Onboard Audio vs Old Soundcard

[Labze]

Hello

Digged through some old hardware and found my Creative Soundblaster x-fi elite pro soundcard that i got like 8 years ago, and wondered if anyone knows if it still works on windows 7 or 8 or if there is no drivers for it anymore. Is it even worth using anymore? I just upgraded my system and now have a z97 asus maximus ranger motherboard, as far as i am aware onboard audio have improved quite a bit over the years so i'm wondering how it stacks up.

 

[corkyg]

Only one way to find out. First, is the soundcard slot compatible with any slot on your new mobo/ I doubt that it is. In that case, that is the end of the story. If it is, you can install it and let your ears answer the question. If it were me, I would smile and enjoy the much improved on board sound.

 

[postmortemIA]

drivers are still there, and IMHO it is still way better than onboard - any onboard still sufffers from noise coming thru on analog signals.
Analog speakers or headphones - it will sound better than any onboard.

 

[Carson Dyle]

I'm not convinced that it will be noticeably better. A board plugged into a PCI slot inside the computer will be subject to most of the same internal noise that an onboard chip is subject to. It's pretty easy, though, to try them both and listen for yourself.

Looks like the latest drivers include support up through Windows 8.1:

http://support.creative.com/Product...ame=X-Fi&prodID=14064&prodName=X-Fi+Elite+Pro

 

[lucklessgorath]

You should test them both. But if Asus is to be believed then the the sound on that motherboard is "as great as a dedicated sound card".

http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/MAXIMUS_VII_RANGER/

The marketing speak & gimmicks are an entertaining read.
-Gold plated connectors.
-EMI cover made with "black chrome".
-Sonic SenseAMP.
-Special capacitors made just for audio.
-A button on the motherboard that will change the sound stage. (How convenient.)

All kidding aside the only way to know if the onboard or x-fi elite pro sound better it to test them yourself. What sounds good to one person may sound worse to another.

Though I have to admit the sound radar hud on the Asus does seem pretty cool.

 

[richaron]

*Snip* the only way to know if the onboard or x-fi elite pro sound better it to test them yourself. What sounds good to one person may sound worse to another.

This.

Edit: Id guess the motherboard would have as good or better sound "quality". But, assuming drivers are good, the sound card has some extra effects.