question on add in sound cards without dsp?

[darkflames]

I was wondering do all add in sound cards have there own processor on them? or is it only the higher up models like the X-FI ones? Also im really bare in what really sound cards to besides provide better sound than onboard soundcards, but if the add in cards dont have their own processor, then how exactly do they provide better sound? I never really understood, unless they all do have their own processor?

Thanks.

[ROBSCIX]

No, most soundcards do not have a hardware DSP chip. While most cards do have a chipset on them, those are audio controllers and are more like a signal router then a digital signal processor meant for effect processing.
Many consider onboard DSP cards for gaming effects (X-f cards etc) or some higher end cards with onboard effects used for recording and processing music.
One without there own DSP processor just give the software effects engine and routines a output. There are many software cards out there that can easily surpass some hardware based cards.

As to you othe questions, the final sound quality of the card really has nothing to do with if the card has DSP chip or not. It has to do with the cards output section. The Digital to Analog Converter chip and the amplifier section.
You can have a hardware DSP and a bad output section or a software cards with a great output section. Depends mainly on the card....