ZZF another x-fi deal xtreme music $60 AR

[WraithETC]

*Credit to Blue38 hardocps

Zipzoomfly has the X-fi Xtreme Music for $100 - $40 MIR and free shipping.
Expires 8-8-06

http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=290236&ps=ho5

 

[PCMarine]

I'm still debating whether an x-fi would be worth the upgrade from an audigy 1 gamer...

 

[Vallybally]

I'm still debating whether it's worth it from integrated mobo audio. 2 things holding me back is I don't listen to in game music often. And I have an X1900 XT running on a 2 year old Antec 480w PSU.

 

[Mucker]

I went from Audigy2 ZS to X-Fi Music and it is very noticeable. I couldn't believe it myself. I have a good set of speakers, Klipsch 2.1. If you have lousy speakers, maybe you shouldn't bother. If you have good speakers, prepare to have your socks blown off. The software drivers are very much improved too.....

 

[Trikat]

I'm debating between the Fatal1ty and this. Would the extra stuff from the Fatal1ty be worth it and would the X-Ram be worth it. X-Ram is pretty much a waste right now as it does nothing except maybe some sound difference. Creative even released some UT04 demo showing X-RAM advantage, but it was never released into public so it was bascially crap.
Xtrememusic on the other hand has too little ports.
I heard if you use headphones the X-Fi cards are insanely good!

 

[bunnyfubbles]

Originally posted by: Vallybally
I'm still debating whether it's worth it from integrated mobo audio. 2 things holding me back is I don't listen to in game music often. And I have an X1900 XT running on a 2 year old Antec 480w PSU.

well you still listen to in game sounds, right? And this is supposed to improve overall music quality, not just "game music" (of which just about any sound card is improvement over integrated audio when it comes to quality) So if you play games (particularly newer ones that can take advantage of EAX4/5) and listen to music (even casually) then this card should be a pretty big upgrade.

 

[Reckoner]

Decided to jump on this. Going from an Audigy 2 Value to this. Will there be a big improvement? 2.1 Klipsch ProMedia Speakers.

 

[Reiniku]

I'm curious if I'll notice a difference on my z-5300e's upgrading to this from a 2zs.

 

[jlin101]

just went from Audigy 2 ZS to X-Fi Fatality--the difference is pretty subtle, even on Logitech 5500. The only time when the difference is obvious is with the 24-bit Crystalizer--although the effect is not always for the better. That being said, $60 for X-Fi ExtremeMusic and $120 for the Fatality are great deals.

 

[Auric]

During a previous blowout at newegg there was some scuttlebutt about the cards being repackaged (refurbished). Recall there were incompatabilities with certain chipsets so presumably lots of returns. In any case, with prices finally coming down I suppose we can expect the customary introduction of new models before the end of the year. Still, for $60 it is tempting.

The only ah heck (besides mode switching) is having to hook up an auxilliary bracket for digital I/O to still be able to use the card's Mic jack.

 

[Trikat]

Here is the bottom line.
If you use onboard sound (like me) you will probably notice quite a bit of difference in performance between onboard and an Audigy 2 or above.
If you have an Audigy 2 you will probably not notice any increase in gaming performance, but there will be more sounds and perhaps better quality sound.
If you use speakers (surround sound) and have an Audigy 2, the difference will be kind of clear, but not as good as with a headset/headphones.
I heard that the X-Fi really shines when it comes to gaming with headphones.
I don't know if there will be a huge positive difference with a 2.1 speaker set.
As I said above X-Ram is kinda useless now, but the Fatal1ty is a great deal if you wanted the additional accessories.
Hmmm I don't know which one to keep! $60 or $120!

 

[Reiniku]

Does it have 2 output jacks for both my 5.1 speakers and headphones? (I have HD555's) That's one of the things that bugs me about my sound card.

 

[videopho]

WOW...This is one HOT deal. I own both version, this and the Platinium. Get this in coupling with a 5.1 nice set of speakers then your pc will rock.

