Ok, it's tax time around here, I'm expecting about 4g's back although 2500 of that is going for a lawyer for my daughter. The rest? Finally putting my main system on semi retirement (only used for lans, about once a month).

Question I got is sound cards. I've always used a Creative Labs, not the on board sound that generally come on the MB. Is there really a difference in sound say between a 24 bit X-gamers card compared to the 24 bit Multimedia card?

The whole reason I'm asking is currently I have a X-Gamers 5.1 card in my box with 5 speakers. Sounds great but it's staying in this machine. The X-Gamers card came out the same time the 5.1 Live! series did and it was really never mentioned what the difference was other then the X-Gamers card came bundled with a couple of games.

Currently I'm not changing the amount of speakers, it'll stay at 5 because I live in an apartment and can't blast the thing as it is.

What I'm wondering is there any difference between the 24 bit multimedia card with the top piece that goes up in the CD bay so you can use a remote to change volumes if you watch a movie and the new x-gamers card that is also 24 bit sound that doesn't have that?

Personally I think it's just a PR move to through a couple of games in and try to sell more at a lower price but had to ask. Looking at the 200$ piece not the 100$ x-gamers card.