PCS-Electronics

I normally use a laptop for handling my music but would like to give the laptop a rest. I have several extra servers sitting around that use on the board sound cards, the sound from these computers is/are very noisy...

Can anyone recommend a sound card that has a good S/N ratio that would be suitable for broadcasting?

I suspect external USB cards are better. What are you feeding with your sound card?
If its a transmitter, make sure it has balanced inputs. This is a typical application where
balanced inputs make a big difference. Grounds loops pick up lots of noise.

There are some passive (transformer) bal/unbal audio converters available at radio shack,
but not cheap.

There are some passive (transformer) bal/unbal audio converters available at radio shack, but not cheap.

Good point, using balanced inputs had slipped my mind as hadn't been doing that while using my laptop...

Yes, I have balanced inputs on the transmitter and I think I have balanced inputs on the mixing board as well. I will have to check...

If so, will try the an audio converter from radio shack.

Thanks..

Well, if a laptop isn't conneted to mains you probably don't have ground loops,
but for all other cases and desktop pc especially it makes a difference.

Well, if a laptop isn't conneted to mains

It is connected to mains most of the time.