Grrr, I hate the sound card market!

[Aynjell]

Thread closed, I guess. I bought an X-Fi Titanium, and functionality wise, it's exactly what I was looking for. I can only complain about two things:

Seeing as how HDMI is about to get a lot more popular, the lack of an internal spdif port, or anything else I can use to connect to my video card, for that matter, is a bit sad, even though I don't immediately have an intention to use it.

There's no hardware button for changing modes, and I feel this would be extremely useful, especially when getting to the software in some cases might be difficult.

I bought the base card at best buy and I'm about to place an order for the one with the bay drive on newegg, and I'll take the one I bought back to best buy.

 

[Douken]

Changing modes is software related. I do switch modes with the Creative Volume Panel.

(right click)

It also looks nice.
(left click)

 

[Aynjell]

Changing modes is software related. I do switch modes with the Creative Volume Panel.

(right click)

It also looks nice.
(left click)

The system I have is a little different.

I guess I have a few more complaints:

The one I just ordered doesn't have the 6.3mm jack. For whatever reason I fond of them... I guess I grew into them with my old sound card.

For whatever reason the web updates totally forked my control panel. I ended up having to do a search for *.cpl and finally found the issue. I want to say it was probably caused by the realtek sound and the X-Fi sound icons having the same name, but if that isnt' the case I don't know what is. :\

Anyway, bottom line, hardware accel in games has improved for me with buying this card, and it sounds crisper, the crystalizer is a nice feature, and well, I seemed to have gotten all the features I paid for. I can't complain.

Worth noting, price went down by 20$ when I went to order the card. I was stoked, needless to say.

 

[Douken]

You are supposed to uninstall and disable even in the BIOS your onboard sound to prevent any conflicts.

The volume panel I have is an extra that came in the original CD. I bought my x-fi like 3 years ago so I dunno if the new xfi cards come with that.

This is the original CD from back then.

http://files.filefront.com/ISO+SB+X+Fi+series/;5020773;/fileinfo.html

and here's a list of the bloatware it contains, you burn it or mount it and install (choose Custom Install) what you want, be sure not to choose "Driver" option there cause that will install the old driver.

Supported Models (Driver Wise):
• SB X-Fi Xtreme Music (SB0460)
• SB X-Fi Xtreme Gamer (SB0730/SB073A)
• SB X-Fi Xtreme Gamer - Fatal1ty Professional Series (SB046A)
• SB X-Fi Fatal1ty FPS (SB0466/SB0256)
• SB X-Fi Platinum (SB0460/SB0251)
• SB X-Fi Platinum Fatal1ty Champion Series (SB046A/SB0256)
• SB X-Fi Elite Pro (SB0550/SB0510, SB055A/SB0510)
• All OEM versions biggrin.gif

Application & Plugin versions:
• Common Audio Driver Interface v2.10.67
• Creative 3DMIDI Player v1.10.05
• Creative Audio Console v2.40.13
• Creative Auto Tag Cleaner v5.20.00
• Creative Console Launcher v2.40.09
• Creative Diagnostics v5.01.13
• Creative Karaoke Player v1.60.15
• Creative Media Toolbox v5.10.02
• Creative MediaSource Go! v5.00.20
• Creative MediaSource 5 Player & Organizer v5.10.57
• Creative MediaSource DTS Neo:6 Plugin v5.00.05
• Creative MediaSource CD-ROM Burner Plugin v5.01.33
• Creative MediaSource MiniDisc Plugin v5.00.11
• Creative MediaSource Net Content Plugin v5.00.02
• Creative MediaSource Online Store Plugin v5.00.08
• Creative MediaSource Player Skin Pack v5.00.08
• Creative Smart Recorder v2.40.20
• Creative Software AutoUpdate v1.10.08
• Creative Speaker Connection Wizard v1.00.23
• Creative System Information v1.10.08
• Creative Vienna SoundFont Studio v2.40.73
• Creative Volume Panel v2.10.57
• Creative WaveStudio 7 v7.10.17
• Media File Tag SubSystem v2.50.02
• On Screen Display v2.00.06
• Playback and Recording SubSystem v4.10.51
• SoundFont Bank Manager v3.20.20
• Speaker Connection Wizard v1.00.23
• Theme Engine v3.50.12
• THX Console v3.00.12

 

[Aynjell]

You are supposed to uninstall and disable even in the BIOS your onboard sound to prevent any conflicts.

