Does a Sound Card Improve Performance with a USB Headset?

[izytang]

Hey everyone,
My PC originally came without a soundcard (had integrated sound) and awhile back I got a USB Headset because they have a built-in sound card in them, which would've solved my sound card problem. But, now I recently purchased a Sound Blaster Live 5.1 because someone told me that it would do all the sound processing and send it to the USB headset, and boost overall PC performance.

But now I am wondering: Doesn't the Headset already do this with it's built-in sound card? Is my sound card just sitting there? Or was this guy right: Does it actually "help" the USB headset soundcard out with some of the data processing and boost PC peformance (say for gaming)? I'd like to know some information about the two. Thanks

(And for those curious, I'm using a Logitech USB Headset)

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

Hey everyone,
My PC originally came without a soundcard (had integrated sound) and awhile back I got a USB Headset because they have a built-in sound card in them, which would've solved my sound card problem. But, now I recently purchased a Sound Blaster Live 5.1 because someone told me that it would do all the sound processing and send it to the USB headset, and boost overall PC performance.

But now I am wondering: Doesn't the Headset already do this with it's built-in sound card? Is my sound card just sitting there? Or was this guy right: Does it actually "help" the USB headset soundcard out with some of the data processing and boost PC peformance (say for gaming)? I'd like to know some information about the two. Thanks

(And for those curious, I'm using a Logitech USB Headset)

This is very interesting. My first thought is that the headset bypasses the onboard and sb card. I've never used a usb headset before though. It's only $40 so I highy doubt its as quality as the sb 5.1 card. The headset manual might tell you if it requires a soundcard or not. I'd just call or email them directly.

 

[ravenprp]

Hi there,

It's great that you were able to find a solution for your sound card problem by using a USB headset with a built-in sound card. However, it's understandable that you are now wondering if your recent purchase of a Sound Blaster Live 5.1 was necessary.

To answer your question, yes, your USB headset does have a built-in sound card that handles sound processing and sends it to the headset. This means that your sound card is not just sitting there, it is actually being used by your USB headset.

As for the claims that the Sound Blaster Live 5.1 can boost overall PC performance, it is possible that it can help with some data processing and improve sound quality for gaming. However, the extent of this boost may vary and is also dependent on your specific computer setup.

In summary, your USB headset already has a built-in sound card that is handling sound processing, but the Sound Blaster Live 5.1 may still provide some benefits in terms of sound quality and possibly even performance. It's up to you to decide if the added investment was worth it for your specific needs.

Hope this helps clarify things for you. Happy gaming!