The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Could a sound card be used with an Expressbox or Vidock?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by geoxile, Mar 10, 2011.

  1. geoxile

    geoxile Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    82
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    And for that matter, could the interface be USB? Though I know the transfer rates are pretty low compared to say Expresscard slots.
     
  2. flipfire

    flipfire Moderately Boss

    Reputations:
    6,156
    Messages:
    11,214
    Likes Received:
    68
    Trophy Points:
    466
    What sound card are you planning to use?
     
  3. geoxile

    geoxile Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    82
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Xonar DX, DS, or DG

    I think DS is probably the one under highest consideration. I already have the DX in my main rig and I personally don't want to cash out 90 for another, but the DS has a nice price tag and apparently decent SQ
     
  4. Hayte

    Hayte Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    450
    Messages:
    467
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Transfer rate is not particularly important unless you share bandwidth and bus power (i.e. using port sharing via a USB hub).

    I use an Access Virus TI synthesizer which has a USB 2.0 audio interface built in and I never encounter problems if its running on a dedicated USB 2.0 port. I've also used USB 2.0 soundcards for years without problem at 24 bit/48 khz. Many professional audio interfaces are firewire 400/800 although firewire is increasingly becoming a legacy standard. This is one reason why you are starting to see hybrid USB 2.0/Firewire soundcards like the RME Fireface UFX.
     
  5. geoxile

    geoxile Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    82
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    So it should be sufficient for a Xonar? And what's the better option, ViDock or a DIY box (saw the topic about it)
     
  6. User Retired 2

    User Retired 2 Notebook Nobel Laureate NBR Reviewer

    Reputations:
    4,127
    Messages:
    7,860
    Likes Received:
    10
    Trophy Points:
    0
    DIY ViDock parts have been used successfully to host a Creative SB X-Fi Titanium desktop sound card via the expresscard slot. See details.