Entry Level X-Fi Sound Cards available. Xtreme Audio and Xtreme Gamer versions. (Review Added!)

[Jumpem]

Originally posted by: formulav8
Sorry, I completely forgot about this thread. The review link was added. It appears these cards really are based on the X-Fi processing chips.

The have the 24 Bit Crystalizer, 3x Processing Modes, ect... They appear to be my xTremeMusic without the Optical output, Gold plating, and Software bundle.

I would definitely have given one of these a try if I didn't already have my X-Fi. So it does look like these Entry-Level cards are the real deal!

If someone has bought one of these, post your results


Jason

The board pictured in the review is one of the more expensive cards, not these new cheap ones.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: formulav8
Edit: Thanks to 'grtmoby' for the link to the review. Review to the Gamer version

Looks to be real Entry-Level cards based on the X-Fi processors. They are very similar to my xTremeMusic but without the gold plating, digital out, and software bundle. If you can do without that stuff, then these could be the right cards for you.


Jason

That looks like a review for the original Fatal1ty.

The card pictured looks like an XtremeMusic and he mentions the drive bay (so I assume it's the Platinum or Fatal1ty he's using) in the review.

The review also seems terrible. He talks about unintstalling his old drivers? Describes his speakers as "a good speaker system - 5.1 surround speakers" etc.

 

[Minjin]

Am I correct in saying that if you only use digital out, that there is no gain to be seen from an expensive sound card?

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Minjin
Am I correct in saying that if you only use digital out, that there is no gain to be seen from an expensive sound card?

Depends on how you use it.

If you just use it to pass DD/DTS streams from pre-encoded material or pass unaltered PCM stereo streams for music, then a Chaintech AV-710 should be plenty.

Potentially if you game on a 2.0/2.1 system, an X-Fi with digital out could get you some EAX effects for gaming... if you like the 24-bit crystallizer then potentially you could get some gains too.

If you want to game in 5.1 with a digital connection, the creative cards are not what you should get, as you should be looking at the DDL / DTS encoding cards.

While I'm at it

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=30&threadid=1940133&enterthread=y

 

[imaheadcase]

The heatsink is added to the cards for mass manufacturing, to keep up with demand they started to add them so they did not have to worry about to much quality control on x-fi heat.

No diffrence between them other than that.

 

[vailr]

http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=203138685
Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio $63.99
Shipping & Handling : $0.00
Google Checkout Bonus - $10 off orders over $30 from this store. -$10.00
Total: $53.99

 

[Googer]

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=40&threadid=1950943&enterthread=y

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Googer
http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=40&threadid=1950943&enterthread=y

The OP to that thread linked right above your post

 

[rvr2k3]

I have an old Audigy2 ZS Platinum 5.25 Drive Bay breakout box. Can this be used with the extreme audio version?

Does anyone have the Logitech Z5500 speakers hooked into the Xtreme audio? I want to have it digitally hooked up and I know the Audigy2 was a pain to get 5.1 with the Logitechs.

 

[santz]

xfi xtreme audio does not have EAX at all.
xfi xtreme music does have EAX 5.0

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: rvr2k3
I have an old Audigy2 ZS Platinum 5.25 Drive Bay breakout box. Can this be used with the extreme audio version?

Does anyone have the Logitech Z5500 speakers hooked into the Xtreme audio? I want to have it digitally hooked up and I know the Audigy2 was a pain to get 5.1 with the Logitechs.

At least with the original X-Fi cards, the audigy front drive bays were not compatable. I would say the chances are extremely slim that it would be compatable with these cards.

You probably don't really want to have them hooked up digitally
http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=30&threadid=1940133&enterthread=y

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Originally posted by: rvr2k3
I have an old Audigy2 ZS Platinum 5.25 Drive Bay breakout box. Can this be used with the extreme audio version?

Does anyone have the Logitech Z5500 speakers hooked into the Xtreme audio? I want to have it digitally hooked up and I know the Audigy2 was a pain to get 5.1 with the Logitechs.

At least with the original X-Fi cards, the audigy front drive bays were not compatable. I would say the chances are extremely slim that it would be compatable with these cards.

You probably don't really want to have them hooked up digitally
http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=30&threadid=1940133&enterthread=y

That thread is proving its usefulness!

Hey jello...just above you said that the Xfi cards from Creative might be worth getting for gaming EAX effects on a digital connection. It is my understanding that EAX effects do not get applied to the digital connection...only the analog one.

 

[cremefilled]

xfi xtreme audio does not have EAX at all.

Say what? Where are you getting that information?

