If you're looking to go PCI, the old Aureal Vortex2 is still plenty usable, as is the Audigy2 ZS. The M-Audio Revolution 7.1 is also mighty fine, if you can find one.

jade_angel wrote:

If you're looking to go PCI, the old Aureal Vortex2 is still plenty usable, as is the Audigy2 ZS. The M-Audio Revolution 7.1 is also mighty fine, if you can find one.

And here is my opinion about Vortex 2:
Aureal Vortex

My tip - for most games Audigy 2 ZS will do the thing. The reverbs and basic 3D DirectSound positiong is enough to have a great sound experience.

What operating system?

Audigy 2 and X-Fi range have some nice PCI card.

This is for Windows XP SP2. Really the on board sound isn't bad, but you always wonder if more can be had.

Yea just get a X-Fi. Xtreme Music or Xtreme Gamer should do the trick.

buckeye wrote:

This is for Windows XP SP2.

I might understand avoiding SP3 on an underpowered machine, but I'm at a bit of a loss as to why you'd avoid SP3 on a loaded core 2 duo. But perhaps that is a subject for another thread.

Really the on board sound isn't bad, but you always wonder if more can be had.

...No, not really. I mean, if you already have specific needs that are addressed only by avoiding SP3, it seems to me that ditching your onboard sound isn't going to make your life any better.

Are you playing any specific games that use features which your onboard sound does not support? Do you actually have a fancy 5.1 or 7.1 speaker system that you are unable to use?

Personally I prefer Windows 7 for loaded Core Duo machines... 🙄

Jorpho wrote:

I might understand avoiding SP3 on an underpowered machine, but I'm at a bit of a loss as to why you'd avoid SP3 on a loaded cor […]
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buckeye wrote:

This is for Windows XP SP2.

I might understand avoiding SP3 on an underpowered machine, but I'm at a bit of a loss as to why you'd avoid SP3 on a loaded core 2 duo. But perhaps that is a subject for another thread.

Really the on board sound isn't bad, but you always wonder if more can be had.

...No, not really. I mean, if you already have specific needs that are addressed only by avoiding SP3, it seems to me that ditching your onboard sound isn't going to make your life any better.

Are you playing any specific games that use features which your onboard sound does not support? Do you actually have a fancy 5.1 or 7.1 speaker system that you are unable to use?

Someone told me SP3 wasn't really necessary since I'm not online, to this point all is fine, all the games I have installed run without a hitch. Regarding sound currently use headphones but plan on getting some "rockin" speakers soon.

I use a Turtle Beach Santa Cruz in my XP rig. It supports some 3D technologies out of the box (A3D 1.0, EAX 1.0/2.0 and more) and has very nice MIDI for playing DOS games in DOSBox/ScummVM. Very clean sound too. Here's a period review:
http://ixbtlabs.com/articles/santacruzvoyetraturtlebeach/

Ended up getting an SB X-Fi Xtreme Music and it sounds superb! Only downside is no connection for the front headphone ports but no big deal.