Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Advice from Axiom Owners anyone up on the latest computer hardware?

I think the 922 is a bit bigger than I want. My current case is about 17x8x17. I'd like to stick at least close to that. Mid towers seem to have gotten bigger.

Antec Sonata Elite is best I've come up with so far that is close to my current size...still looking.

It looks like an Antec 300 case.

I probably shouldn't even ask this question here, as I'm pretty sure I know what answer I'll get, but....

The mobo has an onboard soundcard, so I was just going to use that. Is it really worth the $80 to get a better one instead? I saw this one got good reviews...haven't looked to see what creative has that's comparable.

I have found a great amny of the on board soundcards are not very good but if you are using the SPDIF out to a receiver then they work just fine.

I would probably spend a little more to get the Xonar DX2--that one has RF shielding on the card. My Xonar DX picks up noise from the video card fan, or something on the video card. Or at least it did when I had a video card.

That's why I say get a digital connection out of the case. Computers are not friendly places for analog audio to hang out.

That works for me.

The DX2 is double the price of the other one. My computer speakers aren't very good at the moment (unless I get new ones for Christmas) so I'm inclined to not do a sound card at all and use the onboard. I was trying to keep the price around 1000, without monitor (just ordered the Dell 2409w btw). If the sound is bad, I could always put on in later.

Just didn't know how much worse the onboard would be vs. buying a card.

Haven't looked into digital connections from the case, so don't know what's involved there.

There won't be a receiver involved.

In that case, I'd say go with onboard.