Do you Need a Sound Card?

A lot of people assume they need a sound card in their PC build, but the reality is a little more complex. What are you using your PC for? Would you be better suited using an external DAC/amp? Search your heart. Let your conscience be your guide. Use the Force. Whatever works.

Buy Sound Cards:

Buy DACs:

Episode Credits:
Host: Linus Sebastian
Writer: Riley Murdock
Editor: Kalvin Shum

[HugeAckMan]

Personally I love my sound card! The range is amazing - it even manages to pick up Linus's high pitched voice.

[AlmightyGTR]

Microphones do not convert Audio from analog to digital. A microphone simply converts sound from analog airwaves to an analog electrical signal. This electrical signal then hits your sound card to be converted to digital. Till the signal hits the sounds card, it is still analog.

[vapenation]

i need a sound card to listen to those ear rape videos in all of their glory

[funghazi]

As an old person, it feels weird to have a computer without a sound card in it. That was THE hot upgrade back in the day.

[ShonkyLegs]

Of course I need a sound card; where else am I going to plug in my joystick?

[strollas]

man this guy is entertaining. should start his own youtube channel

[abzeromusic]

Musician here. Getting an external sound card in an audio interface can be great not only for better sound quality, but powering microphones. Phantom power gives you options for almost any commercial microphones. Including dynamic and condenser microphones. Also the 1/4 in jacks can be used for instrument inputs such as Pianos, Electric Guitars, or turntables. As well as providing proper outputs for studio monitors (speakers). Your not going to want to run all these cables into your sound card. It can be done, but an audio interface makes life easier.

[Shplayercz]

4.7 GHz OC on my sound card with water cooling, can i run Crysis 3 in 4k ?

[micahgilbertcubing]

Basically the answer to all of these videos is "it depends"

[jarvisgarcia]

Thanks for the video. I used to run sound cards for gaming back in the day but as I got older I noticed I don't detect much difference between those and onboard audio. It sucks getting old kiddos.

[khmergodhobbies]

back in the day i would spend $150-200 just for the soundblaster cards... now i can buy a mobo for less than that and it already has 7.1, fml

[Monody]

What about reducing CPU load from game audio?
Do built-in motherboard modules already accomplish that to the full extent?

And what about reducing the number of "dropped" sounds and other glitches?
Is that the realm of audio libraries exclusively?

[headmetal]

I know I'm being kind of a smart ass here, but a microphone is definitely not (!) a analog to digital converter (except for some very few microphone types with a built in converter). A microphone converts sound pressure waves to elektrical signals, but both are still analog signals. The sound card on the other hand, has an analog to digital converter built in, and only there the conversion happens.
It might be only a small detail in this context, but please don't over-simplify things.
Otherwise this is an awesome video, thanks for your hard work!

[Jeroenske]

Oh wow here in the year 2046 DAC stands for Direct Audio to Cranium. No more speakers or headphones and let me tell you it's a blast.

[mermaidman]

Maybe my pc does need a sound card. Sometimes I listen to music and the bass is horrible on my headphones, but when I plug it into my phone they sound fine so it must be my computer.

[Gilmaris]

I remember the days when a sound card was the difference between internal speaker and midi. You telling me there's something new on the market?

[shaylanchadha]

Me: Mom can I have Techquickie
Mom: we have Techquickie at home
*Techquickie at home* :

[JustWickedSwede]

A microphone is not a analog to digital device o_O
a microphone is analog to analog. It is basically a audiowave sensor.

[hauskins]

Just hire a in home mariachi band for best quality experience.

[kekagiso]

Is this just a carefully crafted DAC ad?