ESD is being a problem

[$hy]

So, got a fairly cheap sound card from my uncle, ended up getting fried from static going through my headset from my body.

Went back to on board sound and the same thing has happened. I looked around on the net and getting a humidifier seems to be the one thing I can do -aside from removing all the carpet in my room- to reduce the amount of static in the air.

As now I do not have onboard nor a soundcard I need a solution to my audio problems. Trouble is I have little experience with these products and do not know what a good value/performance would be.

Any ideas would be helpful, I have even though about stripping a cord down so I have a ground to plug into a wall socket and then alligator clipping it to myself when I am using the computer.

Yes, the static is so bad right now I am thinking about building some kind of faraday cage to sit inside of :facewall:

anyway, thanks for your consideration of this questions

TL/DR

How to remove static from a room?

What sound cards offer the best value for the money?

 

[pillar]

Well when it comes to sound cards, it really depends on your budget. I used to have a Creative soundcard for like almost 10 years before I decided to upgrade. I met this 1 guy at this gaming convention & he told me bout Asus' Xonar sound cards. I knew that I didnt wanna go like big time & found a card that was around $40-50. I think the following card is what I got & its still around the same price as when I first got it: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829132052

Hope that helps ya out.

 

[Snipeye]

The Asus Xonar are really good sound cards. I remember when they first came out and it took a lot of people by surprise as they were a legitimate, low, middle, and high-end option to Creative's sound cards.

 

[_Sushi]

If you are getting a soundcard to enjoy better sound quality, I would consider purchasing an external soundcard (or DAC/AMP) instead to avoid noise that could be present inside your computer, tarnishing the sound.

 

[bad_ip]

So, got a fairly cheap sound card from my uncle, ended up getting fried from static going through my headset from my body.

Went back to on board sound and the same thing has happened. I looked around on the net and getting a humidifier seems to be the one thing I can do -aside from removing all the carpet in my room- to reduce the amount of static in the air.

As now I do not have onboard nor a soundcard I need a solution to my audio problems. Trouble is I have little experience with these products and do not know what a good value/performance would be.

Any ideas would be helpful, I have even though about stripping a cord down so I have a ground to plug into a wall socket and then alligator clipping it to myself when I am using the computer.

Yes, the static is so bad right now I am thinking about building some kind of faraday cage to sit inside of :facewall:

anyway, thanks for your consideration of this questions

TL/DR

How to remove static from a room?

What sound cards offer the best value for the money?

Do you currently have a chassis that is grounded to something like a desk or the concrete in your floor? I'd start there. If you're having ESD problems that are that severe then I'd guess you live somewhere near the desert in the mid-west.

 

[-=Punisher=-]

ESD mats work for you desk area. I work in electronic repairs and have more trouble at work than I do at home. So maybe you're just a little unlucky with the ESD. It is a result of dry air and a humidifier would be good but how much it would help Im not sure.

 

[Cloakedsphere]

If you are getting a soundcard to enjoy better sound quality, I would consider purchasing an external soundcard (or DAC/AMP) instead to avoid noise that could be present inside your computer, tarnishing the sound.

This on so many levels.

A sound card is virtually worthless. Your on board sound will perform just as well if not better.

 

[bad_ip]

This on so many levels.

A sound card is virtually worthless. Your on board sound with perform just as well if not better.

I wish I could like this. Times infinity.

 

[kYuKi]

This on so many levels.

A sound card is virtually worthless. Your on board sound will perform just as well if not better.

Not true at all for specific jobs that require high quality sound cards, including amateurish music and music videos. Although, if you don't intend on using a medium to high quality headset with a high quality sound card it is pointless to chunk out money for either.

 

[Cloakedsphere]

Not true at all for specific jobs that require high quality sound cards, including amateurish music and music videos. Although, if you don't intend on using a medium to high quality headset with a high quality sound card it is pointless to chunk out money for either.

Sometimes with cards, they degrade the base and have amps with them as the on boards do not. Louder isn't better. Plugging your headphones directly into the rear I/O ports will give you the best sound. Plugging headphones into the from will give off more white noise because it is picking up the sound of the computer parts.

I watched a video on how it talks about most headphones being below 80 ohms. Which every PC can power... Most high end headphones (anywhere from $100 all the way up to $500) will run less than 80 ohms. You wont need a sound card to power anything bigger.

It is also a very true statement. You are on a gaming forum where we are talking about gaming applications in a gaming tech forum. We are not on MTV's website.