computer Assembly - How To Assemble A PC
The Sound Card and Speakers
The Creative Sound Blaster Audigy can be purchased as either the Gamer version or MP3+ version. The hardware is the same in both cases, but the included software bundle is different. The Creative Sound Blaster Audigy line 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!
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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
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An add-on sound card is not needed by most. The built-in sound provided by motherboards such as the EPoX 8RDA+ and the MSI K8N Neo Platinum will satisfy most listeners, including me. But if you want a sound card for even better sound or to maximize performance, the line of model I like is Soundblaster made by Creative Labs.
| Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer Sound Card |
Amazon
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$85.99 |
Free shipping!
Retail box.
Clicking the link takes you directly to it.
Creative's new line of X-Fi sound cards replaces the Audigy series. The X-Fi models provide better sound quality, more voices (128, up from 64) and support for the the next version of EAX (version 5.0 instead of version 4.0) which is Creative's technology for providing positional, effects, and environmental audio. The XtrememeGamer model is plenty for most of us, and much cheaper than the other Elite Pro, Fatal1ty FPS and Platinum models. All models have the same core hardware. The more expensive models include extra RAM and even a remote control.
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