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    Looking for a good but cheap PCMCIA sound card

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by mfractal, Jul 23, 2010.

  1. mfractal

    mfractal T|I

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    Hi all, as the title says, looking for a PCMCIA sound interface for my good and old Dell M1710 that serves as a HTPC now.

    Once i connected the oneboard sound card to amplified speakers i immediately heard static interference and after looking around for a while i discovered it's common in M1710 and is incurable, so the decision is to use a PCMCIA..

    Any recommendations ? I know of INDIGO IO and DJ cards, and of Creative PCMCIA Sound Blaster Audigy 2 but both are above 200$ and it just seems as an overkill for my needs.
     
    mfractal, Jul 23, 2010
    #1
  2. newsposter

    newsposter Notebook Virtuoso

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    would you consider a USB card?
     
    newsposter, Jul 23, 2010
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  3. mfractal

    mfractal T|I

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    I guess I would. Don't really know the pros and cons of USB cards
     
    mfractal, Jul 23, 2010
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  4. AndroidVageta

    AndroidVageta Notebook Evangelist

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    AndroidVageta, Jul 24, 2010
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  5. mfractal

    mfractal T|I

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    thanks for the tip.
    My only issue with this device is that it's not actually a sound card. There's no sound chip on it as far as i can tell. All the actual audio processing happens via software.
     
    mfractal, Jul 24, 2010
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  6. exe

    exe Notebook Consultant

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    You can get a Creative X-Fi PCMCIA sound card. I don't know if they still produce it, otherwise you can buy it used. I use to have one for my Dell 9300 but didn't use it much.

    That said, I would assume the above USB solution must have a sound chip in it, otherwise, where is the audio stream coming from? It can't possible be piped from the laptop's USB. I have a USB headset it too has a built in audio chip.

    Edit: I see you already know about the Creative PCMCIA, if bought used, it's <$50, I sold mind for that much over a year ago. The advantage is that it can do all sort of processing other than stereo ( I never got into it as I only used it with headphones). Or if you want cheap cheap and just stereo output, seach for 'logitech usb audio' on fleabay, about $10, it's usually used for headphone but it will work for stereo sound.
     
    exe, Jul 24, 2010
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  7. Jasp

    Jasp Notebook Evangelist

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    Theirs not actual audio processor built into creatives USB card, i know because iv'e got one lol. The effects etc are all done via software.
     
    Jasp, Jul 24, 2010
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  8. mfractal

    mfractal T|I

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    Yes, that's what's bothering me about it. I think I will go with the echo indigo dj.
     
    mfractal, Jul 24, 2010
    #8