Choices....X-Fi models

[jflail2]

X-Fi XtremeGamer Fatal1ty Professional Series is available in newegg at $116 after MIR:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16829102005

while the X-Fi XtremeGamer is a measly $70:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16829102006

I'm upgrading from onboard, so I think either will blow me away. I guess my question is, is the professional series worth the extra 46$? I just play CS and WOW, and mostly on headphones. I am leaning towards the cheaper model, but didn't want to miss out on much better quality/features for the extra $$.

The only big differences I could find are that the professional series has an "AD Link Connector" (no idea what this is for) and the prof series is 192khz versus 96khz.

Any input anyone????

Thanks!

[Grentz]

actually the only difference is XRAM (onboard 64mb of ram on the Fatal1ty).

both are the same card with same quality, same outputs, same everything except for the XRAM.

XRAM only is supported by a few games (BF2 for one) and in the mind of many at this time does not make a very big difference. I just went through the decision as well and went with the XtremeMusic as $46 for a bit of XRAM that is not even really used yet was not worth it for me.

EDIT: Sorry, made a mistake, thought you were talking about the Xtrememusic not the xtremegamer. The stuff i said applies to the xtrememusic, not xtremegamer.

[Donnie27]

X-Fi XtremeGamer Fatal1ty Professional Series is available in newegg at $116 after MIR:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16829102005

while the X-Fi XtremeGamer is a measly $70:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16829102006

I'm upgrading from onboard, so I think either will blow me away. I guess my question is, is the professional series worth the extra 46$? I just play CS and WOW, and mostly on headphones. I am leaning towards the cheaper model, but didn't want to miss out on much better quality/features for the extra $$.

The only big differences I could find are that the professional series has an "AD Link Connector" (no idea what this is for) and the prof series is 192khz versus 96khz.

Any input anyone????

Thanks!

The AD Link is for this. (http://www.creative.com/products/product.asp?category=13&subcategory=55&product=14711)

The Fatility card can also use this. (http://www.creative.com/products/product.asp?category=13&subcategory=55&product=14659) These use an internal connection.

If you don't think you'll ever need or want either of these, then get the Xtreme Gamer.

[Gautama]

Isnt the DAC on the Fatal1ty and XtremeMusic superieor to the DAC on the Gamer? (Better DAC equates to better sound)

[Grentz]

My mistake, thought you were comparing the Xtrememusic and fatal1ty.

The stuff i said applies to the Xtrememusic and fatal1ty, NOT the xtremegamer.

Sorry :p

[jflail2]

Sounds like the plain old gamer might be my best bet.......Anyone else care to sound off before I pull the trigger?

This had me curious as well:

Isnt the DAC on the Fatal1ty and XtremeMusic superieor to the DAC on the Gamer? (Better DAC equates to better sound)

[Donnie27]

Isnt the DAC on the Fatal1ty and XtremeMusic superieor to the DAC on the Gamer? (Better DAC equates to better sound)

All DACs are said to be the same except for the ones on the Elite Pro, the best and Xtreme Audio (sucks) that's not an X-Fi.

[jflail2]

Excellent, thanks all. The $70 gamer is on the way. (Good deal btw, couldn't find it for less than ~$95 everywhere else.)

[Gautama]

All DACs are said to be the same except for the ones on the Elite Pro, the best and Xtreme Audio (sucks) that's not an X-Fi.
Is the only difference between the music and gamer software then? Why would the music have a full PCB then?

[ElektronikSeraph]

Is the only difference between the music and gamer software then? Why would the music have a full PCB then?

Yeah I'm curious about this, too. I know the Music has different connectivity but I've never read anything definitive on Gamer vs. Music. $70 for that Gamer is really, really tempting, but I want to be sure I'm not screwing myself over compared to getting the Music.

[Donnie27]

Yeah I'm curious about this, too. I know the Music has different connectivity but I've never read anything definitive on Gamer vs. Music. $70 for that Gamer is really, really tempting, but I want to be sure I'm not screwing myself over compared to getting the Music.

I just added the I/O Drive to my Xtreme Music, in fact, I haven't gotten it yet. That connectivity is the only difference.

[Donnie27]

Is the only difference between the music and gamer software then? Why would the music have a full PCB then?

Shouldn't be any software difference. Because you can still upgrade to a remote control so those drivers are there. This and the Fatality without the I/O Driver were asked for. Creative sent out Surveys. Many say this is how the first Xtreme Music should have shipped. They did good with this but totally SUCKED with that whole Xtreme Audio BS!

[Grentz]

Dont forget you can be safe and get the XtremeMusic for 63.99 AR at amazon.com right now.

I just got it and it was cheaper than I could find the xtremegamer anywhere ;)

[Donnie27]

Dont forget you can be safe and get the XtremeMusic for 63.99 AR at amazon.com right now.

I just got it and it was cheaper than I could find the xtremegamer anywhere ;)

I got one when it first came out. That's a great deal you got!

