ASUS Xonar DG Soundcard
Sound Good Because it’s important...
by Walt Pretorius
O
nce upon a time - when 3D graphics cards were still a twinkle in the technician’s eye - sound cards were all the rage. In those days (which weren’t all that long ago) a PC gamer’s bragging rights came from which sound card he was using. Things are different now, and the sound card has become an afterthought. Most sound requirements are now taken care of by systems built in to motherboards. But having a seperate sound card can have all kinds of advantages for the user, just like using a graphics card instead of onboard graphics. Not only does it free up performance from the system processor, but it also allows for better sound performance - which is vital in gaming. Asus’ Xonar DG provides excellent sound, with all the functionality a gamer could want. From automatic front and rear jack detection through to high definition audio, this card performs admirably. Excellent signal to noise ratios mean that the audio - both input and output - are crystal clear, and a host of compatibilities make this card a winner. g
100
AT A GLANCE: Great audio performance from this small, yet powerful sound card.
Score
78
Manufacturer: Asus Distributor: Asus Online: www.asus.com RRP: R390.00 Tech Specs: • GX 2.5 Gaming Engine • Smart Volume Normalizer • FlexBass • CMI8786 Processor
Pros & Cons: • Built -in Amp • 5.1 Headphone performance • Jack-sensing • Realistic 3D audio effects
g a m e c c a h a r d w a r e • i s s u e 1 5 • S e p t e m b e rxxx 2010