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Well, I'm getting promedia ultras for sure, thanks for helping me with my decision :)
Now, I want to use them to their full potential and don't believe that a sb live 5.1 will do that. So, which audigy should i get? I was thinking of the ZS, but is there a difference to the platinum that is worth more than douple the price?
Thanks.
I say Audigy 2 oem. Cheapest and all you really need.:D
Unless you need/want all the connectivity features of the Platinum's breakout box, go with a regular Audigy 2 ZS.
IMO grab an audigy2 zs oem off of ebay. Tons of wholesale type places there now, picked mine up for 80 bucks from knowledgemicro (was going to give you their website address, since they were same price on their site, but they raised em 30 bucks lol).
another vote for a plain audigy 2 oem. :p
Audigy 2 ZS.
If you have to ask why you would need the Platinum version, you probably don't need it. ;)
However, if in the future you might want to use the card in an HTPC, you may want the extra connectivity that the Platinum version offers.
:cool:
What are you gonna be using this card for anyways?
I concur with imayoda and al bundy.
how about whichever is cheapest? there's not enough of a difference in the new audigy to warrant a 2x price increase. you can probably get an a2 retail for like 55 bucks.
What features does the ZS have compared to the Audigy2. Also what is being missed getting it OEM. At newegg I think A2 is about 76 and ZS is about 94. Im using 641's, so would it be worthwhile to get either of these? im currently on a TB Santa Cruz.
you're missing some goofy games, and a maunal.
Coming from the "EE Student"? tsk tskQuote:
Originally posted by PinchyCM
you're missing some goofy games, and a maunal.
The Retail comes with Gold connectors which make for better contacts as well as preventing corrosion.
This aside, you get a warrenty and about 5 pretty good games.
As for the question on the differences between the Audigy 2 and Audigy 2ZS?
The ZS can support up to 7.1 surround, as well as containing EAX4 and better EQing options. Another small feature it contains is a higher snr.
haha, corrosion? the differecne between the gold plated connection and hte plastic color coated connections are pretty negliblie. i thought the warranty was the same, and with the games, who the heck REALLY has time to play games anymore? haha. whoever wanted those games woulda gotta them by now. As an EE & CompE student, we don't have time to play games. :)Quote:
Originally posted by CrawlingEye
Coming from the "EE Student"? tsk tsk
The Retail comes with Gold connectors which make for better contacts as well as preventing corrosion.
This aside, you get a warrenty and about 5 pretty good games.
As for the question on the differences between the Audigy 2 and Audigy 2ZS?
The ZS can support up to 7.1 surround, as well as containing EAX4 and better EQing options. Another small feature it contains is a higher snr.
eax4 isn't out yet, is it?
Plastic tipped connectors, yes. However, as you should know, plastic isn't a conductor, thus it's probably using some generic metal under/behind it.Quote:
Originally posted by PinchyCM
haha, corrosion? the differecne between the gold plated connection and hte plastic color coated connections are pretty negliblie. i thought the warranty was the same, and with the games, who the heck REALLY has time to play games anymore? haha. whoever wanted those games woulda gotta them by now. As an EE & CompE student, we don't have time to play games. :)
eax4 isn't out yet, is it?
The warranty is nil with the OEM, as with any OEM, except for standard vendor warranties which is usually limited to about 30 days.
As for the bundled games, a lot of people don't exactly mind dropping an extra $30-40 for about $150 in games. ;)
"The Retail comes with Gold connectors which make for better contacts as well as preventing corrosion."
FYI: Gold connectors dont make "BETTER" contacts, all they do is prevent corrosion....
Silver is a much better conductor than gold.
Indeed, and copper is a much better conductor than all of the above.Quote:
Originally posted by Swerv
"The Retail comes with Gold connectors which make for better contacts as well as preventing corrosion."
FYI: Gold connectors dont make "BETTER" contacts, all they do is prevent corrosion....
Silver is a much better conductor than gold.
The fact remains that Silver is neither very conductive or very good at preventing corrosion.
If silver isn't very conductive, why does Arctic Silver 3 contain 70% silver?:confused:Quote:
Originally posted by CrawlingEye
Indeed, and copper is a much better conductor than all of the above.
The fact remains that Silver is neither very conductive or very good at preventing corrosion.
"The fact remains that Silver is neither very conductive or very good at preventing corrosion. "
Hold on there.... Silver is Very conductive, they use it in the highest of quality audiophile cables, with close to 0 percent oxygen.
It isn't spectacular for preventing corrosion but when was the last time you had your cables/contacts corrode on you? I know I haven't...
Arctic Silver 3 is thermally conductive, and electrically conductive. However, the two shouldn't be confused. Ceramique is a better thermal conductor than AS3 and it isn't electrically conductive.Quote:
Originally posted by soupnazi
If silver isn't very conductive, why does Arctic Silver 3 contain 70% silver?:confused:
There's no direct relation between the two.
However, the only real similarity is that copper is best in both sitautions.
With that said, there's no proof that silver is in fact used in the OEM's or any other metal.
Also, Swerv, you should also consider people who live by the shore or bring their computers around the shore. Corrosion also won't show itself in a week or a month but rather over a deal of time.
Consider that and you'll find the answer to your question about "Why is corrosion a problem?"
Further more, finger grease in itself (IIRC) can cause corrosion in many cases, so just purely from handling something over time, it can corrode.
This aside, I still think retail offers a better deal, considering the marginal price difference and added software which is actually desirable.