Hi allIs a separate sound card really necessary for good sound quality, or will onboard sound provide hight quality sound?This is the motherboard i am getting with my new rig: Asus P6X58D-E (Socket 1366) PCI-Express DDR3 (with onboard 7.1 sound)I currently use a Soundblaster Audigy soundcard which renders great sound on a 7.1 surround system. Can I expect the same from onboard setups?Cheerseric

Hi allIs a separate sound card really necessary for good sound quality, or will onboard sound provide hight quality sound?This is the motherboard i am getting with my new rig: Asus P6X58D-E (Socket 1366) PCI-Express DDR3 (with onboard 7.1 sound)I currently use a Soundblaster Audigy soundcard which renders great sound on a 7.1 surround system. Can I expect the same from onboard setups?Cheerseric

IMO, Yes. KJ

If you use optical/coax it makes no difference.

Depends which sound card you get. If you get some 4$ card - it's gonna be the same (if not worse) quality than onboard audio. But, if you get something like the ASUS Xonar D2 - and you have a pair of proper quality speakers (usually means old, too - since they don't make them as they used to), you will indeed enjoy an improvement.

Too expensive.. you can get good sounding cards for half that price. But if I were to choose from the Xonar models it would definitely be the U1.

Are you talking about FSX or music? The mobo you have has excellent onboard sound which is way more than adequate for FSX especially if you use some good speakers. Most of the low to mid priced sound cards will be a waste of funds. If you're a purist and also expect to be listening to music, then a high quality, more expensive add on card would be justified. But if it's just FSX - the onboard on that mobo is top notch - actually it is exceptional for music and videos too but I am not one of these who sets up an equalizer and monitors all parts of the signal.Some times too much is too much. But there are also those who but vibrating seats and real aviation hardware to enhance their flight experience so who am I to say they're wrong. If you think you'll enjoy that 'little extra' kick from a top quality sound card - go for it..Vic