Sound card : PCI vs USB help please

**AyrtonSennaD** · 02-20-2006, 01:20 PM

Ive been searching and reading the forum for more then 6hours try finding the best solution for the carpc project i want to start. It first i was thinking of using the external ubs sound card (Sound Blaster Audigy 2 NX) but i was thinking if a pci car would be better ? This is a critical because i don't want less sound qualiy that i already have in my car so if it could be at least equal at what i got it would be ok for me and i dont want to have to deal with the alternator noise in my speaker too. My current sound system setup is a alpine cda-7965 HU ,alpine 3321 eq and 2 MTX Amps for my componnent and my subs. For the car pc the parts i choose is :
VIA EPIA M10000 Mini-ITX Mainboard
Ampie Car Computer Case
radioShark for fm radio
80gigs samsung 2.5 hard drive
Lilliput 7' touchscreen

Any kind of help will be very much appreciated.

Thanks

**-zip-** · 02-20-2006, 02:01 PM

Hey bro,

I have the same thoughts. Sound is everything. I use both opticals on the Audigy NX SPDIF from NX to Eclipse Deck, the other Optical is for Sirius Radio and run 8v from my eclipse deck to the MTX amps so 0 noise and clear sound.

I chose the NX because I wanted the single PCI slot on the Epia board for a graphics card.

Sound is awsome, however the NX takes extra CPU power, and after almost a year of it running in the car I never touch the NX. So if you dont need that PCI slot I would go with a PCI sound card. Dont forget if you need a MIC and the computer is in the trunk this is another hurdle to over come.

Both ways you cant go wrong really, try and use optical as much as possible.

**DarquePervert** · 02-20-2006, 02:08 PM

The only significant difference betweent he PCI and the USB cards is that the USB will eat up more CPU than the PCI.

**AyrtonSennaD** · 02-20-2006, 02:53 PM

thanks guys
-zip-
Got a couple question. What case did you use i want the ampie case but i dont think i can add a pci card in it since the case is so small. And where did you get all your part. Am canadian too and i did not find one place near my home who sells those component.

thanks

**-zip-** · 02-26-2006, 10:01 PM

Originally Posted by AyrtonSennaD

thanks guys
-zip-
Got a couple question. What case did you use i want the ampie case but i dont think i can add a pci card in it since the case is so small. And where did you get all your part. Am canadian too and i did not find one place near my home who sells those component.

thanks

For the same reason as you, I went with a slimeline normal Atx case. Slim PCI NVidia video card. I also like the fact you can configure a larger case for heating and cooling. With a slimline ATX case in the summer I put 4 large fans inside the case, before I did that it would overheat, dunno how these little cases can hold up to 30-40 degree temps.

Parts are another matter, some you need to buy in the US. Powersupply and perhaps LCD screen. The rest are available in Canada.