Wich PCI sound card .........?

[Grrbob25]

The Creative X-fi, is supposed to be really good, but there is suppost to be whining in some cases, but some people dont realize thats them overdriving there speakers. For a great set of speakers, you will hear great reviews about Altec Lansings, and pretty much anything in the Altec line-up thats over 100 bucks, will have superior sound quality to almost anything in a compareable price range, I use a pair of really old Altecs on my Gaming pc, these were seriously the speakers on my first computer (I'm looking to get new ones, but only because these dont match with my pc) and they have outlasted every piece of hardware on my pc and they still sound great, but their being supported by a horrible Turtle Beach Montago Bay 2 sound card, that sounds moderatly good, but is so old nothing supports it

[bunkerratt]

i run a creative x-fi extreame music...and all i can say is awsome...i run it with 5.1 logitec speakers...with 3 modes it sounds sweet in sh3 ...

[Redwine]

Originally Posted by Reece

Yes there are a lot of things in services that use resources & they do not apply to a lot of peoples needs such as "Uninteruptable power supply" or "wirless zero configuration", if I need them I will tick them!! Some others I have unticked:
Automatic updates.
Both Smart card resources.
I am running ATI card so have unticked:
ATI Hotkey poller.
I will have to download info later on the various resources to see what else I can untick!!
Let me know how you go!
Cheers.

Yes... Reece, i always attempt to disable all uneeded process and services.

I use Security task manager, it is great, you can see all process runing and if you dont know wich is each one, you can light up it with the mouse, and click on a button in the prgram, called "Goggle" and you are redirected to a page where is an explanation of the process and comments of meny users.

Then you can kill the process with more security.

I have another one Cprocess, it is similar, but have not the web data button.

Plus i use End It All prior to ruin any simulator.



Thanks Grrbob25 and Bunkerratt for data about the X-Fi Xtrememusic.

[Grrbob25]

just a reminder, if your want the Creative X-fi, dont get one if you have any nforce4 motherboard, as this results in severe errors and many system f**k ups

[Redwine]

Originally Posted by Grrbob25

just a reminder, if your want the Creative X-fi, dont get one if you have any nforce4 motherboard, as this results in severe errors and many system f**k ups

Many thanks GrrBob, i was in a travel to europe this weekend, sadly i was no able to read you recomendation prior to departure.

I buy a X-Fi, because Audigy series was unavailable at many stores i visited.

I buyed an ExtremeMusic one, luckily, i have not a nForce Chipset !!!

there was another top line cards with their own RAM memory, the Fatality with 64 Mb RAM included, but was much more expensive, and i was not sure if it will be working good in my system, then i decide to buy the ExtremeMusic, the dealer saw me, there will be not too much diference in FPS and tere was lot of diference in money.

I installed it and game works fine even in noisy missions as Biskmark mission, no bugs with the sound quality and hardware acceleration sliders at full , and i have more FPS now.

I will comment any new in behaviour.

[Steeltrap]

I've got a Sound Blaster® X-Fi Platinum with Boston Acoustics digitals and sub-woofer.

[3Jane]

Originally Posted by Redwine

Thanks a lot CWorth, i will take a look on it.

Let me to know... has it a dedicated headphone set connector ?

You can use the rear mini-jack (on the card) for headphones, but it's far more convenient with the Audigy 2 front drive bay that I have.

[Redwine]

Originally Posted by 3Jane

You can use the rear mini-jack (on the card) for headphones, but it's far more convenient with the Audigy 2 front drive bay that I have.

I note into the options in the card control panel, there is a checkbox for "automatically detect headphones", but i cant discover how it works.

I am making the same as before, i plug the headphones into the 2 rear speakers jack, but it has a problem.

The 3D positional audio is inverted, because it is the rear outlet, normally, when you look at a noisy thing, you have a higer volume than when you have this thing at your back..... but as the headphones are conected to the rear oulet, then a crew spech sound as more volume when it is at my back :rotfl: .

I cant believe the designers and builders dont put a dedicated jack for headphones in a expensive card.

I buyed an "Y" connector plug to put the headphones in parallel with the front speakers, but , when i do it, i lose my front right speaker, i cant understand....

[Slick Rick]

I have the Audigy 2 ZS sound card also....but I am running just your plain run of the mill creative speakers with sub woofer.....is there that much of a difference when going to a digital speaker?

[stabiz]

I have never had a pci sound card, only use the internal ones. Right now I have a Abit KN8 SLI motherboard. Is there a notisable difference in sound?

[Redwine]

Originally Posted by Slick Rick

I have the Audigy 2 ZS sound card also....but I am running just your plain run of the mill creative speakers with sub woofer.....is there that much of a difference when going to a digital speaker?

I never used digital conection.... may it is more clear of parasit noises. Some times i pick-up a radio station in the speakers.
May be some bocy can help.

Originally Posted by stabiz

I have never had a pci sound card, only use the internal ones. Right now I have a Abit KN8 SLI motherboard. Is there a notisable difference in sound?

My onboard SoundMax woks fine with no sound bugs, but takes lot of CPU resources, and the 3D positional audio is not noticeable.

With the SB ExtremeMusic, i have no noticeable bugs, more FPS, and the 3D positional auduio is very noticeable.

[stabiz]

Okay, thanks. I have to check this out.

[Slick Rick]

Ok...I am a little confused here....maybe you AV gurus can help me out...I have the Sound Blaster Audigy 2ZS gamers sound card...I also have the Klipsch2.1 pro media speakers....2 satellites with sub.....when I try and plug into the digital out jack on the sound card...I get nothing but static...it seems it will only work on the analog jack....I thought these were digital speakers....am I wrong?? Why wont it work out of the digital jack??

[Redwine]

Well, today i experienced the first bug on the Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeMusic.

This bug was reported for another users in the past, i was submerged and i can hear the storm wind sound.

Plus the 3D positional audio is too exagerated, all things at my back has a very very low volume, it is very anoying.

[Slick Rick]

I had that same issue once....I disabled or turned down the acceleration and it was fine after that.....