Tom's Hardware > Forum > CPU & Components > Sound Cards > To X-Fi or not to X-FI...that is the Question...

To X-Fi or not to X-FI...that is the Question...

Forum CPU & Components : Sound Cards - To X-Fi or not to X-FI...that is the Question...

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bigdadnau   11-06-2007 at 01:06:43 AM

I am building a mid-range gaming system based on an MSI P35 Platinum MB. That board has an on-board hi-def audio capability based on Realtek ALC888 (7.1 channel surround sound up to 32-bit/192KHz). I have a Creative SB X-Fi platimun sound board from my old system. Is there any benifit to using the Creative board over the built in Realtek audio save for the X-Fi capability, or do I eBay the X-Fi and save the PCI slot?

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itotallybelieveyou   11-06-2007 at 01:22:15 AM
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x-fi = awesome hell of alot better then onboard

------------------------------ It's a theater of love stories.
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Kabobi   11-06-2007 at 01:30:55 AM
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ehhh..........the P35 Platinum comes with a great on board sound. (the best in my experience) but my XtremeMusic smokes it completely.

the only problem with X-FI was the driver and as of Nov. 2 that problem has been fixed. (this for people with Vista and especially for those w/ 4gb ram).

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spud   11-06-2007 at 01:31:45 AM
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bigdadnau wrote :

I am building a mid-range gaming system based on an MSI P35 Platinum MB. That board has an on-board hi-def audio capability based on Realtek ALC888 (7.1 channel surround sound up to 32-bit/192KHz). I have a Creative SB X-Fi platimun sound board from my old system. Is there any benifit to using the Creative board over the built in Realtek audio save for the X-Fi capability, or do I eBay the X-Fi and save the PCI slot?



If you are planning to run Vista I would say no.

Word, Playa.

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Sailer   11-06-2007 at 01:33:21 AM
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Use the X-Fi Platinum. Otherwise you'll kick yourself when you end up having to buy another X-Fi cause the Realtek doesn't put out.

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------------------------------ Evil lurks in the databanks as it lurked in the streets of yesteryear. But it was never the streets that were evil.

Over 50. Seen it, done it, can't remember it, but I miss it.
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bigdadnau   11-06-2007 at 01:47:28 AM
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Thanks for all the response!

I will be using Vista 64-bit 'cause I am a glutton for punishment!

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annisman   11-06-2007 at 05:57:45 AM
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X-FI all the way, I love my X-FI soundcard ( fatality Pro )
I would choose my sound card over another 8800GTX in SLI in the PCIE slot, because any onboard right now ( I don't care if it says High Def, or 7.1) SUCKS. And I also beleive the sound card takes stress off the CPU.

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Sailer   11-06-2007 at 05:50:54 PM
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annisman wrote :

X-FI all the way, I love my X-FI soundcard ( fatality Pro )
I would choose my sound card over another 8800GTX in SLI in the PCIE slot, because any onboard right now ( I don't care if it says High Def, or 7.1) SUCKS. And I also beleive the sound card takes stress off the CPU.



This involves a couple things people often miss. First, they somehow think that a mobo's on-board sound comes free. It doesn't. It has to get its resources from somewhere, and the more High Def or 7.1 sound it emphasizes, the more demands it makes on the cpu. That demand stresses the cpu and slows down games 3-5 FPS. So you take your choice, put the proccessing power on the separate card or put it on the cpu, but the proccessing power will come from somewhere.

------------------------------ Evil lurks in the databanks as it lurked in the streets of yesteryear. But it was never the streets that were evil.

Over 50. Seen it, done it, can't remember it, but I miss it.
 Reply to Sailer
spud   11-06-2007 at 09:15:21 PM
- 0 +

bigdadnau wrote :

Thanks for all the response!

I will be using Vista 64-bit 'cause I am a glutton for punishment!



Vista 32bit or 64bit are a joke with Creative right now you wont get EAX effects without secondary software the Alchemy deal which adds overhead since the effects are run by the CPU and not the hardware on the card. Secondly their driver 04 which im also running has the same binary date tag as the 03 that they pulled off their site not more that 45 days ago, so like myself you will be crossing your fingers if their drivers work, I personally would go back to my Audigy if I had PCI slots on this motherboard, I never had crackleing hissing, microphone issues, random crashes, undetectable hardware features, or general crappy support with that card.

But take the purchase with with caution, you could very well find yourself more frustrated than enjoying the machine.

Word, Playa.

Reply to spud
chookman   11-06-2007 at 10:46:48 PM
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Sailer wrote :

Use the X-Fi Platinum. Otherwise you'll kick yourself when you end up having to buy another X-Fi cause the Realtek doesn't put out.



Bloody realtek chicks not putting out... gawd


Xfi is definetly better, whack it in, if it doesnt work to your satisfaction with Vista then take it back out again and use the onboard till creative fixes the drivers.

Reply to chookman
d_fusion   11-07-2007 at 11:00:07 AM
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X-fi definitely improve your audio I believe you will need that for gaming and video. I just saw a pci express version of the x-fi. Is it available now? Any idea?

Reply to d_fusion
Sailer   11-07-2007 at 05:14:59 PM
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Yes, there is a PCI-e version of the X-Fi available from Newegg. Its a lower end model, so doesn't have all the features of the Platinum models. I hope that either Creative or Auzentech developes a top end card for PCI-e, but we just have to wait and see about that.

------------------------------ Evil lurks in the databanks as it lurked in the streets of yesteryear. But it was never the streets that were evil.

Over 50. Seen it, done it, can't remember it, but I miss it.
 Reply to Sailer
bigdadnau   11-07-2007 at 05:50:16 PM
- 0 +

PCI Express...it's not just for Graphics Cards any more :pt1cable:

Love the idea of using the PCIe 1x slot on the board for more than just decoration. Since I am not using many of the platinums features, the dumbed down X-FI might jsut work for me...

Thanks for all the opinions and advice...you all rock!

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chookman   11-07-2007 at 11:20:27 PM
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bigdadnau wrote :

PCI Express...it's not just for Graphics Cards any more :pt1cable:

Love the idea of using the PCIe 1x slot on the board for more than just decoration. Since I am not using many of the platinums features, the dumbed down X-FI might jsut work for me...

Thanks for all the opinions and advice...you all rock!



PCI-e hasnt always been for video anyways... there has been RAID cards, network cards available from word go just about. And dont forget that notebooks have been using the PCI-e interface for alot of stuff as well... ExpressCard (54 and 34 specs) that have all sorts of cards also... so it hasnt been GPU only at all

Reply to chookman
Oh SoS   11-14-2007 at 02:59:40 AM
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was totally underwhelmed by my experience with an X-Fi Fatal1ty Platinum.
Actually reduced my FPS in Guild Wars VS my onboard AC 97 audio.

Reply to Oh SoS
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