[Leright]

What's the difference between the extreme gamer and the extreme music? Just the software bundle, or are there harware differences.

[CrimandEvil]

What's the difference between the extreme gamer and the extreme music? Just the software bundle, or are there harware differences.
There needs to be some clarification here.

This (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16829102188) is the regular X-Fi card (XtremeMusic).

This (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16829102007) is the XtremeAudio X-Fi.

This (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16829102006) is the XtremeGamer X-Fi.

The Audio card doesn't do EAX in hardware like the other cards (last time I heard atleast). The Gamer is simply a slightly cut down version of the XtremeMusic card (less memory, less connectors and few other things) but for the most part it's the same card.

Go with the X-Fi XtremeGamer card.

[Donnie27]

What's the difference between the extreme gamer and the extreme music? Just the software bundle, or are there harware differences.

The PCB, controller and wiring for the I/O Drives are the only real differences guys. The DACs and etc........................... are the same.

The POS Audio version shouldn't even be called X-Fi. Shame on Creative for that BS!

[Volucris]

There needs to be some clarification here.

This (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16829102188) is the regular X-Fi card (XtremeMusic).

This (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16829102007) is the XtremeAudio X-Fi.

This (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16829102006) is the XtremeGamer X-Fi.

The Audio card doesn't do EAX in hardware like the other cards (last time I heard atleast). The Gamer is simply a slightly cut down version of the XtremeMusic card (less memory, less connectors and few other things) but for the most part it's the same card.

Go with the X-Fi XtremeGamer card.The XtremeGamer only has analogue output and that sounds crappy compared to a digital connection. That is unless Creative has managed to make the analogue sound better.

It's not really the card that's the issue, it's the software for it. At this time, many people are having issues with the software and I can't say my luck is good enough to avoid those issues.

[ElektronikSeraph]

The XtremeGamer only has analogue output and that sounds crappy compared to a digital connection. That is unless Creative has managed to make the analogue sound better.

It's not really the card that's the issue, it's the software for it. At this time, many people are having issues with the software and I can't say my luck is good enough to avoid those issues.

So it is the breakout box or the FlexiJack or what that does the digital output?

'Cause looking at the pictures with the connections labelled at Newegg, the only difference is the presence of an AD_LINK (external) and AD_EXT (internal) connector.

Music diagram (http://www.newegg.com/Product/ShowImage.asp?Image=29%2D102%2D188%2D07%2Ejpg%2C29%2D102%2D1 88%2D01%2Ejpg%2C29%2D102%2D188%2D06%2Ejpg%2C29%2D102%2D188%2 D02%2Ejpg&CurImage=29%2D102%2D188%2D07%2Ejpg&Description=Creative+Sound+Blaster+X%2DFi+XtremeMusic+7%2E1+ Channels+PCI+Interface+Sound+Card+%2D+Retail) versus Gamer outside (http://www.newegg.com/Product/ShowImage.asp?Image=29%2D102%2D006%2D01%2Ejpg%2C29%2D102%2D0 06%2D02%2Ejpg%2C29%2D102%2D006%2D03%2Ejpg%2C29%2D102%2D006%2 D04%2Ejpg%2C29%2D102%2D006%2D05%2Ejpg%2C29%2D102%2D006%2D06% 2Ejpg%2C29%2D102%2D006%2D07%2Ejpg&CurImage=29%2D102%2D006%2D02%2Ejpg&Description=Creative+Sound+Blaster+X%2DFi+XtremeGamer+70SB07 3A00000+7%2E1+Channels+PCI+Interface+Sound+Card+%2D+Retail) and Gamer inside (http://www.newegg.com/Product/ShowImage.asp?Image=29%2D102%2D006%2D01%2Ejpg%2C29%2D102%2D0 06%2D02%2Ejpg%2C29%2D102%2D006%2D03%2Ejpg%2C29%2D102%2D006%2 D04%2Ejpg%2C29%2D102%2D006%2D05%2Ejpg%2C29%2D102%2D006%2D06% 2Ejpg%2C29%2D102%2D006%2D07%2Ejpg&CurImage=29%2D102%2D006%2D02%2Ejpg&Description=Creative+Sound+Blaster+X%2DFi+XtremeGamer+70SB07 3A00000+7%2E1+Channels+PCI+Interface+Sound+Card+%2D+Retail)

Edit - okay, looking at Creative's site, the FlexiJack is what handles the digital out, but they both have it:Music (http://creative.com/products/product.asp?category=209&subcategory=669&product=14066&nav=1) versus Gamer (http://creative.com/products/product.asp?category=209&subcategory=669&product=15853&nav=1). It really does look like the only difference is the size of the PCB and the presence of the breakout box connection.

Flexijack: Line In / Microphone In / Optical Out¹ via shared 3.5mm mini jack
FlexiJack: 3-in-1 function (Digital I/O1 / Line In / Microphone) via 3.50mm mini jack

[Moofasa~]

So it is the breakout box or the FlexiJack or what that does the digital output

Both can. Volucris has no idea what he is talking about.

