PCI Audio Card vs. Onboard Mobo Audio

[Brangwen]

I installed an Abit VA6 mobo about 6 months ago when I installed an Intel P3. I did not enable the mobo's onboard audio and opted for my old PCI Soundblaster instead. I am going to give the onboard audio a go tomorrow. Will the onboard audio eat up more cpu or other resources than the PCI audio card? Is there a disadvantage to using onboard audio from a strictly resouce usage point of view?

Thanks!

Brangwen http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/wink.gif

[ArnoldLLerch]

I think you will find less use of system resources with your onboard audio. Not 100% positive but, I run almost equal systems with onboard on one and PCI audio on the other. Side by side comparison: Chaintech TBA6 Motherboard with Celeron 533 @550 256Mb RAM (128 PC133 and 128 PC100) and Asus P5A with AMD K6-II 500 with 256 Mb of PC 100 RAM.
When playing .wav files over Altech Lansing speaker system and Labtec speaker system, the only diference is the Altech sounds better. System resource usage.....Chaintech with onboard stays about 1% higher on available resources.

[canit]

I tried the onboard audio on my MSI K7T for a few weeks and I found that it did take away some performance in certain situations. It didn't sound too bad though.

[Brangwen]

Thx for your responses! I'm curious about the sound quality as well. I'll post my Abit VA6 onboard audio findings tomorrow.

Brangwen http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/wink.gif

[Warthog]

I doubt an onboard soundcard is going to beat a Soundblaster...but I could be wrong.

You should spend $40 and get a SB Live Value.

Warthog

[Brangwen]

Warthog, after reading the reviews in this forum about my mobo's onboard audio AND SB Live, I think you're right! Thx.

Brangwen http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/wink.gif

[Warthog]

Np http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif I chose the SB Live after all the good reviews too http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

Did you try the onboard yet?

Warthog

[This message has been edited by Warthog (edited 11-10-2000).]

[Brangwen]

No, I think I'm going to forego the onboard audio. The number of complaints that I read about my particular board's audio (Abit VA6 with SoundBlaster Pro) frankly discouraged my tinkering spirit for the moment. Especially when I had "real" work to accomplish this weekend. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/frown.gif

Brangwen

[shadow]

Some onboard sound is ****, that is true. For instance if the chip is a CMI. But I have a Tyan with onboard (ES1370) that uses the soundblaster 64 driver and it's great, I wouldnt waste any money on a card to replace it, it does what I want very well.

[Brangwen]

Frankly, I am most concerned with voice recognition application. I enjoy MP3s and game sounds as well, but my priority is dictation. Anyone share that concern who has been pleased with onboard audio?

Thx!

Brangwen http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/wink.gif