How good is the sound on the Nforce deluxe boards?

[benj]

I might purchase this board: http://www.monarchcomputer.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=M&Product_Code=110426

I know the difference between the deluxe version and the regular version of the Nforce 2 boards.

So.. how is the sound of the Nforce 2 compared to the Audigy card? Would I be able to get rid of my Audigy card if I went with this board?

Also.. I'm using my system mainly for gaming. Plus.. I have the Logitech Z-680 which supports digital/analog output. I want to go digital but I'm not able to w/ the Audigy card.

PS.. Will my performanc take a hit if I go w/ onboard sound? My system will have: AMD 2500xp (333 FSB), 1 gig (2x 512) 3200 ddr -dual channel, 120 gig WD (8mb. cache), Geforce 4 4200 (128 mb). My system spec are pretty fast so i'm figuring that the performance hit will be kept to a minimum. That's what I figure anyway.

thank you. :D

[Case]

I might purchase this board: http://www.monarchcomputer.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=M&Product_Code=110426

I know the difference between the deluxe version and the regular version of the Nforce 2 boards.

So.. how is the sound of the Nforce 2 compared to the Audigy card? Would I be able to get rid of my Audigy card if I went with this board?

Also.. I'm using my system mainly for gaming. Plus.. I have the Logitech Z-680 which supports digital/analog output. I want to go digital but I'm not able to w/ the Audigy card.

PS.. Will my performanc take a hit if I go w/ onboard sound? My system will have: AMD 2500xp (333 FSB), 1 gig (2x 512) 3200 ddr -dual channel, 120 gig WD (8mb. cache), Geforce 4 4200 (128 mb). My system spec are pretty fast so i'm figuring that the performance hit will be kept to a minimum. That's what I figure anyway.

thank you. :D

If you're planning on using the sound purely for games and maybe digital music playback, it should work great. CPU utilization is slightly worse than an Audigy2, but about even with an Audigy.

The only downside -- and it's more of an issue for audiophiles than most of us -- is that the internal audio can only handle a maximum of 20 bits of resolution. It's not a big deal -- most CD and game music are, at best, 16-bit. However, it means no DVD audio playback (unlike Audigy2) and no support for 192KHz/24-bit audio in any format.

As ever,

Loyd Case

[benj]

I might purchase this board: http://www.monarchcomputer.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=M&Product_Code=110426

I know the difference between the deluxe version and the regular version of the Nforce 2 boards.

So.. how is the sound of the Nforce 2 compared to the Audigy card? Would I be able to get rid of my Audigy card if I went with this board?

Also.. I'm using my system mainly for gaming. Plus.. I have the Logitech Z-680 which supports digital/analog output. I want to go digital but I'm not able to w/ the Audigy card.

PS.. Will my performanc take a hit if I go w/ onboard sound? My system will have: AMD 2500xp (333 FSB), 1 gig (2x 512) 3200 ddr -dual channel, 120 gig WD (8mb. cache), Geforce 4 4200 (128 mb). My system spec are pretty fast so i'm figuring that the performance hit will be kept to a minimum. That's what I figure anyway.

thank you. :D

If you're planning on using the sound purely for games and maybe digital music playback, it should work great. CPU utilization is slightly worse than an Audigy2, but about even with an Audigy.

The only downside -- and it's more of an issue for audiophiles than most of us -- is that the internal audio can only handle a maximum of 20 bits of resolution. It's not a big deal -- most CD and game music are, at best, 16-bit. However, it means no DVD audio playback (unlike Audigy2) and no support for 192KHz/24-bit audio in any format.

As ever,

Loyd Case

Thxs Loyd....

I do watch movies on my computer but it's an rare event anyway. And really, even if I do watch a movie or two will I even notice the difference if I use Nforce onboard sound? I've watched some movies w/ my Audigy card and that doesn't support DVD audio playback. And it sounds good to me. No complaints here.

