You NEED an audio interface with instrument level inputs. Sure you can fudge something together with adapter cables and messing with input levels but you will never get a strong clean signal to your computer without something in between the guitar and the sound card. A DI box would work but you'd still be resorting to some half baked or more likely cracked software to get any decent sounds. Go out and buy yourself a Line 6 Toneport. Any of the models will do. The [[url=http://[/URL]="http://line6.com/po…"]cheapest version[/]="http://line6.com/po…"]cheapest version[/] will be multitudes better than your average or even top end gaming card. Why? Because, gaming cards are designed for gaming. Recording interfaces are designed for recording. The Toneports come with amp emulation software and at least a lite version of Ableton's Live. For another $60 you can buy Reaper and have a full on DAW. Get a decent set of headphones at the least. At best you'll go looking for entry level monitors.