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Sound Card Upgrade - Enhance your computer's audio experience Print
Written by CompuPair   

A sound card upgrade could really enhance your computer, depending on what you use it. Of course if it is just for business and nothing else, then your sound system doesn't really matter. But if you are a PC gamer, music lover, or an avid movie lover then your sound system is just as important as your monitor.

These days sound can define your game experience and change your computer into digital boom box that has access to any song ever made.

I know when I want to listen to music in my bedroom, I just crank up my PC's speakers and I get that rich 3D digital sound.

Understanding Computer Sound

Computer sound cards are easy to install, but difficult to find the right one. You have so many choices, and needs, that it can be hard to figure out the right sound card and speaker combination for you. First, let's take a look at the basics.

3D Sound (Dolby Surround Sound) - This is exactly what it sounds like. The sound is produced in a way that you can hear sounds all around you, even with just 2 speakers! If you are a big PC gamer then this is what you want. This will allow you to hear enemies behind you and it will make for a better experience.

Surround Sound - Desktop computer surround sound is almost just as good as home theatre surround sound. It lacks some of the experience that a home theatre provides you, but it's on a computer anyways so what do you expect. Incorporating this with 3D sound would provide the most realistic sound experience.

Digital Sound Card & Speakers - A digital sound card will convert analog sound into digital to increase the sound's quality and richness. I prefer digital sound cards and speakers to analog. Also, you must remember that digital speakers must be bought if you are buying a digital sound card.

Computer Speakers

Before you start going upgrade crazy, you might want to consider that your computer's sound problem may just be a speaker problem. Computer speakers start sounding bad after to much use and a new pair could be all your computer needs. Below are the definitions for computer speaker terms that you should know, even if you are just doing a sound card upgrade.

Four-channel sound - This has two front speakers and two back speakers.

Six-channel sound (5.1 audio) - Six-channel sound uses front and back speaker pairs, an additional midrange speaker for the front or back, plus a subwoofer.

Eight-channel sound (7.1 audio) - Front and back speaker pairs, an additional midrange speaker for the front or back, a subwoofer, and a pair of speakers for the sides.

If your computer supports 5.1 audio (Six-channel sound) I suggest you get 2 pairs of speakers, one with a midrange speaker, and a subwoofer. This will provide you with surround sound quality and all it would cost you is new speakers.

If you don't have 5.1 audio capability and decided that a sound card upgrade isn't for you, then I suggest two good old-fashioned speakers. Check out some cheap computer speakers that are low in price, but are not in quality.

Sound Card Upgrades

It may be hard to make the decision for a sound card upgrade on your own, but that is why we are here. You should get a sound card upgrade that will meet your needs.

For example, if you plan on doing a lot with music and videos, then a high end sound card is what you want. If you plan on only using the computer for business or other simple tasks, then a cheap sound card will work fine.

Sound Card Upgrade Installation

A sound card is just a PCI card that inserts into your motherboard. Since video cards, modems, and some other PC components are PCI also; I will just teach you how to install a PCI card. This way after you learn how to do a sound card upgrade, you can apply this same knowledge to your video card, modem, etc.
 

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