X-fi extreme audio $39.99 Fry's Online and in store!! ***UPDATE***

[Hajpoj]

http://newspaperads.mercurynews.com/ROP/ads.aspx?adid=3987898&advid=32664&type=

They are now selling it online as well, you have to add it to your cart to see it: http://shop3.outpost.com/product/5020025?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG
It lists as being the San Jose fry's, but I called and confirmed the one in anaheim as well.

 

[gorcorps]

Here's a link that actually works:
http://shop3.outpost.com/product/5020025

 

[Hajpoj]

I fixed it

 

[thegimp03]

Awesome...more ways to spend money!!

 

[BlackG0d]

How much of an improvement will this card make from on-board sound if I use mainly headphones? Are drivers bloated for this series X-Fi?

 

[whitelight]

Originally posted by: BlackG0d
How much of an improvement will this card make from on-board sound if I use mainly headphones? Are drivers bloated for this series X-Fi?

The X-fi works really well with headphones. The drivers are less bloated than in the past. You can choose to install just the drivers without all the apps.

 

[zerodeefex]

I am more interested in performance differences in games. Do the cards with XRAM make a huge difference in games that support EAX HD and all that?

 

[Lowboy]

Even the old audigy cards did eax didnt they ? I assume this will too. I have been searching ebay for an audigy but this is the same price as what I was finding for audigy (used).
I am thinkiong this is the deal for me.
The xram issue ,bet I couldnt tell the diff.

Thanks OP

 

[BIGFOOTPI]

card isnt a "x-fi" card.. read reviews at newegg... its just a run of the mill creative sound card trumped up... kinda like a Geforce4ti to a Geforce4mx

 

[Entropism]

Yeah, the "real" X-Fis are full sized cards, the half sized are stripped down versions. Thought I heard someone say they got WORSE performance than with onboard.

 

[Souka]

Games like Battlefield 2142 can really take advantage of the X-Fi GAMMING card...which is a real sound card that has special routines for game developers.....

this card is more like the X-fi music.....which would be no better than a SB Live or on-board for this particular game.


My $.02

 

[RallyMaster]

since it's not the XtremeMusic....no

 

[hansmuff]

This is essentially a pared-down Audigy card. This is NOT a real X-Fi.

 

[Gautama2]

Originally posted by: Souka
Games like Battlefield 2142 can really take advantage of the X-Fi GAMMING card...which is a real sound card that has special routines for game developers.....

this card is more like the X-fi music.....which would be no better than a SB Live or on-board for this particular game.


My $.02

Clarification needed here. The X-Fi gaming card does not have special routines, its a X-Fi XtremeMusic with a couple less caps,a "flexijack", a heatsink, and a half-size pcb. The DACs on the X-Fi XtremeMusic and XtremeGamer are exactly the same, so the sound is the same. The only "special routines" would be in the drivers, if any.

More clarification-The DACs, which is basicly what makes one card sound better than another, on all the X-Fi cards are all the same, except on the XtremeAudio and ElitoPro. In which the Xtremeaudio is a lot shitter and the ElitePro is better. Most everything else is Creative's marketing BS.

 

[Snowice]

Originally posted by: Gautama2

Originally posted by: Souka
Games like Battlefield 2142 can really take advantage of the X-Fi GAMMING card...which is a real sound card that has special routines for game developers.....

this card is more like the X-fi music.....which would be no better than a SB Live or on-board for this particular game.


My $.02

Clarification needed here. The X-Fi gaming card does not have special routines, its a X-Fi XtremeMusic with a couple less caps,a "flexijack", a heatsink, and a half-size pcb. The DACs on the X-Fi XtremeMusic and XtremeGamer are exactly the same, so the sound is the same. The only "special routines" would be in the drivers, if any.

More clarification-The DACs, which is basicly what makes one card sound better than another, on all the X-Fi cards are all the same, except on the XtremeAudio and ElitoPro. In which the Xtremeaudio is a lot shitter and the ElitePro is better. Most everything else is Creative's marketing BS.

qft

 

[Parasitic]

So is it worth the upgrade from an Audigy 1?

 

[XNice]

yes, i bought one a year ago at $130 and never looked back. I got the xtreme music version and I was upgrading from an audigy 2...

 

[Avalon]

Would this be a viable alternative to a dying SB Audigy 2 ZS? If it'll be a downgrade in sound quality, I'll look elsewhere.

 

[BIGFOOTPI]

Originally posted by: XNice
yes, i bought one a year ago at $130 and never looked back. I got the xtreme music version and I was upgrading from an audigy 2...

no- you didnt buy one of these (assuming you are referring to the card this thread is based on) so dont give false recommendations.
once again- THESE ARE NOT REAL X-FI cards...
I like to call these the proverbial "X-FImx" -lol
EDIT- for reference:
nice "xtreme music":
http://www.creative.com/products/produc...tegory=1&subcategory=208&product=14066

cheesey "(cough)xtreme audio":
http://www.creative.com/products/produc...tegory=1&subcategory=208&product=15855

for the record I am not saying its a BAD card, its just, for all intensive purposes, not a "true" X-fi (no EAX5 or Asio stands out)
they arent even same chip- notice the cheap one has outer tin pin contacts attaching to the PCB and the rest are under-surface attachments.

 

[Slaimus]

Originally posted by: Entropism
Yeah, the "real" X-Fis are full sized cards, the half sized are stripped down versions. Thought I heard someone say they got WORSE performance than with onboard.

The full sized one has a game port, where as the half sized one does not. They have the same X-Fi chip and memory.

EDIT: This one does not have memory, it is the half-height XtremeGamer that does.

 

[hansmuff]

There's a lot of mis-information in this thread.
First off, NO X-FI CARD HAS A GAMEPORT. The gameport has been discontinued, as it is not supported in WinXP or Vista. The external port seen on some X-Fi cards is to hook up the external break-out box.

Next, the Extreme Audio is crippled to the max. It's for listening to music, nothing else.
Creative says so, here: http://www.creative.com/products/produc...09&subcategory=669&product=15855&nav=0

"The Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio is the ideal sound card for music and movies. For gaming, please consider the other Sound Blaster X-Fi products."

Don't buy this card. Get the XtremeMusic, it's awesome.

 

[harpy82]

yes i agree, do not buy the xtreme audio
the XtremeGamer, however is a cheaper manufacturing version of the XtremeMusic......

but please..... skip over the XtremeAudio... probably better off buying the Chaintech AV-700