9860 audio upgrade for headphone.

Hank_Beefshank · #1 (**permalink**) 03-20-2005, 01:18 AM

I've got a new 9860 and am just getting it set up to play games. My only real reference so far is Battlefield 1942. With onboard sound, through headphones or the notebook's speakers, in crowdedd multiplayer games I get lots of static and pops. If I join an empty server, or start my own, it sounds fine. So I'm assuming the problem has to do with not enough available resources for the sound device.

I've read a lot on here about different speakers, and headphones people use. But I haven't found a straight answer to my main question.

If I know I want to use a particular headset, and they make it in both a USB and analog plug version....

1) Can I expect the PCMCIA audigy card with analog headset to sound better than the USB version?

2) Can I expect BOTH these options to sound better than onboard audio?

thanks,

-Beefshank

Hank_Beefshank · #2 (**permalink**) 03-24-2005, 03:09 AM

bump. (one time only)

nobody has any info on this?

bazzel · #3 (**permalink**) 03-25-2005, 12:23 AM

LoL, lemme have a small crack, and give this a bump to see if anyone else will see it... Also, try posting in the general area since this is hardware related, not gaming so much...

Do you already have the audigy? That sounds like one of the known problems with it... try doing a forum search and you *should* get some hits with the popping and what not...

1. not sure, but to be safe, get analog headphones that plug directly into the SC.

2. Well, analog for sure, yeah.

What kind of headphones are you lookin at? May I suggest the Grado Labs either SR60 or SR80 ($70 and $95 respectively). They are really nice, and go for the SR80's, the bass is a little deeper and better. Soft padding, can't ask for much more.

-bazzel

Hank_Beefshank · #4 (**permalink**) 03-25-2005, 02:45 AM

I don't have the sound card yet. My popping is from onboard. And I have read about popping with sound blaster, but didn't get the impression that crowded game servers would make it worse. I've never used a USB headset either, so I have no point of reference, except that I love the audigy 2 in my desktop.

As for what headset, I've always used Plantronics. I do use the mic a lot, so it needs to be a headset, not just headphones. I will probably have 2 sets. One I leave at home, and one I carry with me. I would like the ones I carry to be the smaller folding ones. But I'm sure they don't sound as good, so we'll see. And they don't HAVE to be plantronics, that's just what I've had luck with in the past. I will read about the ones you suggest.

I'll repost in the general forum, but first I have to deal with some heat questions because I'm sorta afraid the my current temps might melt the soundblaster card! :uhoh:

thanks for you time.
-Beefshank

bazzel · #5 (**permalink**) 03-25-2005, 11:39 AM

Quote:

but first I have to deal with some heat questions because I'm sorta afraid the my current temps might melt the soundblaster card!

eeeek! Thats no good... Yeah post that up in the general section too... Can't really help you out too much there other than if you live in a dusty environment taking off either the keyboard or whatever panel for your computer to dust out the innards and increase airflow...

-bazzel