I have a msi 680i board with onboard Creative audio hooked up to a Harmon Kardon AV reciecer going into 2 channels to a set of 8 inch Cerwin Vegas floorstanding speakers and I must say the sound is simply superb...On board sounds thin and tinny after listening to this, also the creative software samples out mp3 hiss and noise. I wouldnt have a rig without dedicated audio