Want to be the at the top of the game, get this card. There are 2 versions of this card, 5.1 and normal. I have the 5.1. I don't know if it is really worth it for most users, but I have a BOSE lifestyle home theater which is 5.1, so I like it. Basically I rip my CDs, dump them on my PC, make playlists, and make my PC a jukebox. It sounds as good as CDs on my stereo, quite excellent. The product comes with the ‘live drive’ which I am using as I write this. It allows you to plug in head phones and MANY of add-ons to the front of you PC, it takes up a 5 ¼ bay. It even has optical ins and outs. A remote comes with the card too, yep, you read right, a remote. You can have your jukebox on your PC, hooked up to your stereo, and play music from across the room, does it get any better?

I also have a set of Cambridge Soundworks 5.1 computer speakers and the card work great on there too.

Lets talk a little software.. I got more then 3 FULL games with my card, not to mention several different home studio products. These are not cheesy games either, dues ex, thief, etc. Good stuff, you’ll like it.

Install? What install? Super easy, drop it in, SKIP the windows detect, use the install CD, done. This is probably the only negative thing about the card.. it took up about 200 megs to load software. I bet you can just load the drivers up for 5 megs and be fine, but I did the typical install and got some cool tools.

How does it sound? Well, unless you got 50+ dollar speakers don’t bother, as the power within the card will be wasted. I have owned several sound cards and this is the best one I have ever heard, good bass, good treble, and good mid. Plays real nice soft and AWESOME loud. My neighbors hate me now, ha, too bad!

If you have the cash, this is the card that you will have for years (not common in the computer world). When you get a new PC, you will be having them move this card to your new box, good stuff. I think the only cards that could be better would be professional level cards, but unless you are a HARDCORE musician (and even then, this card may do), this card will do everything you want and more.

My only warning would be if your speakers are not good, this card is overkill.


Recommended: Yes

Amount Paid (US$): 200