My Sound Card

I like good sound, and I had good sound, but 2 years ago my computer began to fail and I purchased a new one. It came with a Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium sound card. The sound was okay, but the software didn't allow independent control of each 5.1 speaker, and the sound was never anywhere near as good as my old computer. Then I began noticing occasional short little static bursts. It was very occasional and depended upon what I happened to be doing. Refreshing a browser page that hadn't been refreshed in a while was one cause, though not always. Sounds weird, I know, but there it is.Dell replaced the sound card, but the new one behaved identical to the old. The reviews about the Titanium card were outstanding and I began wondering if Dell was including a version of the Titanium card in their machines that was custom (and cheaper) just for them.About a year ago the microphone stopped working, but I had no time to deal with it. I don't use the mic much on this machine anyway, so I put up with it.But yesterday the card began giving off static every five or ten seconds or so, so I went out to Best Buy and bought a Creative Sound Blaster Z sound card. Not only is the static problem completely gone, but the sound is back to the great quality I had with my old computer, and the software provides individual control of each 5.1 speaker, which I think helps the quality of the sound. And the microphone works!I can't believe I put up with lousy sound for and broken mic for so long before doing something about it. I'm not pushing Creative sound cards but am trying to say something more general. Computer venders will put cheaper versions of name-brand cards in their machines, be they sound cards or video cards or whatever. If you're unhappy with what came with the computer, try replacing it. It's Christmas, treat yourself!--Percy

Agreed. That is why I go out of my way to not buy 'stock' machines as they are, but always end up tweaking them.The other thing you will notice is vendors will also use sub-standard RAM in their systems. Anyone buying should consider RAM upgrades. I had a colleague whose Dell system was plagued by rogue problems and the ultimate culprit was the RAM. It is a very pervasive problem too. Difficult to track down.

For several generations of machines I've bought bits and built my own from the case up. It's not difficult and you get to pick what you need. So for me with my tin ears I don't even have a sound car, and since I don't game I get a medium ok graphics card. But run the memory up (32GB right now) and get up to the sweet spot with the processor.And the biggest damn case I can find at any given build.

Oooooh... but now they come with colours on the inside! For showing off at all your PC building parties!!But yeah, and it's fun, too

I used to build all my own PCs but I had to get a Mac for business. Now I haven't the faintest clue what's inside it or how to get there. I can't work out whether that's a good thing or not - I certainly never have any cause to fish around inside it.

The only RAM problems that I have had on Dell systems, were fixed by reseating the RAM. From what I have seen, it's more a matter of substandard robotic installers, than of substandard RAM.