Do I need a soundcard upgrade?

Peart · 11-12-2006, 07:20 PM

Hi all. I'm considering upgrading my laptop 5.1 speakers from my set of Creative 5200s (http://www.creative.com/products/pr...y=25&product=55) to something like the Logitech z-5300 5.1 (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/re...7611-2255063). I currently have a philips external sound card (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/re...=electronics).
Do I need to upgrade my soundcard in order to get the most out of my prospective speakers? I use my speakers for music about 90% of the time. Thanks!

**Joefireline** · 11-13-2006, 10:21 AM

Hello and welcome to TSF.

Firstly, those three links are broken. Going by the models, here are some working links to them:
Creative 5200: http://www.digitalhome.com.au/Home_A...1_speakers/573
Logitech z-5300: http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/pr...CONTENTID=9586

I am not sure of the model for the external sound card, so you will have to post a working link to it.

Now, we will need to know what external sound card you are using first, but I wouldn't have thought it will need upgrading. The sound on those Logitech z-5300 should be superb on any sound card. Unless the sound card gives out any buzz, which I wouldn't have thought it would, I wouldn't bother.
You could always just buy the speakers, and then if you really feel you need a better sound card, upgrade then.

Peart · 11-13-2006, 01:44 PM

Hmmm, not sure what happened to the links, but thanks for fixing them. Here is the sound card I'm using now:

http://www.techspot.com/reviews/hard...lips_aurilium/
(Philips Aurilium PSC805 in case the link gets messed up again).

I bought the sound card 4 or 5 years ago, any the only reason I bought this one over any other was because it was ...cheaper. There doesn't seem to be any unusual hissing, though my speakers seem to pop when my laptop is loading a large webpage,playing a video, etc. but I dont think its because of the soundcard/speakers (maybe I'm trying to draw too much power from the outlet or something). This is the only external sound card I've ever had, so I wasn't sure if it is working well because I don't really have anything else to compare it to. Thanks for the info!

**Joefireline** · 11-13-2006, 02:37 PM

That sound card looks fine, and with those other set of speakers, should sound amazing, in Games and DVDs etc.
With the 'pop' when on large webpage, playing and video etc, this is usually due to process usage high, memory low, or hard drive loading lots. If you want use to tell you how you could prevent this through upgrades, post your system specs, though it is not necessary.

Peart · 11-13-2006, 08:00 PM

Thats good news. The less I need to spend the better :). It turns out I had seti@home running on both processors and it was just soaking up all of my memory, thus the 'popping'. I turned it off and I havent had any more problems.

Do you think the Logitech z-5300 is the 'best' 5.1 system I could get for around $200? The reviews I have read have all given it pretty high marks, but I was wondering if there was a better system that I missed. Thanks for all the help!

**Joefireline** · 11-14-2006, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peart

Thats good news. The less I need to spend the better :). It turns out I had seti@home running on both processors and it was just soaking up all of my memory, thus the 'popping'. I turned it off and I havent had any more problems.

Do you think the Logitech z-5300 is the 'best' 5.1 system I could get for around $200? The reviews I have read have all given it pretty high marks, but I was wondering if there was a better system that I missed. Thanks for all the help!

I think that would be one of the best systems for $200. You may be able to find it cheaper, or something better on eBay though.

Glad I could help

11-12-2006, 07:20 PM	#1 (permalink)
Peart Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 4 OS: Windows XP	Do I need a soundcard upgrade? Hi all. I'm considering upgrading my laptop 5.1 speakers from my set of Creative 5200s (http://www.creative.com/products/pr...y=25&product=55) to something like the Logitech z-5300 5.1 (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/re...7611-2255063). I currently have a philips external sound card (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/re...=electronics). Do I need to upgrade my soundcard in order to get the most out of my prospective speakers? I use my speakers for music about 90% of the time. Thanks!

11-13-2006, 10:21 AM	#2 (permalink)
Joefireline Enthusiastic TSFer~Joseph Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Portishead (Bristol) England Posts: 5,319 OS: Windows 7 64bit(Desktop) / XP Home SP2(laptop) My System	Hello and welcome to TSF. Firstly, those three links are broken. Going by the models, here are some working links to them: Creative 5200: http://www.digitalhome.com.au/Home_A...1_speakers/573 Logitech z-5300: http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/pr...CONTENTID=9586 I am not sure of the model for the external sound card, so you will have to post a working link to it. Now, we will need to know what external sound card you are using first, but I wouldn't have thought it will need upgrading. The sound on those Logitech z-5300 should be superb on any sound card. Unless the sound card gives out any buzz, which I wouldn't have thought it would, I wouldn't bother. You could always just buy the speakers, and then if you really feel you need a better sound card, upgrade then.

11-13-2006, 01:44 PM	#3 (permalink)
Peart Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 4 OS: Windows XP	Hmmm, not sure what happened to the links, but thanks for fixing them. Here is the sound card I'm using now: http://www.techspot.com/reviews/hard...lips_aurilium/ (Philips Aurilium PSC805 in case the link gets messed up again). I bought the sound card 4 or 5 years ago, any the only reason I bought this one over any other was because it was ...cheaper. There doesn't seem to be any unusual hissing, though my speakers seem to pop when my laptop is loading a large webpage,playing a video, etc. but I dont think its because of the soundcard/speakers (maybe I'm trying to draw too much power from the outlet or something). This is the only external sound card I've ever had, so I wasn't sure if it is working well because I don't really have anything else to compare it to. Thanks for the info!

11-13-2006, 02:37 PM	#4 (permalink)
Joefireline Enthusiastic TSFer~Joseph Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Portishead (Bristol) England Posts: 5,319 OS: Windows 7 64bit(Desktop) / XP Home SP2(laptop) My System	That sound card looks fine, and with those other set of speakers, should sound amazing, in Games and DVDs etc. With the 'pop' when on large webpage, playing and video etc, this is usually due to process usage high, memory low, or hard drive loading lots. If you want use to tell you how you could prevent this through upgrades, post your system specs, though it is not necessary.

11-13-2006, 08:00 PM	#5 (permalink)
Peart Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 4 OS: Windows XP	Thats good news. The less I need to spend the better :). It turns out I had seti@home running on both processors and it was just soaking up all of my memory, thus the 'popping'. I turned it off and I havent had any more problems. Do you think the Logitech z-5300 is the 'best' 5.1 system I could get for around $200? The reviews I have read have all given it pretty high marks, but I was wondering if there was a better system that I missed. Thanks for all the help!