Unlike with graphics cards, where there is a wide variety of cards and standards, most of us are happy to put up with the built-in sound that came with our computer when we bought it.

The standard sound that comes with the computer is adequate for most people, even when it comes to playing games or watching DVDs in surround sound. Creative's mission is to convince us that it isn't, which is where its Audigy line of high-end sound cards comes in.

With this PC Card, Creative is attempting to bring to notebooks the quality of audio available to desktop users of its Audigy 2 sound cards.

It's certainly a good sound card. Plugging it in to our test notebook saw a noticeable improvement in quality over the built-in sound system. Installation was painless, too - it's just a case of installing the drivers and plugging in the card.

It does remove access to the original sound card, however, so you won't hear anything from your notebook's speakers, if it has any.

In addition to the surround-sound output through the supplied cable, the card also has standard inputs and output sockets, which double as optical sockets.

Contact:
Creative 0800 376 7954
uk.europe.creative.com