I would just like to know the opinion of hardware experts out here which is the preferred option.

I have an ASUS A7N8X-E motherboard with on-board NVIDIA sound and ethernet LAN. I am currently using the generic intel (i810-audio) audio and (sk98lin) ethernet modules loaded from the kernel.

What are the advantages (if any) of using the proprietary nvsound and nvnet modules?

Thanks.

Basically, that they work with Cards that the kernel does not fully support and that they, arguably, offer better performance.

For example, an NVidia 3d card will tend to run very slowly unless you get the offical nvidia modules. Or indeed may not work properly at all, if it's very modern.

But I don't see the point in changing unless something is now working or you have a performance issue.

So the record i use the nvidia graphics module for an AGP card, but couldn't get my onboard nvidida sound working, so i use an old yamaha sound card, which sounds good....

i do believe nvsound is based on i810_audio ( IIRC...don't quote me on that). I've never been able to tell the difference myself on my nforce audio between the two drivers.