Nub computer question

JcP · 09-24-2009, 04:59 PM

If I get dual graphics cards, I don't have enough pci slots for a sound card...is this normal? Are soundcards incompatible with most motherboards with dual graphics cards?

I'm *just* starting to learn how to build computers, so I'm sorry if this is like computer 101...

I was under the impression that sound cards were NECESSARY...i know motherboards have a built in sound component, but its quality (at least they used to be?) were crap...

has this now changed? are sound cards becoming obsolete?

Sir-Ex · 09-24-2009, 05:32 PM

Depends on the motherboard. Most motherboards will play your music and games with good quality with their built in soundcard. If you're getting a nice surround sound setup or are into recording or anything though you'd want something more substantial.

How many things do you have in your motherboard tho? Last I checked didn't most of them have like 4 PCI slots in them?

And why do you want 2 graphics cards anyways? Are you trying to run Crysis in full gfx with winamp playing in the background or something?

Kompressor · 09-24-2009, 05:51 PM

^ This. If you don't have decent speakers or mainly running through headphones you don't really need a sound card.

One good graphics card is all you really need, and that should be AGP or PCI express slot.

FourtySecondRip · 09-24-2009, 08:22 PM

even if you could fit a sound card in with 2 videocards its going to restrict the airflow and generate more heat to deal with. at least with my video card it can get up to 80*c unless i have the fans cranked up to 80+%.

Newegg.com - VisionTek 900250 Radeon HD 4870 X2 2GB 512-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

thats my videocard, i have sapphire brand but its the same hardware pretty much, newegg just doesnt sell the sapphire version of that anymore. if you look at the pics it takes up 2 slots and is pretty long so airflow can be a struggle when the actual hardware takes up that much space. 95% of my computer problems since i built this rig have just been heat issues, i turn the fans down to like 40% when i go to bed so its nice and quiet and if i wake up and start cod4 or something without turning the fans back up it can overheat.

anyway i have been makin my own computers for about 6 or 7 years, built 4 different rigs and never had a separate sound card. evga 780i or 790i have really nice built in sound, you can have hdmi hookups, regular hookups or even just use usb to plug your headphones in and it all sounds perfect to me. im not really an audiophile though, i just use a 5 speaker+subwoofer setup from bestbuy that cost me like 60 bucks.

edit: i forgot to mention that you can setup programs to handle you video card fan speeds based on its temperatures. for example you can have it at 40% minimum speed, and then every 5 degrees the temp increase you can make the fan 5% faster. im just lazy and find that i would rather just control it myself even if i do forget sometimes.

JcP · 09-24-2009, 10:16 PM

thanks for your help guys...and i appreciate nt loling at my nubishness

-StashBastard- · 09-25-2009, 12:05 AM

What are you trying to achieve here? Upgrade gaming performance? It would help a lot to know what mother board you have now.

If you really want to do this you should do it right and buy an SLI motherboard. Otherwise you are better off upgrading to one nice video card.

And as everyone here has said allready most motherboards do come with an onboard sound chip that is adequate for pretty much anything you will do. I usually worry more about maximizing performance first and after that is all set I upgrade the sound.

But you are right about them having low sound quality compared to a nicer sound card. I really like to disable my on board sound and put in a nice Audigy sound card. I have one now, movies sound better, music is better and louder, its worth it to me.