Topic: ISO Soundcard

[travelinbeat]

I just finished a build (really it was a commission build, funded by me and performed by a computer-savvy friend) and I am now realizing that I really need soundcard-- there's just way too much noise coming out of this machine on its own.

What I would love is good, clean audio and a card that will let me play around with 24/96 files.  Ideally I would love something that also has a face panel (that can be installed where a CD-drive might go, on the front of the PC), but I'm not even so sure if such a design exists.  I'd like the face panel to have 3.5mm in's and outs and mics, and really that's all I need.

I don't need any Spdif or optical or toslink or anything like that, and RCA might be nice just to have, but certainly isn't a requirement.  I'm not trying to get the most expensive, pure sound that money can buy, all I want is a nice clean card that won't hiss or make other odd computer noises when turned up loud.  My playback is mostly just pretty cheap speakers or Shure earbuds, so any super quality that might be otherwise advised would likely be lost in the bottleneck of my speakers.

I'd like to not spend more than I have to, and I'd like to keep it cheap, but if there's really no good options for cheap, I'm prepared to spend what I must.

Please let me know what you would advise, and thanks!

(apologies if this should've gone in the playback forum-- wasn't quite sure which of these forums should get this question)

[H₂O]

I haven't used a standalone sound card in about 6-7 years -  I find the built in motherboard sound chips to be more then adequate.

The Realtek 889 and 892 codec chips work quite well and support up to 24 192.

I haven't heard any noticeable noise on my headphones using the front panel audio jacks I have.

What motherboard do you have?

[morst]

I haven't heard any noticeable noise on my headphones using the front panel audio jacks I have.

Likewise. 

all I want is a nice clean card that won't hiss or make other odd computer noises when turned up loud

The front panel/mobo built-in sound should be fine for this. Have you tested it?

[travelinbeat]

What motherboard do you have?

I have an MSI Z68a-g43 motherboard-- can't recall whether it's B3 or G3, but I'm not certain if that distinction is relevant to what we're looking at-- if it is I can take have friend who helped me build it take a look:

http://www.msi.com/service/search/?kw=Z68a-g43&type=product

I haven't heard any noticeable noise on my headphones using the front panel audio jacks I have.

Likewise. 

all I want is a nice clean card that won't hiss or make other odd computer noises when turned up loud

The front panel/mobo built-in sound should be fine for this. Have you tested it?

I have tried both the front and back 1/8' outputs and I'm really not happy with either of them 

[H₂O]

They both use the Realtek 887 codec chip which should be fine

Are you hearing a whining noise?  If so, you may be experiencing a grounding issue which a sound card may or may not fix.

Could be caused by the MB or a component in the system

[page]

have you considered an external unit of some sort?

[F.O.Bean]

Yes, I love my M-Auudio Firewire Audiophile, even tho I cant get mine to run 100%

[travelinbeat]

have you considered an external unit of some sort?

How would that work and what would it do for me?  (Sorry for being such a computer n00b)

[ScoobieKW]

For installed sound cards we use M-audio Delta 44 cards which have 4 in 4 out. Using a breakout box with 1/4 inch jacks.

If your noise issues are still bad, go to a USB or FireWire interface. This keeps the analog audio path away from the electrically noisy environment of your pc.