Audigy 2 ZS or X-Fi (not audio express as it does not use the real X-Fi chip).

Some would say an Aureal for 3d sound though.

The Audigy 2 ZS or X-Fi card will have a higher SNR (better, cleaner sound) though so if you are using hi quality headphones or a good stereo setup you should be able to tell a difference.

Either is cheap enough so you could get both.

Don't worry about getting a Diamond branded Aureal based card. Any with the 8830 chipset will be fine.
Here is one from a Dell machine (Turtle Beach) that is currently $10.16 shipped
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Dell-Dimension-3000- … 1D/323424603351

cyclone3d wrote:

Audigy 2 ZS or X-Fi (not audio express as it does not use the real X-Fi chip). […]
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Audigy 2 ZS or X-Fi (not audio express as it does not use the real X-Fi chip).

Some would say an Aureal for 3d sound though.

The Audigy 2 ZS or X-Fi card will have a higher SNR (better, cleaner sound) though so if you are using hi quality headphones or a good stereo setup you should be able to tell a difference.

Either is cheap enough so you could get both.

Don't worry about getting a Diamond branded Aureal based card. Any with the 8830 chipset will be fine.
Here is one from a Dell machine (Turtle Beach) that is currently $10.16 shipped
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Dell-Dimension-3000- … 1D/323424603351

This is very helpful, those Diamond cards are kind of expensive, what's the difference for between the dell card and the diamond card?

Any major differences between the x-fi and the audigy 2 zs? I noticed the x-fi had a cleaner lay out. Seems like either one is going to be good, which ever is cheapest.

I was thinking about adding a second card later too like an M-Audio Audiophile 2496, but I hear that it's mainly just for music, but I will have to have better speakers to take advantage of them.

The X-Fi is newer. It is going to have cleaner output and people like the surround for headphones a lot better.

The drivers are going to be better overall as well.

I've never personally compared the two.

I don't have one of the Diamond branded vortex 2 cards, but the Turtle Beach and the Diamond card should sound pretty much the same. Same chipset and the codec should be very similar.

I think the Diamond branded card is just more well known and a bit less common so it fetches a higher price.

The turtle Beach cards came in Dell machines so there are a ton of them out there. There are also a different versions with the same Dell model number. Just have to make sure you get the one, like I linked, with the Vortex 2 chipset.