I've read in some reviews that the Nforce 2 onboard sound is slightly better then the Audigy but yet slightly less better then the Audigy 2 card. If that matters.

thxs again.

[Case]

Thxs Loyd....

I do watch movies on my computer but it's an rare event anyway. And really, even if I do watch a movie or two will I even notice the difference if I use Nforce onboard sound? I've watched some movies w/ my Audigy card and that doesn't support DVD audio playback. And it sounds good to me. No complaints here.

I've read in some reviews that the Nforce 2 onboard sound is slightly better then the Audigy but yet slightly less better then the Audigy 2 card. If that matters.

thxs again.

No, you should be fine. If you're watching movies using even very good PC speakers, you won't notice the difference.

As ever,

Loyd Case

[benj]

One more for ya Loyd...

Whats the difference between digital and analog? As stated I have the Logitech Z-680's which support analog/digital. I would love to go digital but I can't at the moment.

Is there a difference between the two? Will digital sound better?

thxs again...

[Case]

One more for ya Loyd...

Whats the difference between digital and analog? As stated I have the Logitech Z-680's which support analog/digital. I would love to go digital but I can't at the moment.

Is there a difference between the two? Will digital sound better?

thxs again...

The quality will depend on how good the D/A converters are. My gut feel is that the D/A's on the motherboard are no worse or no better than the D/A's in the Logitechs.

I would try both -- it's just a matter of having the right cable. Then play some music with lots of dynamic range and see if there's any detectable difference.

The A7N8X deluxe has an RCA connector for the digital audio connection, so cables should be readily available.

As ever,

Loyd

[wumpus]

Since we're discussing the Z-680s. It's a very nice and flexible speaker system that I would generally recommend, but

1) The goddamn status LCD on the "brain pod" is completely unreadable at any vertical angle except for dead-on and maybe 2-3 degrees above or below that. This is a giant pain in the ass. You can't pivot or angle the metal bracket that cradles the pod, either.

2) The speakers emit an audible hiss, even with no signals attached, that can be kind of annoying. It's not really loud, per se, but I think it's higher than it should be for speakers designed to sit a couple feet from your face.

[Case]

2) The speakers emit an audible hiss, even with no signals attached, that can be kind of annoying. It's not really loud, per se, but I think it's higher than it should be for speakers designed to sit a couple feet from your face.

I've noticed that, too. But when you play even quiet passages, or even send it a signal with no real content, the hiss goes away.

My current favorite speaker set of choice for PCs are the Creative
Megaworks 6.1 THX. At $299, they're practically a steal.

Cheers,

Loyd Case

[benj]

One more for ya Loyd...

Whats the difference between digital and analog? As stated I have the Logitech Z-680's which support analog/digital. I would love to go digital but I can't at the moment.

Is there a difference between the two? Will digital sound better?

thxs again...

The quality will depend on how good the D/A converters are. My gut feel is that the D/A's on the motherboard are no worse or no better than the D/A's in the Logitechs.

I would try both -- it's just a matter of having the right cable. Then play some music with lots of dynamic range and see if there's any detectable difference.

The A7N8X deluxe has an RCA connector for the digital audio connection, so cables should be readily available.

As ever,

Loyd

Oh...

I couldn't use the wires that were packaged w/ the Logitech speakers? Where would I pick up the wires that would let me connect digitally? I guess Radio Shack would be a good bet.

:?:

[Brad Grenz]

Did the speakers come with a cable for the digital connection? Check your quick setup guide/items enclosed in package list for something that says coaxial or optical (or TOSlink) digital audio. If not, and I wouldn't be surprised, then you can get them just about anywhere. Best Buy, Radio Shack, probably Walmart. The coax cable Case said your mobo uses a RCA connector like your standard stero cable, or a composite TV cable. Ones sold as digital audio cables usually have heavy duty sheilding/insulation and cost more. Might even be able to get away with any old RCA cable, but no promises.

[benj]

thxs for the ifo Brad. I'll make my way over to Radio Shack in the near future and check it out.

:D