The volume panel I have is an extra that came in the original CD. I bought my x-fi like 3 years ago so I dunno if the new xfi cards come with that.

This is the original CD from back then.

http://files.filefront.com/ISO+SB+X+Fi+series/;5020773;/fileinfo.html

and here's a list of the bloatware it contains, you burn it or mount it and install (choose Custom Install) what you want, be sure not to choose "Driver" option there cause that will install the old driver.

I am? Wow, gee. Imagine somebody actually using two sound cards, lol.

Stop laughing because I do. And I don't think you're supposed to at all. For n00bs who just want to run a creative card, sure, but I have use for more than one and always have.

 

[jivetrky]

I use both my X-fi and onboard sound all the time. I've had my X-fi going to my PC speakers and my onboard going to my TV to output there. Never had any issues.


And once you get the front drive bay, I think you should find that you can change modes with the remote. And regarding the SPDIF on the card, according to the newegg link, the Titanium has SPDIF ports right on the back of the card, or do you actually mean on the card itself?

 

[Aynjell]

I use both my X-fi and onboard sound all the time. I've had my X-fi going to my PC speakers and my onboard going to my TV to output there. Never had any issues.


And once you get the front drive bay, I think you should find that you can change modes with the remote. And regarding the SPDIF on the card, according to the newegg link, the Titanium has SPDIF ports right on the back of the card, or do you actually mean on the card itself?

The card I have doesn't appear to have any spdif ports on teh back (I'm looking fori nternal, seems like the type of thing one would want to have full hdmi-future support.)

That being said, I know I'm not the only person to use his onboard sound for things like vent, etc.

 

[epidemic]

I look forward to it, don't let me down!

I was just about to type up a review of the Forte. No need now.

 

[Aynjell]

I was just about to type up a review of the Forte. No need now.

I'm still interested in it's performance, but I am quite happy with the X-Fi Titanium. I'll have to see how it performs, personally.

I know it doesn't crash all my games so I'm good there. I need to see if GRID works well with it, that's tonite's project.

 

[wingman99]

I'm using Audigy 2 ZS PCI with XP, just go back to xp and love life.

 

[Aynjell]

I'm using Audigy 2 ZS PCI with XP, just go back to xp and love life.

I'm not able to put my finger on it, but I like vista. And personally, my next computer which should get build in june, is going to run Vista and then obviously, windows 7, and I needed a sound card for it anyway.

The current rig will run XP when it is retired to secondary status. I'm thinking of getting a GTS250 for it's graphics card so that my woman can use it to game, and also it can be a dedicated guest machine. Also, I'm pretty positive it'd make a good quake/ut/whatever server.

But yeah, I just like vista. There's a lot of little things they did really really right.

 

[squads]

I'm using Audigy 2 ZS PCI with XP, just go back to xp and love life.

I'm with you on that account. I thought I was liking Vista, but after I put a new desktop together with XP I realized I was just dealing with Vista. XP is much faster and everything works...I can live without Aero.

 

[Aynjell]

I'm with you on that account. I thought I was liking Vista, but after I put a new desktop together with XP I realized I was just dealing with Vista. XP is much faster and everything works...I can live without Aero.

I hear you, XP is much more stout, but I'm pretty well rooted at this point, plus it's not like I paid for it. MSDN-AA at my school was awesome!

I've got a copy of Vista Business Edition, and about 7 copies of XP? I can't recall... but you can get a key for each version of the installer they have.



Update: I took my X-Fi back after recieving my X-Fi Champion series and I'm very content. Having the front audio bay drive is really nice and it even lets you select game mode from the panel. (providing you're on another option)

Also lets you turn CMSS-3D and Crystallizer off from the front panel (and back on). but most importantly, it's afront headphone jack and a volume knob, although I don't like the fact that it's not an amplifier like the A2ZS front panel was.

 

[Jod]

I fail to understand the bandwagon of Creative driver hate. I had an M-Audio Revolution 5.1 and an Audigy 1 running together just dandy on an nForce 3 chipset. No issues.

