Sound Quality- Software or Hardware driven?

[EndofSanity]

Hi, i've always used onboard sound so i dont know how much it helps. Any Thoughts? I know it will help if you got better speakers, I use 2.1 Creative sound system but getting ready to upgarde to 5.1 suround system

 

[efd753]

sound quality is hardwise. better sound card and better speakers will give better. onboard audio is cheap audio and does not compare to a good pci audio card. You neeed better speakers too. good speakers that make a difference start in the 100s

 

[003]

With cheap speakers, hardware sound may actually sound worse than software audio because it will make the speakers pop and crackle because they are being sent audio frequencies that they can not produce. I recommend a Sound BLaster X-fi XtremeMusic sound card, and these speakers:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16836121121
That should set you in the right direction.