Looking for PCI-e Soundcard

[ex2cib]

Trying to find a good sound card for my PC, PCI-express

Primary uses (in order):
1. Gaming (60%+)
2. Watching TV eps
3. General Music
4. Occasionaly bluray movie

I just haven't really paid much attention to sound cards at all lately, so I'm trying to find something good. Coming from onboard, shouldn't be too hard.

Fwiw, I generally game with headphones, but also have speakers I use as well.

Just looking for a few good options and any experiences

[ripken204]

budget?

[ex2cib]

budget?

could go around $200, I want something good, and I want it to last,

My plans right now, sound card now, and probably will go xfire toward the summer/early fall.

[D_J01]

Have you taken a look at the ASUS Xonar Essence STX?

[Aedubber]

ASUS Xonar Essence STX is the one i have and i must say WOW its amazing .. I have my studio monitors hooked up on them and my headphones. I have been a creative fan for a while and i will say this thing is PERFECT, lots of tweaking items as well.

[newls1]

could go around $200, I want something good, and I want it to last,

My plans right now, sound card now, and probably will go xfire toward the summer/early fall.

Careful, It is my understanding that if you populate another PCIe slot while in crossfire, it will knock the bandwidth from 8x8x, to 8x4x.... See what im sayin? I have the same board and using a CF setup of 6870's (LOVE THE PERFORMANCE!!!) but WILL NOT purchase any PCIe add on cards in risk of screwing up my 8x8x performance

[Frag Maniac]

Concerning #2 on your criteria list, do you have an HT receiver that your speakers are connected to? If not, there's no Pci-Ex sound card made that can upmix a TV stereo signal and output it to 5.1 analog. Only the PCI interface HT Omega Claro cards will do that. Worse yet most of the modern TVs don't have composite stereo audio out anymore. They only have digital optical audio out. So with such a TV you can't even send 2.1 sound to your speakers via line in on the sound card. Thus, unless you have a receiver that you can pass through the sound card to via digital in/out, you'll be listening to TV broadcasts on the TV speakers.