If you have a high-end gaming PC and are still using the built-in motherboard sound card, you may be missing out on a fully high-end gaming experience. Built-In motherboard sound cards have definitely improved over the years, however, a stand alone sound card in most cases will provide better sound. In this post, we look at a few reasons why you would opt for a stand-alone sound card and then we pick a few of the best external sound cards for gaming.

External vs Internal Sound Card

It is pretty obvious that the main difference between external and internal sound cards is how they are installed. An internal card will be installed directly into the motherboard, whereas an external sound card will connect externally, usually via USB, to the PC.

In general, external sound cards offer more flexibility and are easier to install and remove, while internal sound cards tend to be more integrated and may offer slightly better audio quality. The choice between an external or internal sound card will depend on your specific needs and preferences.

Benefits of a Stand-Alone Sound Card

Improved Audio Quality

Stand-alone sound cards are built with sound quality in mind. These sound cards generally have higher-quality components and better digital-to-analog converters (DACs) than those built into motherboards, which can result in better audio performance.

More Connectivity Options

Stand-alone sound cards often have more connectivity options, such as multiple audio inputs and outputs, which can be useful for recording and playback in a home studio setup. For gamers, this may help if you want to stream or record any of your gaming sessions.

Better Support for Multi-Channel Audio

This point is similar to the first benefit talking about improved audio quality. Stand-alone sound cards often have support for multichannel audio formats, such as 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound, which can improve the overall audio experience when playing games. This may also give you an advantage in games, such as FPS games, where audio cues are important.

Easy Way to Fix a Broken Onboard Sound Problem

Replacing a motherboard is a huge hassle and can cause other problems. Adding a sound card is pretty easy and can be inexpensive. If you are in a situation where your onboard sound card isn’t working properly, using a stand-alone sound card gives you a way to fix your problem without replacing your entire motherboard.

Best External Sound Cards For Gaming

Creative Labs Sound Blaster Play! 3

Creative Labs is one of the leaders in sound card equipment. The Sound Blaster Play! 3 external sound card is a great overall card. This sound card connects via USB and provides quite an upgrade to most standard motherboard sound cards by giving you high resolution 24-bit 96kHz audio for your games, movies, and music. Creative Labs also developed a control panel software for this sound card to help you to get the most out of it. The Play! 3 is plug and play making it super easy to add to your gaming setup.

This sound card boasts a 4.5 / 5 star rating on Amazon from close to 3K ratings. Most reviewers complement the Play! 3’s sound quality and simplicity. Another great thing about this card is that it is pretty affordable. Its normal price is $25, but often can be found on sale.

Sound BlasterX G6 Hi-ResGaming DAC Sound Card

This is another top-notch product from Creative Labs. The Sound BlasterX G6 is most definitely a high-end external sound card. This card supports 7.1 surround sound and Dolby digital. When it comes to gaming, it offers a unique “Scout mode” feature. Scout Mode enhances in-game audio cues, letting you hear your enemies before they hear you. This sound card also offers a way to create different profiles. That way, you can easily change your sound settings based on the game you are playing.

This sound card has a 4.4 / 5 star rating on Amazon from close to 7K ratings. Most positive reviews talk about the high quality sound, build quality, and the extensive set of features. There are two things to keep in mind with this sound card. First, it is definitely built with gaming in mind. It is certainly good at other things, but if you aren’t planning to use this for gaming, there are likely better cards. Second, this card isn’t cheap. It is definitely a high-end card that is currently sitting at about $150.

StarTech.com 7.1 USB Sound Card

This sound card from StarTech is another great all-around external card. It supports both 7.1 and 5.1 surround sound. It has pretty high sampling rates and is super easy to install. While this sound card isn’t specifically built for gaming, it performs quite well with them. StarTech also ships this card with software you can use to set up and configure the device. Another cool thing about this sound card is that it will work with many versions of Linux.

The StarTech.com card has a 4.1 / 5 rating on Amazon with over 2,300 reviews. Most reviewers said the sound quality was a big improvement over their motherboard sound. One thing to note before purchasing is that the audio adapter’s SPDIF optical pass-through port supports two-channel audio, however, this port does not support 5.1 or 7.1 audio. So, in the rare case that you are buying a sound card specifically for this, you will want to keep this in mind.

Have you tried any of these external sound cards? Or would you recommend one that is not on this list? If so, let me know in the comments!