Web Hosting Talk : Other Forums : Web Hosting Lounge : Upgrade shared sound?

[GalenQ]

Can you upgrade the "shared" AC 97 audio with a soundcard such as soundblaster?

[filburt1]

I believe so.

[Phrozen]

Sure, but an SB Live! isn't any better...

[Caffling]

Onboard sound, more often than not, is horrible due to the interference of being "onboard".

I seem to remember something about the CPU.

Hmm. I could be wrong.

Get a Turtle Beach Santa Cruz for $45, or a SB Live! for $15-20.

I assume shared means onboard.

If you have any available PCI slots, you can. You could probably do it through firewire, usb, etc as well, but I wouldn't know what to suggest, or if it's even viable.

[ubergeek22]

Check the motherboard manual, there may be a switch to disable the onboard sound (or through the bios). Slot in a fairly cheap PCI soundcard and you should notice an increase in quality.

[Phrozen]

OK, let's just get something straight.

AC 97 > SB Live!

They're equal in quality, but the SB Live! loses points because of Creative's horrible drivers.

If you want to upgrade, don't settle for anything less than a TB Santa Cruz.