WOW!!! UT is a brand-new game with Hercules Game Theater XP instead of SB Live!!!

[LukFilm]

I would have never thought so, but the difference between SB Live! Value and Hercules GTXP is like day and night! Now that I have GTXP, I hear sounds that I've never heard before in every single level. Halls REALLY sounds like halls, sound effects are more precise and I can tell better where my apponents are. I was truly amazed at the difference. Also during intro, all I heard was unintelligible voices saying something with my SB Live! I thought that's how it was supposed to be. But now, I actually hear what the voice is saying! Damn, I wasn't sure about upgrading my sound card, but boy am I glad I did. The difference is huge and whoever is thinking of getting rid of SB Live! and replacing it with GTXP DO IT!!! OK, now back to gaming

 

[Wingznut]

Both the Santa Cruz and HGTXP own the SBLive, when it comes to gaming.

 

[Eug]

<< Also during intro, all I heard was unintelligible voices saying something with my SB Live! I thought that's how it was supposed to be. >>

Hmmm... which Live!? I have the Live! Platinum (which is the same as the X-Gamer and MP3) and it sounds perfectly clear to me. I am using the SPDIF output now, but it was clear when I was using the analogue outputs as well.

Anyways, the Live! definitely needs to be updated.

 

[TuffGuy]

as does my aureal sq2500

 

[dragonballgtz]

Damn it I wasted my money on my SBLive! 5.1

 

[BrutalJoeJoe]

He said Live! VALUE... Before the time of the time of:

Live! Platinum
Live! Platinum 5.1
Live! X-gamer
Live! X-gamer 5.1
Live! Player 1024
Live! Player 5.1
Live! Mp3
etc.

There was only a SB Live! and an SB Live! Value

You can't compare the performance of the old value to the new boards...

 

[Eug]

Ah, I see. Missed it in his post - Live! Value.

The Value is a low end card.

 

[Chad]

<< Both the Santa Cruz and HGTXP own the SBLive, when it comes to gaming. >>



I can tell you firsthand as a former SB Live 5.1 owner who now uses the GTXP, this is a very true statement.

Live owner just won't &quot;get it&quot; until they can try for themselves firsthand... these two cards are so much better, it has to be heard firsthand to be recognized as the difference it is... MUCHO's difference, MUCHO's better.

 

[LukFilm]

Doesn't Live! Value and X-Gamer or Platinum use the same chip anyway?

 

[Eug]

<< I can tell you firsthand as a former SB Live 5.1 owner who now uses the GTXP, this is a very true statement. >>


What about MIDI applications? I haven't read too much about these new cards in the context of MIDI.

Also, what speaker setups are everyone using? I'm using the Altec Lansing ADA105 which isn't really suited to gaming.

 

[Snoop]

<< You can't compare the performance of the old value to the new boards... >>


Whats the diff? They all are using the same basic drivers and DSP.

 

[BlackWob]

GTXP does own though. And it is cheaper than the SB Platinum, with more functionality.

 

[Soccerman]

hehehe..

/me pats his Aureal SQ2500

then curses that Creative killed Aureal before the SQ3500 came out..

who knows what Aureal would have now.. it could be some seriously sweet stuff..

 

[vohwink1]

Cool, glad to hear it. I just ordered a GTXP and it should be here by friday. I currently have been using a SB Live value I got on egay for like 20 bucks a few years ago...

how could I be so ignorant? I'm an avid gamer and listen to music every second I'm at home... yet I've been suffering through the SB crap. Hopefully it rocks my world when it comes in!

 

[NFS4]

My TB Santa Cruz smacks my old Live! (not Value). It's like night and day. The Live! is far inferior.

 

[jagr10]

Liek mentioned above, you can't compare an old outdated sound card with a brand new one and wonder why there's a difference. I'm sure the Platinum 5.1 is just as good if you have a good set of speakers.

 

[jeffoxiam]

What about the onboard audio of th nforce mobo's coming out? Are they going to whup up on the crystal chip or what? I looked at a comparison on digit-life and that's how it seemed. Did I just buy a gtxp to sell it off in a couple months?

 

[MasterHoss]

Yes, the Game Theater produces brighter sounds but the 5.1 family cardn't aren't exactly bad. I liked my 5.1--just cleaner sound from the Game Theater...I think it's worth the switch.

 

[MustPost]

Couldn't hear the voice?
I could hear it with my SB16 (ie. very old)

 

[Wingznut]

&quot;I'm sure the Platinum 5.1 is just as good if you have a good set of speakers.&quot;

But it's not.

 

[iamthebear]

The &quot;old&quot; Live is based on the exact same chip - the EMU10K1 orginally developed by EMU for their APS line of cards. It is an amazing chip that, for some reason, Creative does not know how to use. The only reason I keep my Live Platinum (alongside my Delta 44) is for SoundFont support, DLS still doesn't compare.

 

[Paragon1]

I was thinking about getting the Game Theater, and now after seeing this thread, my mind has pretty much been set.

 

[LukFilm]

Glad to help someone's decision easier

 

[randomlinh]

it would also help if best buy brought the price back to that $130 (or less) they had it at... grrr.. the ones around me are ringin up $150 the one by my college had it for $130, but #1: i had no money, #2, it looked returned cause the box was overstuffed, and shrinkage was very loosly on (no luck w/ getting price down.. claimed &quot;it's the way they shipped it, if you have any problems, return it&quot;.. BLAH).

 

[LukFilm]

My BB had it for $130 and they still do. Nice deal.