Best PC Sound Cards

One of the big features that gamers look for is support for the EAX audio extensions. Creative was the developer of these audio extension to provide effects to simulate a variety of different environments to provide a more realistic audio experience for games. The most advance version of this is EAX HD that is only supported on Creative's audio cards. Other companies can only support up to EAX 3.0. The Titanium Fatal1ty Professional version of the X-Fi card provides higher audio quality thanks to improved audio components and metal shielding over those components to prevent interference. The card uses the PCI-Express x1 interface. Priced around $140.

Audiophiles are interested in getting the best audio quality they can out of their components. The ASUS Xonar Essence STX is probably one of the best consumer level audio cards on the market thanks to its high signal-to-noise ratio, 192KHz/24bit support, superb digital to audio converters and even a built-in headphone amplifier. The audio components also have shielding to ensure that it doesn't receive any interference from other computer components. This provides it with some of the best playback and recording capabilities in a desktop audio card. The card does require an additional 4-pin power connector to provide it with sufficient power. It uses a PCI-Express x1 interface. Priced around $200.

First off, this card is not perfect. Some of the advertised features are not yet supported in the software and it doesn't work with all home audio equipment flawlessly. Having said that, it still is the best card to date to be designed for use with a home theater PC. The big feature is the ability to have the audio passed through an HDMI v1.3 cable to external TV or home theater equipment. No other audio card currently supports this. This does require a video card with an HDMI compatible output to route through the audio card. You must also use their supplied software to properly support the audio output which some people might not like. The card uses a PCI-Express x1 interface with the secondary card taking up an additional slot.

Many people might want to use their computer for more than just one aspect. Some cards may be better for PC gaming, stereo audio or HTPC setups. What if you want to use your computer for each of these? Or what if you just want to have some better audio than the built-in solution that came with your desktop computer? If this is the case, then the ASUS Xonar DX is an excellent choice. It provides high quality audio along with features such as EAX 3.0 support, Dolby Digital Live output and has high signal-to-noise ratios. It also features DS3D GX 2.0 that lets it emulate higher levels of the EAX extensions. The card does require a 4-pin floppy power connector to properly function and uses the PCI-Express x 1 interface. Priced around $90.

As mentioned before, many games are designed with EAX audio extensions to provide high quality, immersive audio for the player. Only Creative audio cards can support the highest level of these extensions, EAX HD. If you happen to have an older system with PCI expansion slots that you are playing PC games on, then the Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer 7.1 is the audio card of choice. This card fully supports the EAX HD extensions and provides a high level of audio quality. It isn't as feature rich as some other audio cards but most gamers just require audio outputs and a microphone input. Priced around $100.

Most music is recorded in stereo sound. Because of this, audiophiles generally are not looking for fancy 7.1 audio cards. The M-Audio Audiophile 2496 is a very high quality audio card that specializes in stereo sound. Rather than mini-jack connectors, it features more traditional RCA stereo input and output connectors. This provides it with cleaner connections that introduce less interference. It also comes with a MIDI I/O connector for musicians looking to connect their audio equipment directly to the card. Definitely a high quality card for those looking to playback and record high quality stereo sound with an older system that uses the PCI interface. Priced around $100.