Asus G51J-A1, Sound Cards and Headsets + other mods.

I recently bought the Asus G51J-A1 and, not being very tech-savvy or modding any computer of mine before, was wondering about a few things. They have a sound card insert slot (forgot its name lol) and I was wondering what a sound card really did and if it was worth it for this computer. I have a tight budget for sound cards/headsets, I prefer $50 but can go to $100 if necessary. I use my laptop mostly for traveling, and tend to use my desktop most of the time, but I use this laptop in my room a lot also, especially for just relaxing and playing music.

I would also like to consider a headset (I'll probably either get a headset or sound card, not both) for use on both my computers, which would mean a USB because my desktop does not have a mic jack. I would also like some good music playback as well, and 5.1 surround sound features. Even though the computer has a microphone and I have earphones, I tend to have to lean in a lot for them to hear me so I'd rather buy a headset.

Also, any other useful mods for this computer you could think of? Again I've never done much in the way of serious modding so even though the average user would consider me somewhat savvy I have very little experience in that area.

 

Anybody?

 

I thought this was a good forum for getting advice on things like this -_-'

 

If you use your laptop to playback music, I hope you got yourself some powered external speakers, because I find built-in speakers rather anemic. I picked up the Sony portable iPod dock speakers which work very nicely, plus sports a FM tuner.

5.1 Audio: Not really needed for a laptop. The games will do HTRF coding in headphone mode for surround effects, and movie players should have some sort of Dolby Headphone option for surround over headphones.

For a headset, that I cannot help much, since I don't use one. Sorry.

 

I have the Creative I-Trigue 2200s. 4 years old but still good quality (use them for both desktop and laptop)
There small speakers but pretty good for their size. I might be considering getting an upgrade, again advice for speakers is welcomed too ^_^
But I'll be keeping the I-Trigues for travel purposes or other general use.

 

Btw, looking at the Razer Carcharias and for my desktop I don't have a microphone input so I was wondering what USB headset adapters were out there. Saw a few but I wasn't sure if thats what I was looking for or not...

 

Since your mostly listening to music, I'd get either an AD700, HD555, D1001, RX900 or something along those lines. When you have more money, invest in a decent USB DAC so you can make the most out of the headphones.
I don't understand why you need a mic if your only listening to music. unless I'm missing something?
And for modding, there are lots of threads already about modding the G51. You just need to search through the forums a bit.

 

No I'm also using it for computer gaming. So I like the 5.1 (megaladon has 7.1 but most games don't support that) surround sound for the gaming, and mic too.

 

Right now I have the Sony MDR-NC22 noise cancelling earphones which I use with my iPod and stuff, but I wanted a USB computer headset for gaming and music.

Mind you I don't have much experience with sound quality. The Creative I-Trigues are the first pair of speakers for my computer that I can even really remember, since I started gaming a little after I got them. In the way of earphones/headphones at first I only used the default iPod buds (we all know how bad they are, can't live with them now) so not much. I later bought some skullcandy lowriders which again I really didn't pay attention to the quality there and about a month after they broke I bought the Sonys. So I don't know how to judge quality very well unless I'm comparing it to those two audio devices.

 

ahh I see. You kinda have to choose which is more important to you: gaming or music. b/c for music, you'd want sound quality(stereo speakers), while gaming, you would want the quantity (5.1 speakers). You can't get best of both worlds. and you can just buy a USB mic off ebay

 

Oh, I see. Well first just skim the edit there. I need to know first how the MDR-NC22s are in quality, if you know much about them. If they're acceptional for music than I don't think I'll bother buying another pair of music ones. I'd rather just get one for gaming and use my sonys for music.

 

Noise canceling headphones aren't great for music. Once again, if you listen to music more, I'd get one of the headphones I recommended earlier.
I don't have much experience with 5.1 headphones because I don't use them. I think the people at headfi Forums - Head-Fi.org Community will be more help fr your audio needs

 

Ok. Thank-you I will go there =)

 

Gaming + Chatting = Fatal1ty Headset

Sennheiser HD650

Mybe this one: MDR-XD300

Good luck with the Hunt