How can I compare these soundcards?

[partyboy]

Using an old macbook pro right now the sound card it has is a cirrus logic cs4206a (ab 29)

Would a Realtek® ALC887 be the same or atleast better than that? (I know that sound card would probably suck to but as long as its not worse)

I'm having a lot of trouble finding specs on both these soundcards like how the hell can I compare the quality


Going to be building a comp and just using the sound card I have now to try and have something to compare it to.

[FluffyPinkDecoyBunny]

Isn't the ALC887 just onboard audio? With that being said, any recent motherboards within the past few years have decent built in sound that would be comparable to sound cards of 5 years ago.

I personally haven't bothered with a sound card for years. I do have one on hand because I know of 2 games I own (older games) that crash due to compatibility issues with the onboard audio and the use of a sound card fixes the issue. I don't plan on playing the games anytime in the near future so I don't have the sound card installed (sound card is a Xonar DG 5.1).

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Unless u have good speaker setup, doubtful u could tell the difference between audio cards/chips; such as Realtek HD (Onboard), Asus Xonar (Card), Creative Sound Blaster Z (Card)

If u prefer to use Headset, get a decent USB one. USB Headsets already have their own sound chip + driver. And do not require the use of any onboard/card Sound.

[partyboy]

I already have really nice headphones that I spent a good amount of money on

but ya the one I have right now is onboard i guess, just some crappy mac laptop, and the new sound ill be getting for a comp is onboard, I guess that would be better since it's newer

[100% Recycled Awesome]

What's your source media?

I always find it hilarious how people would complain about their soundcards while using expensive headphones and listening to 128bit MP3s from iTunes.