will replacing a sound card improve sound

A question .
The sound card in my Amd 350 mhz computer which is used mainly for internet browsing is an Als 120 model .
The specifications for the card are "16-bits Full-Duplex Stereo audio solution ".
The sound is pretty poor.
The external speakers are of the average sort.
Will replacing the sound card be a good idea or is it the speakers that need replacing.
It would be nice to listen to reasonable sound when surfing the web !!

 

Sound Blaster make very good PCI cards and are reasonable in price. Your speakers should be equal to your soundcard are you won't be able to benefit from having a good soundcard.

 

I would look at and listen to a fairly good set of Speakers at a PC shop, at a price range that you would be prepared to pay. I used to run a PCI 128 sound card very cheap $15 on a pair of Altec Lansing with sub. It gave me pretty good sound I still have the same speakers but new mobo with better built in sound.
Listen and ask what card is inside.
The rule is you can have the best card or amp but if the speakers are no good you can;t get the sound.

 

new speakers on the way

I swapped speakers with a better set and the result was a big difference.
However I did replace the sound card with a 128 bit card and though the driver is installed guess what ...No sound at all.
A big improvement
I have posted a thread under "hardware" and hopefully we will
sort this out
Windowsbbs is sure a helpfull resource !!!!

 

Yes schamish you do need the installation CD for that Card. I am sure that you would be able to get hold of one from somewhere, as this old card was so popular and still is. As the saying goes,
"Beg Borrow or Steal "
good luck
hawk22

 

That may be due to an IRQ conflict between devices. ( usually an Internal Modem ). Internal Modems do not like to ( or won't ) share an IRQ. And usually won't give up the one that are using either.

I believe the 128 bit card uses more than One IRQ and * MAY BE * trying to use the same one as the Modem.

I had that problem ONCE. Fixed one for a neighbor and have not used an Internal modem since.

If I remember correctly Hawk22 had that problem also.

If all is well an install CD should not be needed to get sound card working initially. Especially a Sound Blaster. For all the fancy extras it would be needed.

I will also say yes to speakers making more different than the card.

BillyBob

 

Yes that is correct Billy Bob when I intially installed my Internal Modem I lost all sound I then moved it to a different slot and it restored my sound but the Modem had drop out problems so I turfed it.
And thinking back you could be quite right that most of the features are on the CD.
It shure would be a good idea to try a different PCI slot on your mobo.
good luck
hawk22