Should my new soundcard change the 0 dB reference level?

[pchorman]

Hi: I'm struggling to understand why my new Audiophile 2496 lets me push signals way past the 0dB level without clipping, according to the Cool Edit VU meter. I'm using the same bit depth as before (when I used a stock SB card), although this shouldn't matter.

Can anyone kindly offer some insight as to what's happening, and how I can reestablish the correct 0 dB clipping level with my recording s/w?

thanks