Newer Motherboards from MSI/GIgabyte/Asus

[Yeah]

Some of these manufacterers are offering HD audio on the mainboard itself. Are boards like creative's Xfi etc.. even needed anymore? I mean I was thiking maybe a long time ago when processor power was at a premium but now with all the dual /quad/multi core computers .. is the onboard audio just as good or better than some offered sound cards?

I ask because I am pricing out a new computer build and wanted to know if I should include a soundcard in it or not.

Thanks ~
Yeah

[IAmGhostDog]

What I would do.
Build your rig w/out an add in sound card.
Try it out. Take the onboard for a spin.
See if it meets your needs.
Personally I've always had a sound card.
When I built my rig last year, I did what I suggest above.
I ran the onboard for a couple of weeks.
It just wasn't doing it for me.
It was lacking in depth and clarity.
But that's just me. It depends on what your needs are.

[dunross]

Yeah, I have been considering this as well. In my situation, I connect the pc audio via usb to an external dac which is connected to a decent amp and speaker rig. I can't think of anything I need the sound card for. Maybe I'm missing something? I'm gonna bag it.

[John C]

Are you looking for music, or gaming? If for music, I actually use no soundcard at all, but have a USB DAC, in my case the HRT Music Streamer II. There are cheaper solutions out there that sound very good also. I like because it gets the DAC's away from all the electrical noise inside a computer case.