You can at least forget about Creative.

Well i hope not cause also Microsoft fu**** it up since Vista with Hardware Sound.

Now with SteamOS everyone can basicly do what they want - thats why im asking
if Companies like Creative will Support SteamOS.

Hardware Sound could have a nice Comeback again

good luck getting creative to support any of there soundboards in linux... Hell your lucky its mediocar in windows at best...

The age of soundcards is over. Nowadays CPUs are more than powerful enough, so games output whatever multichannel sound they have over HDMI and the rest is up to your AV receiver, at least in a Steam Machine setup.

Originally posted by jtsn:

The age of soundcards is over. Nowadays CPUs are more than powerful enough, so games output whatever multichannel sound they have over HDMI and the rest is up to your AV receiver, at least in a Steam Machine setup.

pretty much this there really isnt any need for standalone sound cards anymore unless it has features eg inputs ur sound card might not have.

Onboard sound anymore is just as good as the sound cards.... There is prattally no overhead using onboard and the whole gaining fps by dedicated card was pure myth it's been debunked ages ago.

The approach of SteamOS goes even further. It doesn't use onboard sound at all, it lets the GPU handle digital sound output via HDMI.

Originally posted by jtsn:

The approach of SteamOS goes even further. It doesn't use onboard sound at all, it lets the GPU handle digital sound output via HDMI.

Theres nothing wrong with that at all... I use the hdmi audio off my video card pretty regurally :P

Originally posted by Jamie:

Originally posted by jtsn:

The approach of SteamOS goes even further. It doesn't use onboard sound at all, it lets the GPU handle digital sound output via HDMI.

Theres nothing wrong with that at all... I use the hdmi audio off my video card pretty regurally :P

They are going to support using other audio outputs, but right now only hdmi is supported.

Originally posted by Shark:

Originally posted by Jamie:

Theres nothing wrong with that at all... I use the hdmi audio off my video card pretty regurally :P

They are going to support using other audio outputs, but right now only hdmi is supported.

or snag pulse audio and reinstall it :P but ya i know.

But what about us guys who use optical audio out into a 7.1 surround reciever because our HDMI tv only has stereo speakers?

Originally posted by linuxGNUru:

But what about us guys who use optical audio out into a 7.1 surround reciever because our HDMI tv only has stereo speakers?

you can add the pulse audio respotisory or full alsa or both if u want.... insall it and reboot u should then have standard linux audio sub system which supports pretty much everything.

Well since it is Linux the "drivers" should be built into the Kernel.

Please dont tell there is no Difference between Onboard and Dedicated Soundcard. :)
Im using my X-Fi now several Years and its the most important piece of Hardware
ive ever bought.

If there wouldnt be any Difference then i wouldnt ask for some Support, right?

Its the same like 60 hz vs 120 hz. If you are used to a 120 hz Display
you wont ever go back to 60 hz.

Originally posted by linuxGNUru:

But what about us guys who use optical audio out into a 7.1 surround reciever because our HDMI tv only has stereo speakers?

Then you should upgrade to using a HDMI cable anyway since optical SPDIF audio cables can only handle up to 5.1 and that's only when using a lossy, compressed audio codec like Dolby Digital or DTS.

Originally posted by VooDoo! Go. You are my High:

Please dont tell there is no Difference between Onboard and Dedicated Soundcard. :)
Im using my X-Fi now several Years and its the most important piece of Hardware
ive ever bought.

If there wouldnt be any Difference then i wouldnt ask for some Support, right?

Its the same like 60 hz vs 120 hz. If you are used to a 120 hz Display
you wont ever go back to 60 hz.

Actually there isnt really any.... Most onboard sound can do 24 bit 192khz audio same as the soundblaster card.. .There is for the most part depening on your manufacture there own software to add 3d sound support back to older games....

Linux doesn't beniifit from any of the sound blaster audio suite that it comes with on your sb cd...

Windows has not benified from diffrent sound cards in games sense direct x 9 when they removed the hardware interface from direct x and all audio is done now in direct x sound software.

even windows default sound backend is just done software side.