pci card vs onboard [Archive]

Slam

13-Oct-2003, 14:14

I've always been under the impression that using PCI cards (GFX, sound etc) is far better for performance than using onboard cards.

I'm just wondering now whether that's always the case. Granted when Motherboards first had onboard graphics chips and sound chips they where pretty pants, but now they seem to be improving somewhat.

For example, I've got a Asus A7N266-VM which uses the nForce stuff (soz not totally savvy on all of this as you may gather :E) and has a built in nVidia sound chip.
I'm just wondering whether I'd be better off using the onboard stuff as the performance I get out of it is ok, or whether I should stick to me SB Live!

TheWise

13-Oct-2003, 14:42

Generally the PCI cards are better (dedicated hardware rather then relying on the main processor) Toms Hardware did a test a few months ago about this with sound cards/onboard. The PCI was best, but Nforce sound wasn't far behind, but other onboard further behind

Dw2k

13-Oct-2003, 16:25

The onboard nforce sound is one of the best going, it can quite happily compete with SB Audigy/Live 5.1's.

CaptainTrips

13-Oct-2003, 16:49

http://www.tomshardware.com/game/20030405/index.html seems relevant...

GroovYF

13-Oct-2003, 16:50

The onboard nforce sound is one of the best going, it can quite happily compete with SB Audigy/Live 5.1's.

Apart from when it goes all crackly now and again when I play TFC. Never sussed out why (and only happens with TFC), and Shadster also has same problem with his nForce2 board

burundi

13-Oct-2003, 17:13

If you're happy with the performance then i wouldn't bother spending more money to see what mat only be a marginal gain! ;)

TheBuZZard

13-Oct-2003, 17:59

Reason it goes crackly is electrical interference. Obviously PCI cards are slighty away from the motherboard and suffer less, external sounds setups like the extigy things have even less interference.

Slam

13-Oct-2003, 18:09

Had a read through all of this (cheers all) and decided to to unplug my SB Live! to see how the onboard sound fairs.

Curiously, since doing this I've noticed a drop in Motherboard temperature (from 32 which used to be more or less the constant average down to 29 deg c).

It's early days yet I guess, and the drop may not be that significant, but I was surprised that there'd be much difference. Could it be that it was due to my sound card being too near to the GFX card?

NiTr0

13-Oct-2003, 19:00

I would have to agree that the nforce onboard sound, is extremely good quality.
Not noticed any sound crackling with any games etc.

EvilGrin

13-Oct-2003, 19:47

Apart from when it goes all crackly now and again when I play TFC. Never sussed out why (and only happens with TFC), and Shadster also has same problem with his nForce2 board

Don't use the nvidia sound drivers. :) I have the manfacuturer codecs here. (Assuming you have the MCP Southbridge).

If you have the MCP-T Southbridge stick an Audigy in it.

The Nvidia drivers for the SATA and IDE are also pretty ropey aswell.

Blood God

14-Oct-2003, 02:37

Curiously, since doing this I've noticed a drop in Motherboard temperature (from 32 which used to be more or less the constant average down to 29 deg c).

It's early days yet I guess, and the drop may not be that significant, but I was surprised that there'd be much difference. Could it be that it was due to my sound card being too near to the GFX card?

to give you a quick answer, yes.

This is because it will disrupt the flow of air from the fan/to the heatsink and cause heat to build up.

Eja Cool8

14-Oct-2003, 03:48

I've just installed an nForce2 mobo myself and am using the onboard Soundstorm Audio, it's ok when it works, but Windows media player, at present, is unusable as it seems to "fast forward" at random through audio tracks on mp3s & video. RealOne Player works fine with mp3s/vids/CDs, some DVDs work ok ( using PowerDVD ), others have a "popping" or "ticking" sound over the audio that I didn't get with my old SB Live! 8)

Blood God

14-Oct-2003, 07:46

Slam

14-Oct-2003, 10:22

Having tried miserably to delete these little feckers in the past, I have to agree with Blood God. Avoid them at all costs if possible.

Rompster

17-Oct-2003, 15:17

The crackly sound is supposedly caused by the nforce chip (south bridge?) overheating, if the machine is on for some time it exacerbates the problem - I have the A7n8x deluxe and it's apparently a common problem - you can try fitting an aftermarket fan/ heat sink to it which may help

NiTr0

17-Oct-2003, 16:41

I'm looking into getting a heatsink for my southbridge. Just pondering as to what to use to stick it.. Thermal tape springs to mind.
Any other suggestions?

Sysagent

17-Oct-2003, 16:43

Hi :)

Anyone with issues with the Nforce II onboard sound should try using the 3.62 Audio driver in this package :-

ftp://ftp.aopen.com.tw/pub/driver/mb/nvidea/nforce/nfref_264_w2k.zip

You will need this "hacked" control panel to use with this with the driver :-

http://www.overclockers.com.au/~mwp/sndstorm.zip

Seems to have fixed all the issues I had with the onboard sound :)

NiTr0

17-Oct-2003, 16:45

Nice one, may be worth a download and test :)

terroristteddy

17-Oct-2003, 21:13

i just use the nforce drivers on my motherboard cd, ive had sound trouble with all the other ones ive tried, especially in bf1942