Sound card

Onboard sound seems to have stopped on my PC although I am now running a pair of speakers that are plugged into the red socket on the back of the case

Motherboard is a MSI Z97 Gaming 5
https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/Z97-GAMING-5/Specifi...

I tested the surround sound system that was plugged in by plugging my walkman into it and it seems fine

Can anyone recommend a good cheap sound card please?

Thanks Swanster

You sure you're not in the wrong port? Is it actually red or is it pink? If it is pink then that is your mic port. You should be in the green port I believe.

Definitely red. There are none of the normal colours on the back. The speakers were working fine then suddenly decided not to bother.
I was thinking that a cheap sound card might be the easiest option and maybe a better sound than the onboard card ?

I think unless you have specific requirements then sound cards are pretty similar these days. Even the old sound master Creative have cards around £20 now that if you aren't looking for full surround sound should be perfectly capable (probably at least as good as onboard sound).

This has full surround sound even for £25 (probably available cheaper elsewhere).

As an alternative question did you check if you had any windows updates around the time the sound stopped working? It's possible that a windows update might have caused issues with the sound card.

Thanks. Haven't done an update for a while now

Thanks for the suggestion. The speakers are Creative Inspire 5.1 5300 so that card or one similar would be great

I always like creative cards but it is years since I bought a discrete sound card - but cards can be pretty cheap these days - there are even USB options if you didn't want something internal but I suspect you are quite happy with opening the case and chucking a card in

In reply to a post by Lt_Swan:

Thanks. Haven't done an update for a while now

You crack me up Lieutenant...

Oy I thought you were banned