Sound Blaster X-Fi Fatal1ty Sound Card $199

[NewBozo]

I had the chance to try this card out at Quakecon last weekend. They had 2 different demo booths that held 8 people each. One was for movies and audio, the other for gaming. They would play how it sounds without the x-Fi features on, then turn on the features. The sound was pumped thru Sennheiser headphones. For an audiophile it's probably not worth it for reasons previously stated, but I want one for gaming. The positional audio was very impressive. Better than anything I've heard before. I like to game with headphones so I can hear everything better and these would really help me out (for FPS of course). Too bad I can't afford to fork out the $$$ for one....Oh well, maybe OEM will be cheap enough for me to pick one up.

....newbozo

 

[gimpsoft]

Creative X-Fi Fatality FPS
Review @ http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=25423

looks good so far

 

[PDS]

My question on the Audigy4 will be THE DRIVERS.

The Audigy2 roll-out sucked because the drivers were TERRIBLE. Failing to install on certain machines and SLOW GAME PERFORMANCE.

Then it took them a year or more to iron it all out.

Overall great hardware, but poor software support/implementation.

PDS

 

[touchmyichi]

Originally posted by: Fox5

Originally posted by: VooDooAddict

Originally posted by: gi0rgi0
Onboard sound sucks. Exception would be the soundstorm on the nf7-s. But other than that theres no comparison.

Problem with the soundsstorms were motherboard makers didn't isolate it well enough ... there was lots of added noise.

I really noticed the differance after comparing my THX Klipsch 4.1's on both a Audigy 19 and an NF2 Soundstorm with the volume up over 50% ... same music track. (Tried the mp3 first ... then dug out my original CD)

True a soundstorm probably wouldn't have the noise problem with an optical out...

As long as my speakers sound better with an addon board I'll keep buying them for my main rig.

Soundstorm wasn't very much at all if you weren't using the digital out, the analog out and performance was completely dependent on the hardware the motherboard maker added, I think asus was about the only one to have decent analog out.

yes, and i miss it

 

[IEC]

Originally posted by: ChaoZ
Hope they lower the prices of Audidy 2s because of this.

Same here

 

[ryox03]

I read a review, maybe it was here, that basically said that it was more than just hype and that it actually did have an improvement over the audigy 2. Much more noticable than the audigy 1 to audigy 2. Even stated that when fireing up mp3s that the difference in sound quality was immediatly noticable. Also had some graphs and stuff too. I'm pretty sure I read that here, im at work so im kinda confused right now lol

 

[Ranulf]

Originally posted by: Fox5

Originally posted by: VooDooAddict

Originally posted by: gi0rgi0
Onboard sound sucks. Exception would be the soundstorm on the nf7-s. But other than that theres no comparison.

Problem with the soundsstorms were motherboard makers didn't isolate it well enough ... there was lots of added noise.

I really noticed the differance after comparing my THX Klipsch 4.1's on both a Audigy 19 and an NF2 Soundstorm with the volume up over 50% ... same music track. (Tried the mp3 first ... then dug out my original CD)

True a soundstorm probably wouldn't have the noise problem with an optical out...

As long as my speakers sound better with an addon board I'll keep buying them for my main rig.

Soundstorm wasn't very much at all if you weren't using the digital out, the analog out and performance was completely dependent on the hardware the motherboard maker added, I think asus was about the only one to have decent analog out.

I can testify to that. The optical out on my abit nforce2 NF7s (1.1 rev.) does quite well. Though I have to use a PCM to toslink optical converter (yay radio shack) to get the signal to my older Cambridge/Creative 5.1 speaker setup (anyone know of a decent 5.1 speaker or more set that has optical and PCM/coax inputs?).

However, the analog aka what I hook up my headphones too is rather bad with major static/hiss hearable.

 

[Treyshadow]

After listening to an X-Fi sound card for the last weekend at Quakecon, I can finally give some validation to the X-Fi sound card.

Being an audiophile type I took my HD-580's into the booth and listened to their demos on the X-Fi using my own headphones rather than the HD280 Pros they had there.

It is IMHO that this sound card is excellent and easily better than any onboard sound currently available. That includes the Via Vinyl 7.1 and the Creative 24-bit on the Neo4 SLI Platinum.

The new version of CMSS is excellent and for headphone specific users this is the killer feature of the new card. They say it offloads the sound onto the card specifically because it has its on processor and memory, but that doesn't seem to matter much on a newer system. The biggest advantage of the new X-Fi was specifically for headphone use. A few people left quakecon with these. I just don't think the spatial differences created by the X-Fi will be as spectacular in 5.1 or 7.1 as it is with headphones. If it is, it will only be on the highest end systems. There will be very little difference when using computer speakers in 5.1 to include the logitechs, the Rocket Tykes, the Klipsch in any form. The only difference will be the better transitional sounds from speaker to speaker. This is much better with the X-fi as compared to the Audigy 2 ZS, but it isn't as ground breaking as their new headphone technology.

Now don't get me wrong. This sound card was better than the HDA mystique, the Revo 7.1, the audiotrak prodigy and the like "IN GAMING", but it wasn't as much of a leap in 5.1/7.1 as it was in headphone use. If you are a gamer that uses headphones often or attend lots of lan parties, this is a sick sound card for your next setup.

