Choosing your Sound Card

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If you are purchasing a motherboard that includes audio output you will not need a sound card. However, if its not supported by your motherboard, and you want sound output, you will need a sound card.

There are many different sound cards to choose from. Most all sound cards will use either a PCI or PCI Express interface to the motherboard. So make sure your sound card matches your motherboard.

Most sound cards will output 5-channel audio for surround sound. Some of the more high-end sound cards will output to fiber optic wire that can be sent directly into a surround sound system.