Do sound cards increase performance?
By
Father Xmas,
Posted on: 2009-09-09 22:07 in ALL ACCESS Gameplay Technical Issues Bugs
It works the same way with the components on the motherbaord as it does on a separate card. The only difference is being able to customize the type of card you have and what quality of sound it provides.
There is a myth about gaining an extra 5fps in games by having a card, but I've never experienced any such event. If there is any kind of increase, it isn't noticeable... especially on systems with dual/quad processors, where any minimal load taken off the cpu wouldn't really affect the game anyway.
YMMV
In days of olde, when processors had single cores and the OS could be bypassed for hardware assisted sound then the answer was yes. Nowadays, it's simply isn't that noticeable.
Beware of inexpensive (<$50) sound cards, they are nothing more than a motherboard audio chip on an add on card.
The only reason if to use an add on sound card is for Dolby surround and/or Blu-ray true audio support or for cleaner sound if you are an audiophile.
Father Xmas - Level 50 Ice/Ice Tanker - Victory
$725 and $1350 parts lists --- My guide to computer components
Tempus unum hominem manet
My computer is currently using the motherboard's onboard sound... uh, system. I assume that using a sound card would naturally take load off of the CPU, but does it actually affect performance in any significant way? Or at all?
Issue 16 made me feel like this.
Warning: This poster likes to play Devil's Advocate.