X-Fi vs audigy 2 plat

[Xstatic]

Is there a big difference? I just got this audigy2 plat card and I like it. But is it worth getting the x-fi? I listen to music and play alot of games.

[Yuriman]

I thought so.

Anyway I see this asked a LOT. I bet if you hit "search" you'd find a lot of threads that would help in your buying decision.

[REDDEATH]

Thanks I am new to this.

[Yuriman]

Alrighty. In order to save you some time searching... I'll explain it as best as I know.

The X-Fi doesn't support DDL encoding, meaning you can't get 5.1 over a digital connection. There are cheaper cards that can do this. BUT, the X-Fi does have very nice sounding DACS (digital audio converters) and spits out very nice sound. It generally takes more load off of your processor than other sound cards, even the Audigys. I moved from an Audigy 1 using Audigy 4 drivers to my X-Fi, and I noticed an immediate improvement. The sound may or may not be more accurate than that of other cards, but generally it IS more pleasing to the ear. Turn on 24bit crystalizer, and you'll never turn it off again. It really brings out and cleans up the upper treble, which is distorted when compressed (MP3's, ect). The software is really bloated, I wish Creative would have gone with less... stuff, but a minimum installation works just fine.

[Xstatic]

Thanks, I did some searching on my own before i posted and mainly what i found was "oooo i love this card it roxors all" and stuff like that. Some had info but nothing too good so i posted my own. After posting I did more searching and after looking through a few more threads I found some good info. Altho you explained alot in a short amount of space which is nice. Thanks for the help as always Yuri.

[[SaS]hornet]

look for an oem card :) alot cheaper and you can download the software :)

[RangerXLT8]

Going from Audigy 2 ----> X-Fi, I noticed a very big boost in game sound qaulity. BF:2 went from Hardware medium all the way to the max quality setting. In games like CS:S I can pinpoint your location by your footsteps. The X-Fi audio processor is a beast.

[Arca_ex]

With the Audigy 2 ZS I can run hardware High settings in BF2 with EAX enabled and in CS 1.6 I can shoot through walls and kill people because I can hear them, I get banned from so many servers lol.

[JenBell]

I went from audigy 2 to xfi and really liked the improvements instantly, only downer is the crackling sound but I found I small work around which works for me, not even the new drivers have totally fixed the crackling sound thing, but it only happens when watching HD stuff...anything else is totally fine...I know for sure its not the specs of my pc...there more than good enough. I dont think I can ever go back to anything else though, HD or not...still very happy with the xfi

[lemings]

Stay away from it if your using nForce4.... the x-fi has an issue with crackling/popping that creative just refuses to fix as of yet. The popping does not really become noticeable until you are in certain games, but for music its a pretty good card.

Actually, you should be fine with that motherboard, DFI is one of the few who updated their bios to support the x-fi.

[Bob Vila]

Stay away from it if your using nForce4.... the x-fi has an issue with crackling/popping that creative just refuses to fix as of yet. The popping does not really become noticeable until you are in certain games, but for music its a pretty good card.

Actually, you should be fine with that motherboard, DFI is one of the few who updated their bios to support the x-fi.

I've had no issues with my DFI. Why own any other motherboard for 939?