I have one of those sound cards. Love it. If you can afford it and have an open pci slot definitely get one. Amazing sound quality, and the software that comes with is great too. I've used it in XP pro and XP pro 64.
Also, it comes with a front IO panel to put in your case. It is not required, but is a really nice extra touch. From time to time I will plug my guitar in and jam out.
Auzentech X-Fi Prelude is the one i wood go for
When you're playing games, the Auzentech X-Fi Prelude soundcard will output the best 3D audio and latest EAX® effects. And when you're listening to music
or watching movies, you'll enjoy an audiophile-quality experience.
- Creative X-Fi CA20K audio processor - One AKM AK-5394 super high performance 192kHz 24-bit ADC for analog input - Four AKM AK-4396 192kHz 24-bit advanced
multi-bit DAC for analog output - 64Mbytes of memory for audio processing - High fidelity audio OP-Amps for analog input and output - Front L/R output
OP-Amp is replaceable by end-user - Dual mode S/PDIF receiver and transmitter - One 3.5mm MIC input connector in rear panel - One 3.5mm line input connector
in rear panel - One 4-pin AUX connector on board - Four 3.5mm 8 channel line output connectors in rear panel (FL/FR/C/SW/RL/RR/RSL/RSR) - One S/PDIF combo
input connector in rear panel for receiving either coaxial or optical digital - One S/PDIF combo output connector in rear panel for transmitting either
coaxial or optical digital - 16-bit to 24-bit recording sampling rates: 8, 11.025, 16, 22.05, 24, 32, 44.1, 48 and 96kHz - One 10-pin front panel connector
on board for MIC input and headphone support - One 40-pin digital extension header on board to support AD-Link and other digital functionality - 24-bit
Analog-to-Digital conversion of analog inputs at 96kHz sample rate - 24-bit Digital-to-Analog conversion of digital sources at 96kHz to analog 7.1 speaker
output - 24-bit Digital-to-Analog conversion of stereo digital sources at 192kHz to stereo output - 16-bit to 24-bit recording sampling rates: 8, 11.025,
16, 22.05, 24, 32, 44.1, 48 and 96kHz - ASIO 2.0 support at 16-bit/44.1kHz, 16-bit/48kHz, 24-bit/44.1kHz 24-bit/48kHz and 24-bit/96kHz with direct monitoring.
- Enhanced SoundFont support of up to 24-bit resolution - 64MB of X-RAM
it is better made than the Creative Labs Sound Blaster. it dus the same thing wen gaming. but it is up to you at the end of the day but let us no wat you do thay are both good cards.
