Which is better?

[Nanometer]

I am running the onboard, I think AC'97 sound controller off the mobo. Do you think an Audigy 1 gamer would be on par or worse? I'm not looking for best system performance, not right now, just best the best sound controller.

[NO1B4ME]

I am running the onboard, I think AC'97 sound controller off the mobo. Do you think an Audigy 1 gamer would be on par or worse? I'm not looking for best system performance, not right now, just best the best sound controller.


The audigy would be better hands down..

[EsaT]

"AC97" itself doesn't tell much anything about integrated chip, just that it conforms to AC97 standard.
Now Audigy 1 anymore isn't best quality sound card but in any case it should be considerably better than worst integrated controllers, there's quite a lot of variation in those and when using analog output they apparently can't match separate cards because of interference caused by other signals/components on motherboard.
In that DFI codec is supplied be Realtek which seems to be kept as decent integrated solution and it has been rised from motherboard but...
http://forum.ncix.com/forums/index.php?mode=showthread&forum=101&threadid=1001345&pagenumber=1&product_id=17424&subpage=1

Also if you play much games then Audigy would be better because it supports EAX3 and all integrated chip/software combinations I've seen do only EAX2.

[Nanometer]

Cool thanks. I guess I do have a use for a 10 dollar card. lol :)