Sound card recomendations

[narrowgauge]

I have been forced to accept that I need a new sound card. I will gladly welcome recommendations.

I have a slot for PCI-express 16, one for PCI express 4 and one PCI.

Cheers

Narrowgauge

 

[Euphod]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829102005

I just added it about two weeks ago, and it works a treat. Greatly improves sounds in '06.
Ed

 

[ColPrice2002]

I'm running an older Hercules (Guillimot) Fortissimo III - it's in a standard PCI slot.

It seems to work well with lots of applications (including Trainz, Morrowwind and Oblivion).
I would suggest you look for something similar - the latest sound blasters are getting good reviews, but I don't think you need that level of sophistication/cost for Trainz....

(the Fortissimo is capable of delivering 7.1 speaker system - though you'd really need a decent amplifier for top quality surround sound).

Make sure that the drivers are available for your OS before you buy! - may also be worth checking that it's sound blaster compatible

You should also check the power requirements!

Since most of the cards have their own processor, you shouldn't need a super fast bus - the instructions are sent to the sound processor - not all the data. That's the big saving on bus loading.

Cheers,

Colin

 

[overmars]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829102005

I just added it about two weeks ago, and it works a treat. Greatly improves sounds in '06.
Ed

Yup i have the same sound card as that the older drivers were really rubbish for it though but theres a update out know so it works perfectly on Vista.

 

[bnsf50]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829102005

I just added it about two weeks ago, and it works a treat. Greatly improves sounds in '06.
Ed

I concur thats an excellent card, you won't have any more dropped sounds or fade outs in trains with this one and that's a good price for a normally $300 card, thats $15 cheaper than I paid for mine 1 1/2 years ago on a June sale.

 

[GP_38-2]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829102005

I just added it about two weeks ago, and it works a treat. Greatly improves sounds in '06.
Ed

All aboard the parrot train!

Yup I'll have to agree with Ed and the others. There are some other fancier versions but that card will be more than enough for most applications.

 

[narrowgauge]

Thanks, guys, it seems that there is only one 'best' option. That card is $AU 230 in Oz and I will be honest when I say that the current steam sounds are not worth that much. I think I will wait until TC3 and see how the promised improvements pan out.

In the mean time I'll go back to my silent running. Sounds like a submarine.

Thanks again

Cheers

Peter