 

[Wag]

Originally posted by: PCMarine
I'm still debating whether an x-fi would be worth the upgrade from an audigy 1 gamer...

I have an Audigy1 as well. For me it wouldn't be worth upgrading. I like the Firewire port, and it supports EAX4 anyways...

 

[Bad Dude]

I have got to resist the urge to spend. I already got the Audigy 2 with X-Fi drivers, how much better the real X-Fi XtremeMusic can be better?

 

[Solarium]

How much improvement is this over Soundstorm (the Nforce 2 mobo onboard sound), or this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16829120103

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

[Auric]

Originally posted by: Solarium
How much improvement is this over Soundstorm (the Nforce 2 mobo onboard sound), or this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16829120103

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Depends upon the source (games or music) and the amp and speakers.

SoundStorm has below average quality analog output, a DSP for hardware acceleration, up to EAX2 and may have OpenAL support (are drivers still updated?). AV-710 (low-end of the Envy24 controller series) has average to good stereo analog output and below average surround, no DSP (host based processing), up to EAX2 and no OpenAl support.

So the SS would have an edge in games and if external DAC's were used then stereo digital output would not suffer and real-time surround digital output would suffer less (avoiding the poor DAC's but suffering compression by the encoder).

But neither are comparable to the X-Fi and it is reflected in the price. Indeed, even an Audigy 2 Value would blow them both away for general use without costing significantly more in dollar terms (although significantly higher on a percentage basis).

In short, you may want to consider the $45 Audigy 2 Value versus the $60 X-Fi.

 

[Solarium]

No amps, Klipsch 4.1 setup. SS also has DDL, which I didn't even notice was there until recently. I didn't notice it having any effect on my analog 4.1 connections, but supposedly it was the deciding factor in getting SS. I didn't even know there was such a big difference between the Audigy 2 and the SS. Would I be able to tell much of a difference with my speakers between the Audigy 2 and the X-Fi? The 60 bucks AR is quite a deal...

 

[Smartazz]

I'm curious if this would make a noticable increase in gaming performance on Z5500's.

 

[Auric]

Must be an amp somewhere to drive the speakers (in a control pod or subwoofer box?). I am doubtful there would be a noticeable difference in quality output betwixt the A2 and X-Fi with a PC speaker kit. The features which allow for better content would be the main reason to consider it, and likewise either versus the SS.

When games are considered then a Creative DSP is pretty much the only option to guarantee full effects. Even the SS's DSP may not be supported by games (BF2 for one) in which case only lower effects software mode is even an option (nevermind EAX4) and if OpenAL is not supported then a further hit is taken from having to use a DS3D wrapper. BF2 also has an X-Fi mode beyond that available to even the A2.

If the connectivity and mode switching oddities of the X-Fi are no concern then I would prolly recommend that if considering spending anything close to $60 (afterall it is not much of a premium to a new Value and may actually hold its value a bit better if you choose to resell it in the future). However, if a used ZS could be had for $40 or so that may be a worthy alternative.

 

[jlin101]

Originally posted by: Smartazz
I'm curious if this would make a noticable increase in gaming performance on Z5500's.

minimal improvement in performance; marginal improvement in quality, with Z5500.

 

[cyberia]

Originally posted by: Reiniku
Does it have 2 output jacks for both my 5.1 speakers and headphones? (I have HD555's) That's one of the things that bugs me about my sound card.

Nope. You are out of luck with your headphones (and I am too).

Please, anybody, correct me. I want to be wrong on this one.

 

[Vallybally]

I believe price went up by $10..

 

[nycdude]

Originally posted by: Vallybally
I believe price went up by $10..

Looks like it did. :|

 

[Auric]

Welp, if I was going to buy it I wouldn't now just on general principles

But, rebate pricing is oft just a foreshadowing of that to come... i.e. I would not be surprised to see such pricing by the end of the year sans rebate. But one way or another it will be available for the same or less before long -especially when the X-Fi 2 is launched