He bought the CREATIVE sound card along with the sound panel, which should probably increase my sound quality. The panel has three different settings for audio output: Entertainment, Audio Creation, and Gaming. There's even an EQ with different genre settings (Jazz, Classical, Rock, etc.) and -- wait for it -- EAX Effects! I can have settings for an amphitheater, jazz club, hallway, and a few others. It's a lot of fun to toy around with, and I recommend looking into it.
On a lesser note, it came with the F.E.A.R. demo. If you love getting the bejesus scared out of you while going on a one-man battle against an entire platoon of genetically enhanced soldiers, be my guest. But that game just isn't for me.