any sound card deals (just purchased z-5500)

[kingkajohn]

I just purchased a logitech z-5500 and i want to upgrade my onboard audio. Any suggestions?

I also heard that Creative's X-fi video cards have compatibility issues with windows vista... ???

I was thinking about buying this from circuit city
X-fi gamer for 50 bucks after mail in rebate

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Creative-Labs-Sound-Blaster-X-Fi-Gamer-Sound-Card-SB073A/sem/rpsm/oid/161717/catOid/-12973/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

and if anyone can explain the upsides of getting the X-fi fatal1ty instead of the x-fi gamer sound card that would be awesome.

Thanks in advance.

[vixro]

I have an x-fi card with Vista (used on 32bit and currently on 64-bit)

The latest driver set appeared to be buggy for me, but the version before the current works fantastic without any bugs at ALL.

I have the x-fi xtrememusic, which is discontinued but can be found on ebay.

[funzie]

Get the Bluegears b-Inspirer. Best card I have ever owned, works perfectly in Vista and with those speakers, not to mention it doesn't have all the extra un-needed crap that Creative has.

[Burninate]

Is there really much point getting a nice sound card for Vista? They ended support for hardware accelerated sound with the Vista release. Meaning there is no EAX support what-so-ever if a game does not use Open GL. I have Vista and like it and all, but this is the largest issue for me. Creative's EAX technology did do quite a bit to make games sound a lot more real. There is software emulation to be found for individual games that will allow EAX in Vista, I found out, if you have an X-Fi series card. I don't have one :cry: But I wish I did for this reason.

[rabiddawgs]

well i think it depends on what your going to use the card for..gameing , music or watching movies.

are you running vista?

[Teh Governator]

I think people are holding out for the new Auzentech Prelude 7.1 coming out soon.

[g0dM@n]

Dude, the Z-5500s ROCK... I've hooked up my X-Fi Fatal1ty to it via the digital optical front panel, and it's CRISP!!!

I only did it temporarily... I use my 5500s for my HDTV and xbox 360... I use klipsch 2.1 for my PC... but like I said the X-fi kicked ass with it. It gets so loud and doesn't distort whatsoever with an X-Fi.

[kingkajohn]

well i think it depends on what your going to use the card for..gameing , music or watching movies.

are you running vista?

yup running vista


is there much difference b/w the x-fi gamer edition and the fatal1ty?

[vixro]

Is there really much point getting a nice sound card for Vista? They ended support for hardware accelerated sound with the Vista release. Meaning there is no EAX support what-so-ever if a game does not use Open GL. I have Vista and like it and all, but this is the largest issue for me. Creative's EAX technology did do quite a bit to make games sound a lot more real. There is software emulation to be found for individual games that will allow EAX in Vista, I found out, if you have an X-Fi series card. I don't have one :cry: But I wish I did for this reason.



EAX does work with certain games with Creative ALchemy. I was able to get it within the games that I play in Vista.

http://www.soundblaster.com/alchemy/


This is supported directly by Creative and works great.