In this post, we look at the 5 best gaming sound cards. Most motherboards today come with an on-board sound card. Many people, however, don’t realize how much a dedicated sound card can really improve sound quality. If you are watching a 3D movie or playing an intense game on your computer, your built-in sound card just can’t deliver the same sound quality. So, for the best experience, you will need an additional sound card designed for gaming to really get the best experience.

Creative Sound Blaster Z SBX PCIE Gaming Sound Card

This sound card from Creative is the cream of the crop right now. The sound quality with this card is very good and game performance is great all around. This card is especially good at dealing with directional sounds. In the past, some users have had trouble with the sound blaster card drivers. This is not the case anymore as Creative has made it a priority to improve the driver software. If this card fits your budget, you can’t go wrong with it.

ASUS PCI-Express x1 Sound Card XONAR ESSENCE

The Xonar Essence from Asus is another top of the line sound card. This sound card is truly an audiophile’s sound card. It offers great all around sound no matter if you are gaming, watching video, or listening to music. For such great quality comes a high price. This sound card is one of the most expensive cards on the market today.

Creative Sound Blaster Audigy SE Sound Card

The Sound Blaster Audigy SE from Creative is a great sound card if you are on a budget. This card provides quality sound, has great user reviews, and can really improve your gaming experience. Don’t be fooled by the price, this card is solid and is still a huge upgrade over an on-board sound card.

ASUS Xonar DGX PCI-E GX2.5 Sound Card

This Xonar Sound Card from Asus is another really solid card for anyone looking to spend under $50. Like the Sound Blaster above, this card still provides great quality sound for the price. This card was built with gamers in mind, so you can expect a great gaming experience with this card.

Creative Sound Blaster Audigy PCIe RX 7.1 Sound Card with High Performance Headphone Amp

Last, but not least, is the Sound Blaster Audigy RX 7.1 from Creative. This is another great card if you are on a budget as it is usually priced around $50. The 7.1 audio provides superb sound quality. This card is great for gaming or just listening to music. Also, if you do any recording, this is a great card for you. It offers two mic inputs and the input quality on these is top-notch.