1.
Useful review. I avoided all AC97 devices & lower end audio solutions religiously in the past. Quite frankly, the ALC655 has caused me to rethink this startegy. I'm bitterly dissapointed by the Envy24PT as VIA designed the reference around their cheap output codec, destroying any hope for HQ audio. They are, apparently, re-designing the interface for a better codec option.
With respect of your CPU utilization graphs, your results are skewed towards worst case scenario. Your choice of 2.4GHz CPU & Radeon 9500 @ 800x600 makes this a more CPU limited test. By running @ 1280x1024 (or higher), you'd see less difference when using an Audigy2, as the system will be more graphics bound...
Being content with 2.1 channel PC audio, I'd much prefer upgrading to a 3.0GHz P4 or R9800 instead of the Audigy2 for the systems tested. It would also be interesting to determine if the ICH5 was the cycle hog...
With respect of your CPU utilization graphs, your results are skewed towards worst case scenario. Your choice of 2.4GHz CPU & Radeon 9500 @ 800x600 makes this a more CPU limited test. By running @ 1280x1024 (or higher), you'd see less difference when using an Audigy2, as the system will be more graphics bound...
Being content with 2.1 channel PC audio, I'd much prefer upgrading to a 3.0GHz P4 or R9800 instead of the Audigy2 for the systems tested. It would also be interesting to determine if the ICH5 was the cycle hog...
[Posted by: kazzaa
| Date: 11/07/03 01:01:50 AM]
| Date: 11/07/03 01:01:50 AM]


