Hey all Im not much of a sound enthusiast - typically the sound on my games is set very low. I picked up a real cheap soundcard a few months ago - for 1 sole purpose: To ensure the CPU saves some cycles, and the soundcard handles all the sound processing. Can anyone tell me, if this particular soundcard HAS a DSP (it was literally $14.95 new in Compusa) and whether or not using this instead of my onboard sound is better for "performance". I don't care whatsoever about sound quality - only FPS in this post. Thanks! http://www.mdmm.com/products/audio/4channel.asp 4 Channel PCI Sound Card QUALITY AND VALUE! The PROWLER 4.1 DSP provides the crisp and clear sound you expect from a sound card upgrade. Our seamless installer and industry leading LIFETIME warranty underscore Mad Dog Multimedia's commitment to Uncompromising Excellence. Upgrade Your Motherboard's Integrated 2-Channel Sound Supports 4 and 2-Channel Speaker Systems Supports A3D, DirectSound3D and EAX Better Value than Sound Blaster 16 PCI Perfect Upgrade from any 2-Channel Sound Card Features CMI 8738 MX/SX DSP 4 Channel DAC (Digital-to-Analog Converter) Complete Support for 2 and 4-Channel speakers Supports A3D, DirectSound3D and EAX MPU-401 Game Port 32-Bit PCI Bus Interface Speakers In order to experience 4-channel sound, you must use a 4-channel capable speaker system. This card does not provide 4-channel sound output with the use of 2-channel speakers. Compatibility Windows XP, 2000, ME, 98, and NT 4.0 Windows NT 4.0 functionality may differ from box specifications due to limitations in Windows NT Box Contents PROWLER 4.1 DSP Sound Card Installation and Information CD Quick Setup Guide
the cmedia is mostly cpu-driven. The only chips you can get that will really offload work from the cpu is creative live or audigy, or anything with a Crystal sound chip (like turtle beach santa cruz).
Re: Re: Re: Does this cheapie sound card has a DSP? Heh, I post a question and get ridiculed and insulted...nice! Anyway, I guess I shall start my class-action lawsuit against Mad Dog. The box clearly states, "CMI 8738 MX/SX DSP". To my little brain, that means that the CMI 8738 MX/SX Digital Signal Processor powers this unit. If that is not the case, then false advertising is afoot! Time to inflict some pain upon the Man! Thanks for the "lols"!
Am I the only one who gets sick and tired of fools posting replies like 'lol' and crap like that? On any forum. If you don't have a valid answer to a question then why F****** bother replying!!!!
Re: Re: Re: Does this cheapie sound card has a DSP? The only one that gave an educated answer was SorionOr.
Sorry bout that. I didn't really mean to ridicule ya. I just thought it was funny that someone just posted a single phrase like "lol". So I wanted to join in the fun. No disrespect intended. You were kinda setting yourself up for ridicule by asking if it had a dsp when you are the one who posted that it in fact had a dsp.
So ASmokerz....you believe that it's perfectly acceptable to ridicule and humiliate somebody?. If you do then shame on you. All I was trying to say is that what is the point in posting 'lol' and nothing else. It's just taking the piss.
Calm down guys......as far as the topic pertains...yes c-media yes a cpu driven chip which generally does the function af ac3 encoding.....though i read somewhere the new c-media chip is capable of real-time ac3 encodoing for 5.1 cannels,which is really good(i dunno if you have that same chip)..... It would have been better if you'd have bought Creative 5.1 Live Soundblaster and applied Kx drivers....then you'd have been able to create your own virtual DSPs'!!!
No he shouldn't for he is correct and I wholeheartedly agree with him. I can see why a LOL was posted in this instance given the irony of it all, but really posts of that nature appear far too often which is a shame because they have no content and add nothing to a discussion. To me it just displays an inability to contribute in the correct manner. With that said, let's get back on topic.
I fail to see the irony. If I were to find a soundcard for sale at a local retailer - that "claims" that it has a DSP for $14.95 - would that not be reason to question whether or not it was true? Being "experts" on this forum, I figured that I would ask the question. Many of the responses were foolishness (IE LOL) - so I walked away disappointed. I have done some more intensive research on the topic - and amazingly, it DOES NOT have a DSP. It is a marketing ploy - to trick people it seems. According to Maximum PC, who did an article on this card 14 months ago - they said that there really IS NOT a DSP in the card. They "shamed" Mag Dog into admitting this - but the name of the card will legally continue to be "Prowler 4.1 DSP". The fact that it actually HAS no DSP in it is apparently immaterial. So the "lol" comments were actually in error. I guess I can do a "lol" right back at ya? Thanks to everyone who answered in an intelligent and helpful fashion - you guys are what makes this board great!
Well done mate...you got there eventually And well done all the others who contributed to this thread intelligently...which is what should happen when people need answers.