PC Gamers please advise me...FRUSTRATED!!! HELP!!!!!!!

I recently purchased a new mboard (Asus crosshair formula z) and realized that the audio jack is defective? THere is no sound in my left channel.

I was then going to plug in my trusty 8 year old sound card - THE AUDIGY 2 ZS MUAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAAHA.......MAUAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHA.

I pick up my old sound card thinking, "onboard audio lol."

As I open my case and attempt to fit my sound card it dawns on me - THIS BOARD HAS NO PCI SLOTS - NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!

Now I am in a very frustrating position:

Should I buy an Asus Xonar x1 PCI-E sound card?

Should I attempt to fix my onboard audio? Left channel isnt working :(

Are pci slots outdated now? Do the best motherboards have them?

If the audio jack is defective take it back. You payed for a working product and it doesn't work. Now I all ways recommend a sound card it does make a difference but no need to hold onto a board that's busted if you can get one shipped too you that works for free. If you ordered it set up an RMA with your issue they should send you a new one as defective boards happen all the time.

You should RMA your motherboard. If you don't wanna, get a PCI-E sound card, they improved a notch since Audigy 2 ZS. PCI slots are still featured on new mobos, mine has 2 I think. I have 2 PCI-E x1 slots, but they are right below the PCI-E x16, so practically useless. If I were to buy a sound card it would have to be PCI.

RMA

Do you really plan to have a 3-way SLI gaming PC?

Return/RMA the motherboard, absolutely.

I would RMA, but that is me.

Highlighting or whatever you changed makes it unreadable.

How about sending your MOBO back since you have a warranty and get a brand new one?

RMA it and get a new one. You paid for a high-end mobo and you can't accept faulty components.

If you're too lazy for the hassle, buy the Asus Xonar DGX, it's like 20 bucks and works like an expensive one.

I have the DG 5.1, same as the DGX but for PCI slot, i was like, meh, good ol' trusty pci will be forever on mobos, but seems like they started moving on for pci-e..

If you can't get it replaced for whatever reason get a Xonar DGX, dirt cheap anyway.

You've probably already done this, but before you RMA you check/try a different audio cable. I've had similar problems before that were solved by reseating the cables or using a different one.