PCI or USB soundcard?

Hello,
 
I'm thinking of going back to using a desktop (see my post "Cores vs GHz.")
 
My main reason is to minimise latency when recording the playing of VST's synths, and because my Dell laptop (Vista Home, T8100 Core Duo , 4gig RAM) fan randomly  interrupts performance in various ways, and oh yes, a new one -  my new Novation Remote 25SL Compact  randomly makes Sonar 8.5 play recorded VST's at half speed when I tweak in real time!
 
Anyway,  my question - Will using a PCI slot sound card like a M-Audio 24/96 give lower latency than using my USB Edirol UA-1EX?
 
I guessing it might be a factor, as my old Win XP Pentium PC desktop (with Terratec DMX Fire 24/96 PCI card) can achieve "zero" (imo) latency with max 2 VST's loaded, but can't even open one instance of Dimension Pro.
 
BTW I'm thinking of getting one of these - "Intel i5 Project Music PC"
http://www.inta-audio.com/pc-builder/select_base
 
Thanks in advance.

The sound card is a device for the computer to process audio signals in and out. Typically, a computer expansion card built for this purpose is the mechanism responsible for aids that are available in a variety of audio-visual software, including games, music mixing, video editing and so on.

Since you already have the USB interface..... get or build the desktop box and load up the software. Then install the USB interface you are using now. See if there is a difference.

I built a new i5 Intell based machine. I keep it off the net totally. (I connected only to authorize the software) I run NO AV software on it and it's strictly a DAW.

I connected the same interface I used previously on my Dell laptop. The interface worked fine, the latency is very low, and I can run multiple instances of synths and FX with out so much as a hiccup from the DAW. The old lappy would strain to run half the FX & VST's with CPU numbers in the "drop-out" range. The new i5 with 4g memory runs twice to three times as many live synths and FX at less then 1/3 the CPU numbers.... it's rare to see numbers above 20% unless I'm really forcing it to run a bunch of live stuff. I normally render them to audio and freeze or remove the synths..... which puts my numbers under 10% usually.

I think the highest number I ever saw on the new DAW was about 36%. I loaded 3 or 4 kontakts, EWQL, and I had Ozone in every track and a few other things like melodyne to suck up CPU's.... just to see if I could make it choke.... it ran smooth as glass. I'm well pleased with it.

Try your existing interface first... before you buy a PCI card.... you might be pleasantly surprised at what the i5 will do on XP with 4 gig.

I have not heard good things about USB sound card to be honest. There have been many rumors and complaints about the cards / USB interfaces and performance lag for real time application.
As a recording device, they are nice, but I think you'll be pushing water uphill with a fork request for a real-time performance.

Anyway, my question - Will using a PCI slot sound card like a M-Audio 24/96 give lower latency than using my USB Edirol UA-1EX?

 
Most PCI audio interfaces deliver low round-trip latency
 
Only a select few USB audio interfaces deliver low round-trip latency (FastTrack Ultra, FastTrack Ultra 8R,  Fireface UC, and Fireface UFX).
The above M-Audio and RME units yield ~5.5ms round-trip latency at a 64-sample ASIO buffer size/44.1k.
All other USB units yield higher round-trip latency.  Most yield 12-18ms round-trip latency at those same settings.
 
If you go USB (or Firewire)... and want the lowest possible round-trip latency... your choice is critical.
 

What's a good reasonably priced upgrade to the Delta 66 PCI card? I'm interested in as low a latency as possible and hopefully a PCIe card with good support and stable drivers.

 
The proven rock-solid PCIe audio interfaces start at ~$900+

• MOTU 424 PCIe
• RME PCIe controller card (Multiface-II/Digiface)

 
Firewire and USB units have taken over much of the $350-$800 range.  All of these units offer low round-trip latency. 

• Steinberg MR816
• M-Audio FastTrack Ultra 8R
• RME Fireface UC/UFX/400/800

 
Firewire units that have slightly higher (but not high) round-trip latency (along with good fidelity/features), you could also add:

• M-Audio ProFire 2626
• MOTU mkIII Firewire units