WoW performance and cards - Page 2

Jubee · 12-27-2006, 08:02 AM

I have a temp gauge built into my case and I put the sensors next to my vid card. It doesn't get very hot at all.

Cad · 12-27-2006, 08:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jubee

I have a temp gauge built into my case and I put the sensors next to my vid card. It doesn't get very hot at all.

The temperature of the air near the GPU isn't indicative of the temperature of the GPU in any way.

Breogan · 12-27-2006, 08:15 AM

If you are not afraid of used hardware, get an Audigy2 ZS from Ebay. They are pretty cheap and still have EAX 4.0 support.

On the videocard front, go for an ATI X1950 Pro. Those have a really nice perfomance/price ratio.

Antarius · 12-27-2006, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vorph

Edit: er, I guess scratch that on the XtremeGamer... it was $65 at newegg just before xmas but now it's going for $90ish. The Xtreme Audio card is just as bad as onboard sound as far as cpu overhead goes.

You're wrong about the difference between the "Xtreme Audio" and "XtremeGamer" cards.

If you care to learn more, Sound Blaster X-Fi - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
works, otherwise just trust me, the $65 buck X-Fi is more than worth it.

Newegg.com - Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio 70SB079000000 Sound Card - Retail

Lenaldo · 12-27-2006, 09:03 AM

Anyone know of a good PCI soundcard for gaming? I read the reviews of the one posted above and it seems to cause FPS issues and even BSOD.

I ask because I used a real old soundblaster card for years and never had any issues. However, i recently bought a new computer with an asus mobo with onboard 7.1 and theres fucking crackling and static in the background all the time. I can have the machine just sitting in windows, put my headphones on, and then get a static that is annoying enough that I have to turn it off. I am assuming that it is interference from the other components on the mobo... perhaps the electromagnetic waves coming off the high-clock(3.4ghz) processor. However, it's real, real shitty.

All the reviews I have read say that asus has not fixed the issue and doesn't even admit there are any problems. I updated my bios, which is suppose to fix the problem, but it is stillt here.

I have finally decided to go with another pci card, but was hoping to pick up something that would keep the quality of the sound I am getting now, but remove the static/"crackling".

Any ideas?

I don't play much music/movies.. its 100% for gaming.. I also use dj-headphones(the sony mx ones or whatever).

Salizar · 12-27-2006, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lenaldo

Anyone know of a good PCI soundcard for gaming? I read the reviews of the one posted above and it seems to cause FPS issues and even BSOD.

Creative has always had shoddy drivers...
I would rather take the minimal CPU hit than deal with their stuff...

Vorph · 12-27-2006, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Antarius

You're wrong about the difference between the "Xtreme Audio" and "XtremeGamer" cards.

If you care to learn more, Sound Blaster X-Fi - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
works, otherwise just trust me, the $65 buck X-Fi is more than worth it.

Newegg.com - Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio 70SB079000000 Sound Card - Retail

No, trusting you would be a bad idea in this case. The Xtreme Audio card is basically a rebadged Audigy LS, and it doesn't even use the same DSP as a real X-Fi which is why all those people reviewing the card on newegg and elsewhere are complaining about BSODs related to p17xfilt.sys.

Audigy LS, "X-Fi" Xtreme Audio - CA0106 chip
X-Fi XtremeGamer, XtremeMusic, etc. - CA20K1 chip

The CA0106 doesn't do hardware acceleration of EAX, which is why the people who can actually play games without a BSOD also notice the same sort of CPU usage as onboard sound.

Vorph · 12-27-2006, 12:17 PM

Also, with regards to 3D positional audio, think twice about buying a CL card if you plan to upgrade to Vista right away. MS apparently got fed up with CL's shitty drivers causing all sorts of Windows problems (or at least that's my interpretation of it) and EAX will no longer have direct hardware access. CL's solution is to make their drivers do on-the-fly conversion of EAX to OpenAL in order to get hardware acceleration to work. Anyone want to take bets on how well that will work, given CL's track record for writing stable drivers?

The bad news is that in order to get hardware acceleration in older, EAX-only games you'll need a CL card. The good news is that new games will just support OpenAL natively and have just as good positional audio as games that use EAX. With any luck EAX will finally die out and people will be free to choose a soundcard like those by Auzentech which are superior in every way except positional audio in games because of CL's unfair competition practices.

Dis · 12-27-2006, 12:25 PM

I may have missed it, but do you have an recommendations on some good (non-expensive) sound cards? I refuse to use on-board sound...

Edit: This is directed at Vorph

Phoenix · 12-27-2006, 12:33 PM

Any older SB live or Audigy SE would do fine if you refuse to use onboard sound.

Kreugen · 12-27-2006, 12:49 PM

I get BSOD if I try to use my crusty ass SB Live! with my nforce x16 board. I also hear of issues with X-Fi and the same board - would the audigy be better in that case?