Then I upgraded to an X-Fi(original xtrememusic, fatal1ty, elite pro, and titanium vanilla) and through various boards and OS, including Vista and Windows 7 wo/ any major issues. Sure on a couple cheaper 4 layer boards (DFI Dark P965-S, Abit IP35 Pro) there were crackling issues in some games (GRAW2, BF2), but changing pci latency fixed the Abit. And more importantly, an Asus P5B Deluxe and Maximus didn't even need software help to alleviate the crackling. They were 8 layer boards IIRC.

I never use web updates, only install the driver and mixer/console/etc, never left onboard audio enabled/installed, always did a clean uninstall before a reinstall, basic stuff. But Aside from the transition of Live~Audigy, I have never really had any major issues w/ their drivers. I'd prefer to avoid using Alchemy, but that's not really their fault.

I'd prefer a tighter GUI package, better systray options, and automatically switching into game mode if 3d apps launched, throw in a profile editor while they're at it...but those don't really qualify for issues.

By all means, continue the hate if you want. My Creative cards have and probably always will work just fine. Not to say there isn't a place for a forte here soon.

 

[Aynjell]

I fail to understand the bandwagon of Creative driver hate. I had an M-Audio Revolution 5.1 and an Audigy 1 running together just dandy on an nForce 3 chipset. No issues.

Then I upgraded to an X-Fi(original xtrememusic, fatal1ty, elite pro, and titanium vanilla) and through various boards and OS, including Vista and Windows 7 wo/ any major issues. Sure on a couple cheaper 4 layer boards (DFI Dark P965-S, Abit IP35 Pro) there were crackling issues in some games (GRAW2, BF2), but changing pci latency fixed the Abit. And more importantly, an Asus P5B Deluxe and Maximus didn't even need software help to alleviate the crackling. They were 8 layer boards IIRC.

I never use web updates, only install the driver and mixer/console/etc, never left onboard audio enabled/installed, always did a clean uninstall before a reinstall, basic stuff. But Aside from the transition of Live~Audigy, I have never really had any major issues w/ their drivers. I'd prefer to avoid using Alchemy, but that's not really their fault.

I'd prefer a tighter GUI package, better systray options, and automatically switching into game mode if 3d apps launched, throw in a profile editor while they're at it...but those don't really qualify for issues.

By all means, continue the hate if you want. My Creative cards have and probably always will work just fine. Not to say there isn't a place for a forte here soon.

Try using an Audigy 2 ZS in vista. You'll hate the drivers too. When running UT3 bsod's your PC every single time if you enable hardware audio you'll get pretty leery of buying new products.

If you want to fully understand it, google daniel_k and read up on it. What transpired is worthy of hate.

Also, my sound card allows me to setup profiles(the new one).

But the X-Fi works, I have no complaints. I just can't stand what creative did to the older card owners. They stripped the driver of every feature, and the drivers weren't even stable, they wouldn't remember settings, and they were full of other little bugs. It was just a pain to use. Creative lied saying they couldn't be used, but one man proved them wrong by simply repackaging the drivers. Isn't that fishy to you? Read my first post and it explains it a bit clearer.

 

[Jod]

I understand the whole keeping stuff hidden on legacy devices, just not the bloat or error complaints. Then again, I had moved onto an X-Fi long before Vista came out. UT3 did fine w/ Vista 64 and X-Fi Elite Pro though.

I would love to support another chip right now, but I'm a sucker for CMSS3D in my games and good sound quality. It's not like I have much choice right now.

 

[Aynjell]

I understand the whole keeping stuff hidden on legacy devices, just not the bloat or error complaints. Then again, I had moved onto an X-Fi long before Vista came out. UT3 did fine w/ Vista 64 and X-Fi Elite Pro though.

I would love to support another chip right now, but I'm a sucker for CMSS3D in my games and good sound quality. It's not like I have much choice right now.

Well yeah, same here. I just am not very appreciative of how I was treated when this all occured.

 

[Jod]

I should have the Forte by middle of next week. It's been almost 9 months since I busted my poor old Elite Pro. It'll be nice to "listen" on the pc again.