Surround sound gaming (eax and similar) in bootcamp/Win7 on iMac (late 2012)

[Mac32]

Hi!

Still waiting on my iMac, and I can't wait to play games like Far Cry 3, Crysis and Alan Wake. I remember some years ago I used sound cards with surround sound engines. What is the state of surround sound in gaming today? Is it possible to have surround sound when gaming on my iMac (late 2012 model)?
Is there any external usb sound card that can produce HQ 4-channel surround sound (with reverb effects, occlusion effects etc..)?

Might as well go for great sound to go with my great iMac (whenever it'll arrive)..
Anyone? Thanks!

 

[Mac32]

Anyone?

I would like to run 4.1 sound (2 stereo pairs: front and rear and subwoofer).

Would this soundcard work? It supports EAX through software (win7), but would this impact gaming performance, and would I get the complete EAX 5.0HD effect?
http://us.store.creative.com/Creative-Sound-Blaster-XFi-Surround-5.1/M/B0044DEDCA.htm


This one supports EAX 5.0HD, but is only stereo:
http://en.store.creative.com/sound-blaster/sound-blaster-x-fi-go-pro/1-20056.aspx

 

[forty2j]

You can already get Dolby 7.1 from the mini optical port or the USB port of the iMac. Don't know why you'd consider external sound cards.

 

[Mac32]

You can already get Dolby 7.1 from the mini optical port or the USB port of the iMac. Don't know why you'd consider external sound cards.

This is specifically for surround sound in games (with added EAX effects). I've been out of the PC gaming world for 6-7 years, so my knowledge of sound cards is a bit rusty...

Anyway, I need an external soundcard to hook up my 4.1 PC speaker system for gaming. I think I'm gonna go for this one: AFAIK this is the only alternative available: http://us.store.creative.com/Creativ...B0044DEDCA.htm

 

[forty2j]

This is specifically for surround sound in games (with added EAX effects). I've been out of the PC gaming world for 6-7 years, so my knowledge of sound cards is a bit rusty...

Anyway, I need an external soundcard to hook up my 4.1 PC speaker system for gaming. I think I'm gonna go for this one: AFAIK this is the only alternative available: http://us.store.creative.com/Creativ...B0044DEDCA.htm

For the iMac you just need surround headphones or speakers w/ a receiver. You don't need a new sound processor. Can't help you with the pc

 

[Mac32]

Surround headphones? I didn't know about that. Is there a particularly good model worth recommending? Thanks!

 

[forty2j]

Surround headphones? I didn't know about that. Is there a particularly good model worth recommending? Thanks!

People get pretty religious about their headphone brands. I'm a Turtle Beach guy - e.g. http://www.turtlebeach.com/product-detail/ps3-headsets/ear-force-dpx21/49. Others might have a recommendation from their own favorite brand.

 

[Mac32]

Nice, I used to have a Turtle Beach sound card some years ago.. I will look into this. Thanks!