output analog or digital for 5.1 gaming thru reciever?

Discussion in 'PC hardware help' started by leiff, Apr 17, 2008.

  1. leiff

    leiff Regular member

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    I have a new Dell PC running XP. I want to hookup to my sony STR DE875 reciever for 5.1 surround sound, primarily for gaming. PC has integrated audio with 4 x3.5 mm analog outputs for 7.1 surround sound. Will my integrated audio provide good 5.1 analog surround sound for gaming since my reciever only does 5.1, or should I buy a sound card. My receiver has digital optical and coaxial in, or multi analog channel in, but doesn't have hdmi in. I heard said that analog (3x 3.5 mm rca y splitters) for 5.1 "EX" mode supported by creative sound cards's (using XP OS), is superior to 5.1 sound offered by a digital signal. Is this true? If I buy a sound card, should I output analog or digital. If analog is best, should I buy higher quality analog cables than the $1 cables at monoprice? If I should buy a soundcard, I have a $50 credit at Dell. Here is a link to some of their cards. Any recommendations?

    http://search.dell.com/results.aspx?s=bsd&c=us&l=en&cs=04&k=creative+sound+card&cat=all&x=6&y=9
     
    leiff, Apr 17, 2008
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  2. sammorris

    sammorris Senior member

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    sammorris, Apr 18, 2008
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  3. leiff

    leiff Regular member

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    So do you think going out analog will sound better than digital for my gaming purposes? The card you picked is only $30. I need to spend at lesat $50 to use my $50 coupon. Care to revise your recomendation?
     
    leiff, Apr 19, 2008
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  4. sammorris

    sammorris Senior member

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    I could, but to be quite honest, you're only filling the quota, so to speak, I don't see much to be gained by going with professional sound cards unless you're a musician, but some people like optical sound (I don't really see the difference myself).

    After having a look on the site, that's actually the only sound card less than $50 on there. It's either $30 or $75. Perhaps try and find something else to spend the extra $20 on?
    You won't get optical audio for the sound card, but if you need it on an extra card, it ain't going to be cheap. The irony is of course, that most motherboards these days gice you optical audio for their onboard sound as well.
     
    sammorris, Apr 19, 2008
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