Advice and Deals on 5.1 and 2 Channel Sound Cards

When shopping for a sound card, you need to determine what level of sound quality you want. For most users, 2-channel (16-bit) stereo output will do. This type of output is suitable for playing audio CDs and most games. However, I recommend going one step up and getting support for 3 or more channels. With the proper speaker support, you can get surround sound like you hear in theaters. Also, DVD audio is recorded in surround sound so you will get the best sound when playing DVD movies. Even if you do not plan on such a setup now, you should always think of future expansion.

Although many motherboards have integrated sound, they are usually low cost audio solutions that rely on the CPU to do much of the work. This is okay in a work environment. In fact, if you do not play games then going with the integrated audio would be just fine. However, if you are a gamer and want the best frame rate possible, using a high quality PCI sound card is the better choice.

My favorite brand of sound cards is Creative Labs. In particular, I use the Sound Blaster Live PCI sound card. The Sound Blaster Live frees the CPU from producing sound through the onboard EMU10K1 digital signal processor. Surround sound through multiple speakers is also supported to enhance your movie watching experience.

Below are some popular sound card products from Creative Labs that you can buy:

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