Man0warr · 12-27-2006, 12:50 PM

Sound cards are bad, Sennheiser USB headsets ftw

Vorph · 12-27-2006, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phoenix

Any older SB live or Audigy SE would do fine if you refuse to use onboard sound.

Bad Audigy - Newegg.com - Creative Sound Blaster Audigy SE SB0570LPVP Low-Profile Sound Card - Retail

Good Audigy - Newegg.com - Creative Sound Blaster SB0610VP Audigy 4 SE Sound Card - OEM

You can also get something like an Audigy 2 ZS or Audigy 2 Value cheap off Ebay. Just avoid anything that says SE (except Audigy 4 SE) or LS. You're just wasting money on cards without hardware EAX acceleration.

Kreugen · 12-28-2006, 06:50 AM

Due to issues with X-Fi and my mobo (Intel nforce x16 based) I went with the Audigy 4. Considering my last card was a SB Live value and I've been using onboard sound the last few months, I'm thinking I'll notice a bit of a difference although I'm still in a 2.1 setup.

I'll try to remember to do some sort of benchmarking before and after.

Dis · 12-28-2006, 06:53 AM

I have had issues with my board and Xi-Fi. I get the occasional Blue screen. Using a standard Asus SLI board with and AMD proc. My XiFi was the bottom end, so I have been thinking about getting a new card to see if that helps at all with the blue screens.

12-27-2006, 09:03 AM	#20 (permalink)
Lenaldo Registered User Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 1,514 -21 Internets	Anyone know of a good PCI soundcard for gaming? I read the reviews of the one posted above and it seems to cause FPS issues and even BSOD. I ask because I used a real old soundblaster card for years and never had any issues. However, i recently bought a new computer with an asus mobo with onboard 7.1 and theres fucking crackling and static in the background all the time. I can have the machine just sitting in windows, put my headphones on, and then get a static that is annoying enough that I have to turn it off. I am assuming that it is interference from the other components on the mobo... perhaps the electromagnetic waves coming off the high-clock(3.4ghz) processor. However, it's real, real shitty. All the reviews I have read say that asus has not fixed the issue and doesn't even admit there are any problems. I updated my bios, which is suppose to fix the problem, but it is stillt here. I have finally decided to go with another pci card, but was hoping to pick up something that would keep the quality of the sound I am getting now, but remove the static/"crackling". Any ideas? I don't play much music/movies.. its 100% for gaming.. I also use dj-headphones(the sony mx ones or whatever). Last edited by Lenaldo; 12-27-2006 at 09:06 AM..

12-27-2006, 12:17 PM	#23 (permalink)
Vorph Fuck Art, Let's Kill Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hell Posts: 7,509	Also, with regards to 3D positional audio, think twice about buying a CL card if you plan to upgrade to Vista right away. MS apparently got fed up with CL's shitty drivers causing all sorts of Windows problems (or at least that's my interpretation of it) and EAX will no longer have direct hardware access. CL's solution is to make their drivers do on-the-fly conversion of EAX to OpenAL in order to get hardware acceleration to work. Anyone want to take bets on how well that will work, given CL's track record for writing stable drivers? The bad news is that in order to get hardware acceleration in older, EAX-only games you'll need a CL card. The good news is that new games will just support OpenAL natively and have just as good positional audio as games that use EAX. With any luck EAX will finally die out and people will be free to choose a soundcard like those by Auzentech which are superior in every way except positional audio in games because of CL's unfair competition practices. __________________ ...the whole world's going to blow up anyway. I might as well keep my pride. eRepublik Referral (PM me for assistance if you start up using my link)

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes	Rate This Thread
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode	Rate This Thread:

12-27-2006, 08:02 AM	#16 (permalink)
Jubee This is how I look when I post. Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 2,780 +5 Internets	I have a temp gauge built into my case and I put the sensors next to my vid card. It doesn't get very hot at all.

12-27-2006, 08:15 AM	#18 (permalink)
Breogan Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 29 +0 Internets	If you are not afraid of used hardware, get an Audigy2 ZS from Ebay. They are pretty cheap and still have EAX 4.0 support. On the videocard front, go for an ATI X1950 Pro. Those have a really nice perfomance/price ratio.

12-27-2006, 12:49 PM	#26 (permalink)
Kreugen Fires of Heaven Ancient Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 3,217 +71 Internets	I get BSOD if I try to use my crusty ass SB Live! with my nforce x16 board. I also hear of issues with X-Fi and the same board - would the audigy be better in that case?

12-27-2006, 12:50 PM	#27 (permalink)
Man0warr Registered User Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 1,724	Sound cards are bad, Sennheiser USB headsets ftw

12-28-2006, 06:50 AM	#29 (permalink)
Kreugen Fires of Heaven Ancient Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 3,217 +71 Internets	Due to issues with X-Fi and my mobo (Intel nforce x16 based) I went with the Audigy 4. Considering my last card was a SB Live value and I've been using onboard sound the last few months, I'm thinking I'll notice a bit of a difference although I'm still in a 2.1 setup. I'll try to remember to do some sort of benchmarking before and after.