Sound options

[SilentVision]

Hi everyone, I am hoping that someone here will have some experience with this and be able to give a solid answer, so far I have found this to be a topic that resources of information for are rather limited.

I have an ASUS P5N32SLI-SE-DLX motherboard. It came with onboard sound, using Realtek AC97, it has 7.1 as well as digital outputs (which I cant use due to my speakers).

The sound quality seems fine, I was using an Audigy 2ZS on my old system and cant really notice any difference, probably because I am by no means using top of the line 5.1 speakers.

Is anyone aware, if using onboard sound actually taps into the CPU resources? I have seen arguements for both sides. I also cant really find any specifications on what the sound capabilities are, sound cards list all of the ranges etc etc...I can find NOTHING about this onboard setup.

I have seen numerous people complaining that the X-Fi cards do not play well with ASUS motherboards. I was looking into the Razer Barracuda but at $200, I need to research what gains I will really receive. I am sure the sound would be better, but would it really help free up any system resources over using onboard?

Thanks in advance.

 

[ski]

Check the CPU usage in your O/S with the sound on and off.

 

[stduc]

I can't imagine there is any significant difference. I don't see how you can measure it in any meaningful way. If no sound is playing, then CPU usage by the sound drivers had better be zero or something is really wrong.

To find out, upi would have to measure the CPU usage playing, say, the same piece of music. Them uninstall and install a new card and measure again.

Do you really care if one uses 3% more CPU than the other?

Or am I missing the point here?

 

[SilentVision]

3% wouldnt concern me. The problem was that I couldnt find any solid information on the specs of the AC97 and that when running some of the programs that I do, the processor is being taxed pretty heavily. So any percent that is being used that could be reduced would be beneficial.

I probably should have mentioned this is not just being used to listen to music or a movie, its very heavy load application.

EAX does not seem to actually work with Realtek AC97 so you have to use software rendering, considering its 5.1 with somewhere around 32 voices I was just thinking it was taking up a significant level of resources.

I have to look further into the EAX issue as according to Realtek it is supported, but that contradicts what I have observed as well as other users that I have found while researching this. Unless there is a fix out there (using updated drivers already) that will answer my question over if its worth buying a high end sound card regardless of the CPU usage.

 

[ski]

Play music with no other programs running. That will give you an idea how much CPU usage the sound adapter needs.

However, if other software has to run in addition to the sound adapter's drivers in order for it to meet your needs, then it will definitely increase CPU usage more than a sound card that does not require that same additional software.