Sound Cards Advice Needed

I am using Sonar Producer X3
 
Presently my sound card is an M-Audio Audiophille 192. I have a new computer with Windows 8.1 but there are no drivers for my card yet available. Some people in the M-Audio forums have posted that they had had success with the Win 7 non-SP1  drivers, I tried this and it doesn't work. Other people there say they have given up and have ditched M-audio cards.
 
I think I need to find another PCI or PCIe card as there as no signs of any Win 8.1 drivers forthcoming from the company at this time. Would someone please help me by advising me of comparable quality cards to the Delta 192. I've tried searching the forums without much success; I did find a few posts from years ago.
 
My music flow is through sample libraries (MIDI) then bounced to audio for mixing. For monitoring I output to KRK VXT 8 Studio Monitors and Shure SRH 940 Headphones. I don't do live recordings with this setup.
 
I have looked at the ESI Juli@ and the E-Mu 0404 PCIe cards. The Juli@ has options of balanced or unbalanced outputs but the E-mu is unbalanced only (my 192 has balanced outputs). I understand that both of these would be compatible with Win 8.1.
 
I'm feeling upset and disappointed I'm faced with having to part with my Audiophille 192 and to having to finance a new card at this time. Waiting for M-audio is not an option so I'd be really grateful if anyone can advise me on the above cards or suggest others to look at; I am definately looking at internal PCIe and not Firewire or USB.
 
Thanks for any help.

Few PCi cards are available.  One guy I know made good music on a Julie 5 years ago.  In the box stuff.  If you want to do acoustic recording or even vo, an interface is the way to go, tho.
 
 

I'm using the same soundcard as you, the M-Audio Audiophile 192. Using Windows 8.1 and the latest 64 bit Windows 7 SP 1 drivers from the M-Audio site. Have never had a problem (see my computer specs below). And have been using Windows 8 since it was beta. I think I had to uninstall/reinstall the drivers when I installed Windows 8.1. You might try that. Other than that I don't know what the problem might be. Have tried other USB soundcards/audio interface but don't like them. Can't ever seem to get enough volume from them. Plus, don't see that the specs are any better than what I've got. Good luck.
 
Oh, I also have the original M-Audio USB MobilePre on another computer, using Windows 8.1 and have no problems with it either. 

check into RME, I've been using RME Babyface  for a couple of years now, highly recommend it.  I'm running windows 8.1, no problems at all.

Well, Metelus, AT, SanderxPander, chasmcg, Mudgel, bz2838 and Bitflipper,  thank you so much for your replies, your advice was invaluable.
 
I was swayed by the level of advice to consider a USB Audio interface and the high praise for the Focusrite products. The result is a great-looking Focusrite Scarlet 2i4 now sitting on my desk.
 
I have to say, this is outstanding. Believe me when I say that when I listened to some of my Christmas tracks I actually heard things I'd not heard with my Audiophille 192 and the whole spectrum was clearer. The Audiophille 192 was a great card but I'd been using old drivers as a work-around not designed for my previous Windows 8 as there aren't any available.
 
Anyway, this is a revelation, I never thought I'd see the day when I'd take out my 192 to replace it with an external solution .. but I'm glad I did and it's thanks to all you folk .. you're tops.

+1... Years ago I was in the same boat and went down kicking and screaming not listening to the advice from this forum. Once you hear it for yourself, you "get it."
 
At least I know you won't come back at me and say "Man... Focusrite... what a piece of crap."