Smoldering: OEM Sound Blaster X-Fi on clearance at Fry's B&M and Frys.com $49.90

[CrackRabbit]

Before anyone asks, yes this is a "real" X-Fi card, it seems to be the Extreme Music model. Part number SB0460.
The "fake" X-Fi Cards are the Extreme Audio model, part number SB0790.

Not burning hot, but a good deal for someone that lives close to a Fry's store.

Since this is clearance, YMMV.

Thank you jlin101 for pointing out the online deal!

 

[jlin101]

just in case you don't live near a Fry...

Text

 

[Spike]

This is perfect for my new build, thanks!

 

[AmberClad]

Question - Why does the XtremeMusic look identical to the Fatal1ty, other than the XRam block? And why does the XtremeGamer look noticeably stripped down compared to the XtremeMusic/Fatal1ty?

I guess the model names have me a bit confused...

 

[CrackRabbit]

Originally posted by: AmberClad
Question - Why does the XtremeMusic look identical to the Fatal1ty, other than the XRam block? And why does the XtremeGamer look noticeably stripped down compared to the XtremeMusic/Fatal1ty?

I guess the model names have me a bit confused...

The Extreme Music and Fatal1ty are an older card design. The Extreme Music doesn't have X-Ram (or less of it I can't remember)
To save money Creative redesigned the Extreme Gamer card with no X-Ram and used a cheaper half height card.
The Extreme Audio is basically an Audigy 2 Value Edition with X-Fi slapped on the box.
Hope that clarifies things a bit.

 

[cyberia]

These are not made-for-Dell card, are they? I think Del versions were crippled in some ways.

 

[Bad Dude]

I got my clearance at Office Depot and the other day I saw one at a different Depot and it was $99.99.
Not worth it.

 

[Stas]

Good price, good product. Don't buy Extreme Audio, buy this instead. Extreme Audio is pretty much a software sound card (same as integrated, just takes up 1 more PCI slot <--- what a deal!).

 

[Mloot]

I can't seem to find a solid answer based on the reviews of the card I've read, so do you guys know if the "Flexijack" can be used to output to headphones? My case does not have front audio ports, so I have to switch plugs on my sound card if I want to use headphones instead of the speakers. Doing this every time at the back of my tower is a pain. My old TBSC let me keep my headphones plugged into its "Versajack" and the speakers plugged into their port, and I could switch between both in the card's software window. If this card can do the same thing, I'll get one for sure.

 

[Quadlazer]

In for 1. Thanks OP.

My first non-onboard audio in 7 years.

 

[ourfpshero]

Originally posted by: Mloot
I can't seem to find a solid answer based on the reviews of the card I've read, so do you guys know if the "Flexijack" can be used to output to headphones? My case does not have front audio ports, so I have to switch plugs on my sound card if I want to use headphones instead of the speakers. Doing this every time at the back of my tower is a pain. My old TBSC let me keep my headphones plugged into its "Versajack" and the speakers plugged into their port, and I could switch between both in the card's software window. If this card can do the same thing, I'll get one for sure.

thats a no. i use a 'y' cable

 

[Netopia]

I have a set of 5.1 surround head phones that I've been using crippled with 2 channel on board audio. Anyone know if this card would simply allow me to plug the three plugs + mic up to the back of this and get 5.1 surround with mic input?

Joe

 

[Netopia]

Well... I hope it works for me, I went ahead and bought it.

Joe

 

[CrackRabbit]

Originally posted by: cyberia
These are not made-for-Dell card, are they? I think Del versions were crippled in some ways.

Got mine installed yesterday evening, as far as I can tell it is a normal X-Fi card not a made for Dell one.
I installed the newest beta drivers from Creative's website and had it up and running in a couple of minutes.
Only things that came in the package (a brown padded envelope) were the card, a driver cd and a couple of stickers, one to put on the card and the other for your case.

 

[AmberClad]

What sort of stickers? Case badges? I/O panel labels?

 

[cyberia]

Originally posted by: CrackRabbit

Originally posted by: cyberia
These are not made-for-Dell card, are they? I think Del versions were crippled in some ways.

Got mine installed yesterday evening, as far as I can tell it is a normal X-Fi card not a made for Dell one.
I installed the newest beta drivers from Creative's website and had it up and running in a couple of minutes.
Only things that came in the package (a brown padded envelope) were the card, a driver cd and a couple of stickers, one to put on the card and the other for your case.

Thanks. In my past experience, Creative's retail drivers wouldn't even recognize the Dell card and fail to install.

 

[jiffer]

Pardon me for asking an open-ended question, but what are the implications when an item like this is on clearance? For example, what sort of support can we expect in the future? Is it incompatible with current operating systems? Etc.

