Should i? or Should

[cr0ss]

i have a audigy 4. never really gotten a chance upgrading it. since i been spending on video cards, processors etc. now i have a chance.

i been looking at the Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Fatal1ty FPS w/ front access panel. i proberly wont be using the front access panel due to that i have a antec 900 case (all 3 slots are used), i also been lookin at the x-fi xtremegamer and the xtremegamer fatal1y.

i read that these card doesnt "shine" if they dont have the best sound hardware (headset/speakers)

or should i better off buyin a new headset?

price is not really a issue but i prefer something around the 250$ CND mark

im a average gamer. i am a sound freak when i listen to music and such.

edit - i figure that the x-ram from the x-fi xtremegamer fatal1y increased gameplay?

[grumperfish]

edit - i figure that the x-ram from the x-fi xtremegamer fatal1y increased gameplay?
Not really. Maybe in Battlefield 2 but basically nothing supports it "yet" (I say yet because it's been this way since the card's release which was quite awhile ago now).

Honestly if you have an Audigy 4 (not a bad soundcard by any stretch) already, and you're not going to use the front panel, there's really no reason to pick up an X-Fi since A4 audio quality is pretty good as it is and the driver set is fairly mature. You'd be be better served to get a better headset/speakers, and/or a separate amp for your headphones (I don't know much about headphones as the only times I use them are when I just run them through my digital receiver).

If you really want to get a new soundcard, since music quality is more important to you, you should look into a bluegears (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16829127002) card though.

[jivetrky]

I agree with grumperfish. You'd be much better served by getting some good speakers (or headphones if that is what you use most)

The Aud4 is still a good card, the upgrade to the X-fi wouldn't really be that noticable. Don't get me wrong, it's a better card, but probably not worth going from an aud4. And plus, if you don't have good speakers, it won't matter anyway.

[cr0ss]

well i have a logitech x-530 recently and i dont really use it that often..

any good headsets? :P

[jivetrky]

yeah, an x-530 isn't going to give you the most your soundcard can do. You need some good Logitech Z-series (z-5300 or z5500) or a Klipsch set would also be good. Although I think they've discontinued their 5.1 promedias, so they could be harder to find.

Headsets, I'm not real familar with. I know alot of people say sennheiser has great headphones. I'd assume they also have headsets. :shrug:

[satandole666]

I'd recommend the Z-5500s in a heartbeat. I've owned mine for 3 years now and still love them. Well worth the money IMO.

[jivetrky]

yep, I'd recommend either the z5300 or 5500's. The 5500's are definitely better if you can afford them...but the z5300's can sound very good with a good soundcard.

[cr0ss]

well liked i said. i dont use speakers that often. rarely.

[jivetrky]

this sticky is a couple of years old, but I'd think it would still hold some good info:

http://www.ocforums.com/showthread.php?t=383298