should i get this?

**Arreo** · 06-28-07, 09:30 AM

Spend the money on a solid mobo with a good onboard NIC. The onboard is fine for almost anything you are going to deal with .Course this is my opinion on sound cards also, just get a better mobo with a good onboard.

**ImitationMan** · 06-28-07, 11:06 AM

Originally Posted by Arreo

.Course this is my opinion on sound cards also, just get a better mobo with a good onboard.

You must not have tried a x-Fi sound card. The additional channels and positional audio make a huge difference in knowing what is around you. (Plus everything sounds so much better and I'm not an audiophile nor do I play one on TV.) It's easy to walk up behind someone (snipers) with onboard sound and knife them because they rarely hear your footsteps.

Sorry for the off topic info. I agree, don't spend that much on a NIC. If you feel you need a better NIC, just by a name brand gigabit NIC for $20-$30 like Intel, Linksys, D-link, Netgear.

**KromMonkey** · 06-28-07, 11:18 AM

Don't buy it, I am a widget whore (i.e. have to have all the "cool" things for my pc) and I don't have one. As others have stated, put that money into buying memory or a vid card.

**.:bsims:.** · 06-28-07, 04:31 PM

hmm alright, i do have a crapy sound card i need to upgrade

**GoreZiad** · 06-28-07, 04:39 PM

Plain stupid to buy a "gamer nic" man. It's just for making money they make them.

They're cheating the gamer to believe that spending alot of money on something, will make his computer better.

In this case, a "gamer nic". Laughable.

Spend the extra money on some good cooling for your rig.

Or get an anti-virus program designed for making your speed better in online gaming.

For example, Bullguard Steel Security.

If there is some speed to gain at all, get this, not the "gamer nic"

**ImitationMan** · 06-28-07, 08:58 PM

Originally Posted by .:bsims:.

hmm alright, i do have a crapy sound card i need to upgrade

I've read that the X-Fi XtremeGamer Fatal1ty Professional (more RAM than the standard x-fi) takes a load off the CPU and can increase the fps a tiny bit. Now, I have one of these cards and I can't see a difference, but that is what testing showed at tomshardware.com. I haven't seen any testing on the Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer to know if there is a performance increase on this version too.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16829102005

or cheaper at http://www.directron.com/sb046a.html

Directron may not have a fancy website like newegg, but they have a good selection and good prices. Luckily for me (and bad for my wallet), they are about 2 miles from my office so I can buy something online and pick it up at their warehouse. But as always shop around because shipping and taxes make a difference.