 

[EarthwormJim]

Originally posted by: jiffer
Pardon me for asking an open-ended question, but what are the implications when an item like this is on clearance? For example, what sort of support can we expect in the future? Is it incompatible with current operating systems? Etc.

Clearance just means the store that is selling the item wants to get rid of it as quickly as possible. It really doesn't imply much from the manufacturer's end.

 

[dawza]

Originally posted by: Mloot
I can't seem to find a solid answer based on the reviews of the card I've read, so do you guys know if the "Flexijack" can be used to output to headphones? My case does not have front audio ports, so I have to switch plugs on my sound card if I want to use headphones instead of the speakers. Doing this every time at the back of my tower is a pain. My old TBSC let me keep my headphones plugged into its "Versajack" and the speakers plugged into their port, and I could switch between both in the card's software window. If this card can do the same thing, I'll get one for sure.

The flexijack can output to headphones using digital-out if you have an external DAC + Amp. Otherwise, you could always plug in an audio switch to go back and forth between two sources with the push of a button. They go for ~$10-15 online.

 

[Subdude]

Originally posted by: EarthwormJim

Originally posted by: jiffer
Pardon me for asking an open-ended question, but what are the implications when an item like this is on clearance? For example, what sort of support can we expect in the future? Is it incompatible with current operating systems? Etc.

Clearance just means the store that is selling the item wants to get rid of it as quickly as possible. It really doesn't imply much from the manufacturer's end.

While I have not seen anything _specifically_ stating that the item is discontinued, if you look at the creative website (X-Fi XtremeMusic at Creative)
it states "Out of stock (restock date unavailable)". Every single other X-Fi card (other than the notebook one) shows as "In-Stock (available for shipment)".

I wouldn't be too concerned about drivers however, because I believe the XtremeMusic is just a variant of the other "real" X-Fi cards, which should still be continuing. As such, driver compatibility should continue for the foreseeable future.

 

[kmmatney]

Originally posted by: Mloot
I can't seem to find a solid answer based on the reviews of the card I've read, so do you guys know if the "Flexijack" can be used to output to headphones? My case does not have front audio ports, so I have to switch plugs on my sound card if I want to use headphones instead of the speakers. Doing this every time at the back of my tower is a pain. My old TBSC let me keep my headphones plugged into its "Versajack" and the speakers plugged into their port, and I could switch between both in the card's software window. If this card can do the same thing, I'll get one for sure.

My speakers have a headphone jack near the volume control module (which I can place anywhere on my desk). Most computer speakers are designed that way, I think.

 

[chizow]

Originally posted by: Subdude

Originally posted by: EarthwormJim

Originally posted by: jiffer
Pardon me for asking an open-ended question, but what are the implications when an item like this is on clearance? For example, what sort of support can we expect in the future? Is it incompatible with current operating systems? Etc.

Clearance just means the store that is selling the item wants to get rid of it as quickly as possible. It really doesn't imply much from the manufacturer's end.

While I have not seen anything _specifically_ stating that the item is discontinued, if you look at the creative website (X-Fi XtremeMusic at Creative)
it states "Out of stock (restock date unavailable)". Every single other X-Fi card (other than the notebook one) shows as "In-Stock (available for shipment)".

I wouldn't be too concerned about drivers however, because I believe the XtremeMusic is just a variant of the other "real" X-Fi cards, which should still be continuing. As such, driver compatibility should continue for the foreseeable future.

Yep, these should be supported as long as the rest of the EMU20k1 cards are supported. They're probably clearancing these because the XtremeGamer fills the same niche and cost less to make.

From what I've seen and read, this card is the same as the Platinum X-Fi, it just doesn't have the bay drive. The Platinum has also been discontinued. And yes, the only difference is the lack of useless X-RAM and the glowy red F compared to the Fatal1ty cards. The Elite Pro has a better DAC, but the rest of the EMU20k1 cards have the same DAC, ADC, and op amps.

Very nice price and well worth it, especially for gamers. People love to hate on Creative and their drivers can certainly be a PITA sometimes, but there's simply nothing else out there that comes close when it comes to PC gaming sound.

 

[dud89]

Anyone knows if this card has pins for a front audio cable? I have a Audigy 2 ZS and that's the only problem I have with it.

 

[aussiestilgar]

Is a card like this worth getting for a 2.1 speaker setup? (Logitech X-230)

 

[Mloot]

Thanks for all the suggestions, guys. Unfortunately, my cheap 2.1 speakers don't have a headphone jack on them. I knew I shouldn't have given away my trusty TBSC. I'll just have to pick up another cheap one off Ebay or something.