PC build thread

[Cronozilla]

No, what would be weird is if the graphics card didn't receive audio through the PCI Express slot ... like they originally did when HDMI was first introduced to them. (You had to plug in a separate cable to the motherboard to have audio over HDMI)

[fastbilly1]

I had a Creative Audiology 2 for awhile, since it was the only one I could that took 1/4 jack plugs without a harness. It was a beast of a sound card, but I typically stick with the onboard on the pcs that have it.

[isiolia]

Everyone always talks video cards and never sound cards. What sound cards are you all using? Or do most people still use whatever is on board?

My system has an ASUS Xonar card in it, which is nice for using stuff directly connected to it, but the header for front panel headphone is kinda noisy...so I'm actually using a USB Sound Blaster X-Fi, due to using headphones a bit of late.

I think right now, people wanting quality have largely moved processing out of the PC. Whether a USB DAC ($10 dongle, integrated into a headset, audiophile gear, or whatever) or simply piping audio directly over HDMI digitally, to be decoded by a receiver. A lot of the push for -gaming- cards was for things like MIDI sets, 3D audio effects, and so on that are largely not relevant anymore. We're also at the point where integrated audio is a relatively negligible amount of processing - kinda like how IDE was, at one point, a significant hit to CPU power too.

For quality purposes, what you want is a clean signal, which is best left digital until it's outside the electronically noisy environment of a PC case. Then a good amp/speakers (or headphones) etc. Most of the time though, onboard is sufficient.


Most integrated speakers have sucked - sure, an old-school projection TV could have good speakers, but that's because it was the size of a bookcase and could have bookshelf speakers in there. A 3/4" thick LCD doesn't have the space, internally, do to that. That's why they sell soundbars - for the people who only care a little bit about TV audio

[marurun]

So, much like a broken record, I'm STILL planning to build a new PC. It's not money issues, per se. I can afford it. I just am having trouble committing to build one. It's always so much work to find reliable parts, and I'm a penny-pincher, which means I have to price each one out obsessively. Are there any good barebones sellers that take some of the work out of it so I don't have to obsess so much, or is that a recipe for poor quality results?

[noiseredux]

So, much like a broken record, I'm STILL planning to build a new PC. It's not money issues, per se. I can afford it. I just am having trouble committing to build one. It's always so much work to find reliable parts, and I'm a penny-pincher, which means I have to price each one out obsessively. Are there any good barebones sellers that take some of the work out of it so I don't have to obsess so much, or is that a recipe for poor quality results?

I prefer to pick each piece myself... but I know NewEgg often does combos. Maybe look into that?

[marurun]

I've looked at NewEgg combos before, even bought simple ones, but you have to be really careful with those. Also, NewEgg is a lot harder to deal with now that they are this huge, Amazon-like marketplace.

[noiseredux]

I've looked at NewEgg combos before, even bought simple ones, but you have to be really careful with those. Also, NewEgg is a lot harder to deal with now that they are this huge, Amazon-like marketplace.

Careful how?

And how are they harder to deal with? I have used them extensively in the past few years and have had nothing but great experiences. Not sure what you're meaning.

[Ziggy]

I was upgrading the RAM in my brother's computer last year and had some bad luck finding sticks that would work. I had to return the first set of RAM that I bought, as well as the replacement set that I got. I had no problems dealing with the RMA process, customer support, getting my refund, etc. It was as effortless as the last time I needed to return stuff, which was before they had the Amazon-like marketplace thing going on.

[noiseredux]

oooooooh. I'm sorry, I misread the post. I see now that you guys are talking about buying from Marketplace sellers, and not NewEgg proper. Yeah, I always make it a point to buy from NewEgg rather than MP sellers.

[Ziggy]

Ohhhh, in that case. Yeah, I've never bought from a marketplace seller. Just NewEgg.