I have an AMD XP2400 based machine with 512 meg DDR ram and a 128 meg Geforce4TI4200 vid card -- BUT I only have an el-cheapo Creative Vibra128 sound card. I only use a couple of PC stereo speakers with a sub-woofer and I am happy enough with the sound - but I do notice some strange crackles and pops when using FS2004 that I don't get in FS2002. I will admit to running my scenery and weather details in FS2004 a bit higher than I used to in FS2002 -- can't help myself , the eye candy all looks so good.So I am happy with the actual sound output of my existing card -- but am wondering if I am losing any Sim performance (maybe causing the crackles).Thanks Barry

I was using an on-board sound card and was having the sound cut out when flying in clouds. I got an Audigy 2ZS and solved the problem. All sounds are much better. CDs sound way better.Not sure if a new card will help your poping etc, but I thought I'd report my results. Good luck,Ken

BarryWhen I was running FS2004 on my Toshiba laptop with an Intel P4 2.6 Ghz processor and NVidia 440 MX 64 Mb card I experienced sound degradation which was noticeable during periods of graphics intensity - e.g. near heavy clouds, flying some of the very latest addon a/c or calling up the GPS. I overcame this by setting sound quality to low within the simulator which caused a loss of sound quality of course.The problem has gone away since I bought a new state of the art PC. I don't use the on-board sound but have a SoundBlaster Audigy 2 card instead.In my own case it seems that throwing technology, and money :7, at the problem has cured it.David

I still run a ESS AudioDrive ES1938 I purchased in late 1998 LOL (its been in 2 systems too :) ). It has to be the lowest of the low end soundcards, but it runs and does its job ok. I never needed any of the features a newer card can do, so I never upgraded it. It never has given me any problems for the 5 years I have owned it either. Since I got some Klipsch ProMedia 2.1's coming on Christmas, along with a new Audigy LS, this AudioDrive has its days numbered.Only thing I have noticed with this card is the very very faint hiss in the right channel in any DirectX game (gotta crank the volume to hear it). Crackles and pops has plagued me since FS2000, but they are gone in FS2004 amazingly.

What I really would like to know -- is , for addon soundcards (ie not ones integrated into the mobo), what are the differences in how they are made or what they do. Do more expensive ones have more memory, faster sound processors,?? - what. I have to admit that how soundcards actually work is not something I know much about -- even though I do know lots about other parts of a computer, I have never investigated much about sound cards.Barry

Hey Barry, I admit that I do not know too much either but I do know that by having a good add on sound card that it will take some of the "strain" off of your CPU. I have a very similar set up to yours, AMD XP2400, 512 RAM, GeForce 4 TI4600 and when I upgraded to a Soundblaster Audigy I gained a slight FPS and smoothness increase as well as increased sound quality. I currently have no static or crackles at all, it sounds good. I would have to say that this is one of the best upgrades I have done as it has really increased my enjoyment of this sim. I am sorry that I can not give you a more technical answer but I am pretty sure that they do more to process the sound leaving the CPU free for other things. My experience has been very positive with them. Hope this helps at least a little bit.Take care! Philip