Soundcards & your thoughts....

[Smilodon111]

Hey guys...

i was wondering what you thoughts on getting a X-Fi card is? i remember with vista there was serious issues with creative but do you think win7 is the same? the reason im asking is that my Supreme Fx is software emulated & doesnt have a physical X-Fi chip which is evident in the games im playing...the sound is good but in if there are a lot of channels (usually 64 or more) the sound cuts off / gets flat etc..

i was first thinking a a xonar which is a fantastic card but the lack of EAX puts me off - my current sound is the logitech Z2300 and the are awesome but are only 2.1 so the extra features of dolby (xonar) isnt gonna help me...most of the X-Fi cards are THX certified which is gonna be awesome cuz my speakers are aswell....

also, i know S.A is having problems with creative shippings but i say sybaritic selling X-FI cards for a reasonable price.

anyway, thanx in advance & all the best...

[StarBound]

I wont touch a Creative card anymore. They claim they cant let EAX work in vista, next someone creates user drivers, then they sue the creator, then they charge for the drivers.

Xonar does support EAX5/EAX HD btw. It is called GX.

[Smilodon111]

I wont touch a Creative card anymore. They claim they cant let EAX work in vista, next someone creates user drivers, then they sue the creator, then they charge for the drivers.

Xonar does support EAX5/EAX HD btw. It is called GX.

oh - hey i learn something everyday

i remember those drivers - daniel_k or something? i used them on my old soundblaster value & it was a kind of 50/50 thing - sumtimes it works, other times BSOD..

on your opinion StarBound - hows ur card? pro / cons...

[StarBound]

Pro
- great sound with great speakers
- analog out, optical out
Cons
- Driver support is slow
- Needs floppy power connector

The card manages to do 7.1 on a 5.1 system. It can do 8 channel sound on 2 speakers but I have surround so wont even try it. The card is good, the windows 7 drivers are now at an acceptable level of working condition. But if it is worth R800 is up to you. I dont really hear a difference between 44, 48 and 96.

[Smilodon111]

thanx for the help StarBound - i think itll be a good investment - what about the xonar xense (i think its called) - what makes it so special?

[StarBound]

I have a Xonar DX. Cant comment on other models. Just make sure you get the one you need.

[Smilodon111]

well after reading reviews on your model it seems its a very good card...do you think id hear a difference going from the supreme Fx to this card?

[StarBound]

I could hear a difference between my x-fi music edition and this card. My game is always World of Warcraft and what is important is how sounds goes around my character. Same with first person games. I need to be able to point out if someone is coming around a corner

It is a worthy card if you focus is heavy on sound. If your all about graphics then onboard will do for anyone. For me back when doom 3 was the game to have my game ran very slow but I had a great sound card and got a much much better experience from the sound than the visuals.

[Smilodon111]

well then i'll take ur word on that thanx StarBound...looks like i know what christmass is getting me lol

[andrekruger]

yeah, i have heard a lot of people complaining about Creative's attitude toward their product(s), and thus far, only good news precedes the Asus Xonar, especiallly when the bundle in a good set of headphones along with the card.

[Smilodon111]

yeah, i have heard a lot of people complaining about Creative's attitude toward their product(s), and thus far, only good news precedes the Asus Xonar, especiallly when the bundle in a good set of headphones along with the card.

yup - creative seemed to go underwater i was thinking of the xonar xense but i wonder if its that good to justify it's price

[andrekruger]

i would, and i think i am going to, i just gotta find that article about the Xonar, it will definitley make your decision a no-brainer.

[StarBound]

Isnt the xense a 2.1 card?

[andrekruger]

if i remember correctly, it is a 5.1, and i think it's big brother is 7.1

[Smilodon111]

now im confused on which one to get lol my razer headset isnt doing to well anymore so maybe i should go with the xense? the price is uber high though.....

looks like everyones getting chappies for christmass this year after i buy this card lol

[andrekruger]

yeah, i found that article, it is the Asus Xonar Xense (was a printed article though)

but here is something similar... looks really worth it

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/soundc ... e-review/1

[andrekruger]

oh, and just to mix it up a bit, Smiley, read this......

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/periph ... -headset/1