 

[blurredvision]

Is this deal still alive? Can't get to the card via the OP's link. I've got a bit of extra money, and I've been looking heavily at these X-Fi card for a while. I've told myself if I'm going to get one, I'd like to have the Fatality card since I'll plan on keeping it for years and years. Why not spend the little extra money now for the future?

If I can get the Fatality for $200, I'm on it like white on rice. Thanks guys for any input.

 

[jbkane26]

sorry deal ended on august 14

 

[XNice]

i just picked up this card for 129.99 at best buy in king of prussia in pa..... did i miss something, is there a value version out? i will take pics if needed.


edit:: it is an Xtreme Music Edition version.

 

[cheapherk]

Did they have any other versions?

 

[XNice]

no, but after further research i fopund out that the xtreme music wills ell for 129.99 retail... so cool i guess. all the other versions come with the front panel.

 

[Skiguy411]

So....is it safe to assume our preorders will ship out tomorrow? What is the countdown on creatives website refering to? I sure hope that isnt related to the release of the X-RAM versions.

 

[wildcat86]

So whats the difference between the Xtreme Music, Platinum, and Fatal1ty other than the front panel and remote in the platinum and fatal1ty

 

[darkswordsman17]

Originally posted by: wildcat86
So whats the difference between the Xtreme Music, Platinum, and Fatal1ty other than the front panel and remote in the platinum and fatal1ty

The Xtreme Music is the base model. Its just the card and minor accessories. The Platinum has the 5.25 panel and remote. The Fatality has 64MB of RAM, along with the other stuff the Platinum has (I don't know if it has anything more than the Platinum than that or not). The top of the line one (can't recall the model name) has the extra memory, an external panel, I think some different software, and also it has better DACs (which would theoretically equate to better sound).

 

[XNice]

wait..... the music has no extra ram on board??? im returning mine and waitin on the fatality version....

 

[cheapherk]

My Best Buy had the Extreme Music and the Platinum, but I'm holding out for the Fata1ity too. The Fata1ity and the Elite Pro are the only ones with 64MB of onboard memory.

Originally posted by darkswordsman17 ...The Fatality has 64MB of RAM, along with the other stuff the Platinum has (I don't know if it has anything more than the Platinum than that or not). The top of the line one (can't recall the model name) has the extra memory...

Both the Fata1ity and the Elite Pro have 64MB of memory.
Here's the press release.

 

[tcsenter]

Finally, the XFI will be shipping soon. That means the price on Audigy2 ZS should plummet.

Game with on-board audio = 170fps
Game with Audigy2 ZS = 190fps
Game with X-FI = 200fps
Game with audio disabled - 210fps

Performance increase over Audigy2 ZS = subjectively imperceptible

Watching people waste $200++ to gain a benefit only a computer can discern = priceless

:thumbsup:

 

[hytek369]

i can't find the deal, is it dead?

 

[wildcat86]

for awhile now

 

[XNice]

Originally posted by: tcsenter
Finally, the XFI will be shipping soon. That means the price on Audigy2 ZS should plummet.

Game with on-board audio = 170fps
Game with Audigy2 ZS = 190fps
Game with X-FI = 200fps
Game with audio disabled - 210fps

Performance increase over Audigy2 ZS = subjectively imperceptible

Watching people waste $200++ to gain a benefit only a computer can discern = priceless

:thumbsup:

Its more than getting extra fps in games. I noticed a heavier difference in BF2 than in CS:S source fps wise, but BF2 sounds fvcking sweet using the x-fi sound setting. Listening to music is nice using the 3 diff modes they have. THe crystallization option makes my mp3's sound reallly clear and not just treble clear, but the bass is clear too. I think i will keep this extreme music one. I kinda like it and i have an audigy 1, and 2 zs....

 

[tcsenter]

Its more than getting extra fps in games. I noticed a heavier difference in BF2 than in CS:S source fps wise, but BF2 sounds fvcking sweet using the x-fi sound setting. Listening to music is nice using the 3 diff modes they have. THe crystallization option makes my mp3's sound reallly clear and not just treble clear, but the bass is clear too. I think i will keep this extreme music one.

Talk to me about a random double-blind involving a minimum of 200 people.

 

[cheapherk]

If you preordered the Fata1ity via the [now dead] link, I e-mailed Creative and they said they would be shipping around Labor Day.

 

[zerodeefex]

Originally posted by: XNice

Originally posted by: tcsenter
Finally, the XFI will be shipping soon. That means the price on Audigy2 ZS should plummet.

Game with on-board audio = 170fps
Game with Audigy2 ZS = 190fps
Game with X-FI = 200fps
Game with audio disabled - 210fps

Performance increase over Audigy2 ZS = subjectively imperceptible

Watching people waste $200++ to gain a benefit only a computer can discern = priceless

:thumbsup:

Its more than getting extra fps in games. I noticed a heavier difference in BF2 than in CS:S source fps wise, but BF2 sounds fvcking sweet using the x-fi sound setting. Listening to music is nice using the 3 diff modes they have. THe crystallization option makes my mp3's sound reallly clear and not just treble clear, but the bass is clear too. I think i will keep this extreme music one. I kinda like it and i have an audigy 1, and 2 zs....

http://www6.head-fi.org/forums/showpost.php?p=1560731&postcount=82