hardware/software sound?

**cudakite** · November 02, 2006, 01:09 PM

I've noticed that sound options for games usually have the option for software or hardware sound. what's the difference and what is better?

...just wondering

**Scarlett Letterman** · November 02, 2006, 01:23 PM

I've always wondered this too...

**Aristocrat** · November 02, 2006, 04:43 PM

It's simple.
Software sound requires cpu processing power, and is used via onboard chips in the motherboard (typically).
Hardware sound is when you have a dedicated sound card that does the processing of the soun by itself (more or less....), using less cpu power and also allowing better quality sound (as long as you have the speakers to go with it of course....).

So one uses the cpu and can cause you to have less performance while the other doesn't.

**cudakite** · November 02, 2006, 07:27 PM

ah, so i have a sound card so i should always select hardware. right? ¿

**Scarlett Letterman** · November 02, 2006, 09:13 PM

aristocrat question: my soon to arive has 5.1 surround sound speakers, is a dedicated sound card necessary here? or will the motherboard handle it satisfactorly?

Here's the speakers if it matters: http://www.directcanada.com/products...cture=LOGITECH

**Aristocrat** · November 03, 2006, 01:23 AM

Well your onboard sound will need to support surround sound if you are to use the speakers.

Now on to whether you need a soundcard, well technically speaking no, you can use onboard sound (as long it supports surround sound...have to emphasize that) and be fine.
However keep in mind that using onboard sound uses cpu power and while some motherboards claim they support EAX2, 3, and 4, it is worth knowing that these advanced sound options use more processing power to produce better quality effects.

So if you can afford the $20 needed to buy a creative audigy zs 2, I'd recommend it as a cheap but effective sound card.

**Swe_gamer** · November 03, 2006, 01:27 AM

Anyone knows how much of the cpu processing is taken up by the onboard sound card? I guess this is only marginal, or?

**Aristocrat** · November 03, 2006, 01:29 AM

Originally Posted by Swe_gamer

Anyone knows how much of the cpu processing is taken up by the onboard sound card? I guess this is only marginal, or?

It's fairly marginal, but in a game that stresses your cpu's resources to the max it can be the difference between high effect and medium effects.

**Swe_gamer** · November 03, 2006, 02:19 AM

Originally Posted by Aristocrat

It's fairly marginal, but in a game that stresses your cpu's resources to the max it can be the difference between high effect and medium effects.

Thats very interesting, didn´t know that. Puts the cost of a sound card in another light.

Thanks!

**Spart** · November 03, 2006, 02:55 AM

I've been considering to get a decent sound card myself, now using AC '97 Audio.

Never noticed any difference when using software sound though.. Maybe because I haven't anything to compare, I've always used this crappy sound chip.
Maybe Creative Audigy SE or something cheap like that could handle it better than my integrated thing? If I'm missing the great sounds in Medieval 2, I must get a new one. =)

**Scarlett Letterman** · November 03, 2006, 10:12 AM

Good stuff aristocrat. My mobo does support Realtek 7.1 HD audio. And my Athlon 64 4200 X2 shouldn't take a significant hit handling onboard sound I imagine?