Should i return my fatal1ty x-fi

[madhatR]

im really tempted to return it .. i dont see how its worth the money i paid .. i really didnt even notice a difference over my onboard sound on my dfi board .. im tempted to return it .. continue to use onboard sound until they move to a pci-x card .. or even return it and buy an audigy 2 or something .. ? what do u guys think .. i dont need the front panel either .. i got it cuz i thought it would make a huge difference .. but it doesnt really ..

i just dont see it being worth the 279 or whatever it is .. what do you guys think

[Schalldampfer]

Well, if I were you, I'd certainly return it. Personally, audio quality is a big determining factor when I look for sound cards, and since the X-Fi doesn't seem to be offering a better sound, why have it?

[penixor]

I noticed a huge difference when upgrading from my onboard sound. The only thing i would think that you arent doing is switching modes when going from music to gaming and that makes a huge difference. But i thing the sound quality is great and im really loving mine just wish i could see the ****in SPIDF pull down bar and get my home theater system running on it. Ergh.

[madhatR]

it auto switches modes .. ive tried manually switching them .. but who knows

[deathman20]

The Audgy 2 actually beats the X-FI in a few tests actually. With less noise and such. Truely I don't see that card being all that its hyped up to, except if you are truely using some good headphones all the time for gaming and such otherwise IMO its not worth it. The headphones sound system is the only true benefit that I see out of it currently.

Check out some review sites for it, don't remember where I saw it but it was either last week or earlier this week that I was seeing a review of it comparing the Audgy 2 and X-FI Gamer edition, and some other card.

[deception``]

I'd go with the regular X-Fi instead. The FPS version has on-board memory which is supposed to take CPU load off of the sound card; however, most tests show that this is currently of little use....I personally see no need for top-end version or the Platinum Live Drive.

deception``

[madhatR]

well im shipping it back today ... prolly get an audigy 2 to hold me over until creative or someone releases a sound card that runs in a x1 or wutever slot

[deathman20]

http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1697,1850381,00.asp
http://techreport.com/reviews/2005q4/soundblaster-x-fi/index.x?pg=1
http://www.hardwarezone.com/articles/view.php?id=1715&cid=9&pg=1

Theres a few reviews. I can't seem to find the one I was looking at earlier.

Edit: Truely only difference I've seen in a few tests, slightly less CPU utilization 3% max it looked like. And supports 127 sounds/voices. And the 3D Headseat thing. Yup thats all I really saw as a "Big" difference :( Sad though it sounded like it was really going to be a great card that really improved scores.

[madhatR]

yeap o well .. shipped it back .. so ill wait and see if i can pick up a cheap auidgy 2