 

[Navid]

Originally posted by: cremefilled

xfi xtreme audio does not have EAX at all.

Say what? Where are you getting that information?

There is some discussion here in this thread.
http://forums.creative.com/creativelabs...id=78388&view=by_date_ascending&page=1

You can also look at the feature list here and see that it does not include EAX.
http://www.creative.com/products/produc...gory=209&subcategory=669&product=15855

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: PurdueRy

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Originally posted by: rvr2k3
I have an old Audigy2 ZS Platinum 5.25 Drive Bay breakout box. Can this be used with the extreme audio version?

Does anyone have the Logitech Z5500 speakers hooked into the Xtreme audio? I want to have it digitally hooked up and I know the Audigy2 was a pain to get 5.1 with the Logitechs.

At least with the original X-Fi cards, the audigy front drive bays were not compatable. I would say the chances are extremely slim that it would be compatable with these cards.

You probably don't really want to have them hooked up digitally
http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=30&threadid=1940133&enterthread=y

That thread is proving its usefulness!

Hey jello...just above you said that the Xfi cards from Creative might be worth getting for gaming EAX effects on a digital connection. It is my understanding that EAX effects do not get applied to the digital connection...only the analog one.

I think I managed to confuse myself

 

[cremefilled]

Wow, reading the Creative forum thread makes me remember just how !@#$ed up Creative is.

It's ridiculous that these issues should be so murky.

 

[Auric]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Originally posted by: PurdueRy

That thread is proving its usefulness!

Hey jello...just above you said that the Xfi cards from Creative might be worth getting for gaming EAX effects on a digital connection. It is my understanding that EAX effects do not get applied to the digital connection...only the analog one.

I think I managed to confuse myself

No, they are applied. PCM is simply uncompressed 2ch so can still incorporate matrixing for mock surround effects just as analog can -whether that is Dolby schtuff, for instance, or D3SD & OpenAL (with or without EAX). Indeed, X-Fi significantly enhances 2ch content with HRTF enhancements including specific elevation and proximity filters.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

This would be easier for me to remember if I had one :laugh:

 

[aimanzym]

Originally posted by: bjamm2
extreme gamer, better or worse than the audigy 4 pro?

it's better than audigy 4 pro. since the chip on x-fi has been changed. thx OP

 

[rvr2k3]

OK, so my Audigy 2 drive bay will be incompatible . I have an NF4 which is well documented to have issues with the x-fi. So basically if I get one, it will be for my other PC which is running a AsRock Mobo.

BTW, which is better the Extreme Gamer or the Extreme Music? I am leaning toward the Extreme Music since it seems to have more bells and whistles. I do want to use this card for gaming. Is it better to get the gamer since it is hardware accelerated? Any suggestions?

 

[Auric]

Originally posted by: rvr2k3
BTW, which is better the Extreme Gamer or the Extreme Music? I am leaning toward the Extreme Music since it seems to have more bells and whistles. I do want to use this card for gaming. Is it better to get the gamer since it is hardware accelerated? Any suggestions?

Once again.

 

[hytek369]

Originally posted by: cruzer
Smart move by Creative to release these, but a bit too late maybe? The original X-Fi price has been dropping steadily for months.

yep, i got my fata1ty for $180

 

[rvr2k3]

Originally posted by: Auric

Originally posted by: rvr2k3
BTW, which is better the Extreme Gamer or the Extreme Music? I am leaning toward the Extreme Music since it seems to have more bells and whistles. I do want to use this card for gaming. Is it better to get the gamer since it is hardware accelerated? Any suggestions?

Once again.

Still not answering my question. You discuss the different new models, but not in relation to the Extreme Music. It's moot, since I ordered the Extreme Music. If it snap, crackles and pops in my DFI, I will throw it into my AsRock. Thx

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: rvr2k3

Originally posted by: Auric

Originally posted by: rvr2k3
BTW, which is better the Extreme Gamer or the Extreme Music? I am leaning toward the Extreme Music since it seems to have more bells and whistles. I do want to use this card for gaming. Is it better to get the gamer since it is hardware accelerated? Any suggestions?

Once again.

Still not answering my question. You discuss the different new models, but not in relation to the Extreme Music. It's moot, since I ordered the Extreme Music. If it snap, crackles and pops in my DFI, I will throw it into my AsRock. Thx

Sure he did

"In lieu of further info I would rate them "avoid". Best bets are ye olde 2 ZS, 2 Value or XtremeMusic. "

 

[Auric]

Also followed up and essentially would add XtremeGamer (half-size with DSP) to the recommended list of options. So between that and XtremeMusic it comes down to connectivity and price.