[Volucris]

Both can. Volucris has no idea what he is talking about.Sorry, I forgot the disclaimer.http://hardforum.com/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif

The people that actually known things on this forum are next to useless because they rarley post.

[Gautama]

Hate messages to pm's please......

[CrimandEvil]

The XtremeGamer only has analogue output and that sounds crappy compared to a digital connection. That is unless Creative has managed to make the analogue sound better.
Like it matters, you only get stereo while gaming when using digital out. :rolleyes:

To the OP: Don't listen to Volucris; he has no idea WTF he's talking about.

[Volucris]

gah, messed up post, please delete

[KENNYB]

Like it matters, you only get stereo while gaming when using digital out. :rolleyes:

To the OP: Don't listen to Volucris; he has no idea WTF he's talking about.

This is one of the reasons that the Fatality FPS is frustrating. I bought one months before finding out that you can't get surround via optical. Actually, I learned that on this forum about a month ago after hooking up my nice Onkyo 7.1 system :D

I thought that 5.1 via optical would be a no-brainer. It's unbelievable that this is not an option on a supposedly high-end card. Luckily i bought the card used and didn't pay the astronomical price it used to be (before all the nice rebates floating around right now).

OP, if you can still get a Fatality FPS for $100 AR that's what i would choose. Otherwise a Gamer card is the right choice.

[Donnie27]

This is one of the reasons that the Fatality FPS is frustrating. I bought one months before finding out that you can't get surround via optical. Actually, I learned that on this forum about a month ago after hooking up my nice Onkyo 7.1 system :D

I thought that 5.1 via optical would be a no-brainer. It's unbelievable that this is not an option on a supposedly high-end card. Luckily i bought the card used and didn't pay the astronomical price it used to be (before all the nice rebates floating around right now).

OP, if you can still get a Fatality FPS for $100 AR that's what i would choose. Otherwise a Gamer card is the right choice.

Why would you want to compress a perfectly fine PROCESSED 5.1 output? But if you feel you must, get the XtremeGamer and a DTS 610. The only thing I found with it is that it is Louder. At the same Volume level the Analog sounded slightly better. At least on my Pioneer:)

[alg7_munif]

Why would you want to compress a perfectly fine PROCESSED 5.1 output? But if you feel you must, get the XtremeGamer and a DTS 610. The only thing I found with it is that it is Louder. At the same Volume level the Analog sounded slightly better. At least on my Pioneer:)
You mean when using DTS 610, the analogue sounded slightly better? The analogue should be slightly better than DTS 610 because the DTS 610 compresses the lower quality analogue source and not compressing the better digital source, the analogue output is already not good so compressing it wouldn't make the sound better, DD/DTS can't make a low quality source sounds better like Creative said they can make a low quality source better than the Studio Quality (http://www.creative.com/products/product.asp?category=209&subcategory=669&product=15855). The DTS 610 is just a POS. I know DD/DTS compression is lossy but if you have compared the lossy compression to the X-Fi's analogue, I think you would also use the lossy compression like I did. Even on my cheap Z-5400's receiver, the lossy DD compression sounds better than X-Fi's analogue. Btw there is a way to encode an AC3 signal on the X-Fi :eek: .

[KENNYB]

Why would you want to compress a perfectly fine PROCESSED 5.1 output? But if you feel you must, get the XtremeGamer and a DTS 610. The only thing I found with it is that it is Louder. At the same Volume level the Analog sounded slightly better. At least on my Pioneer:)

Why? From the Creative website... "Connect your PC to your home theater receiver with one thin cable for consistent playback every time."

That's how it should have worked out of the box.

[Donnie27]

You mean when using DTS 610, the analogue sounded slightly better? The analogue should be slightly better than DTS 610 because the DTS 610 compresses the lower quality analogue source and not compressing the better digital source, the analogue output is already not good so compressing it wouldn't make the sound better, DD/DTS can't make a low quality source sounds better like Creative said they can make a low quality source better than the Studio Quality (http://www.creative.com/products/product.asp?category=209&subcategory=669&product=15855). The DTS 610 is just a POS. I know DD/DTS compression is lossy but if you have compared the lossy compression to the X-Fi's analogue, I think you would also use the lossy compression like I did. Even on my cheap Z-5400's receiver, the lossy DD compression sounds better than X-Fi's analogue. Btw there is a way to encode an AC3 signal on the X-Fi :eek: .

Yes, I meant what I said:) No, it is not a POS IMHO but as you know, Gaming on the X-Fi and Analog out is as good as it gets.

[Donnie27]

Why? From the Creative website... "Connect your PC to your home theater receiver with one thin cable for consistent playback every time."

That's how it should have worked out of the box.

Consistent/Easy doesn't always mean best. You have to know your HTS's setting to switch to the right setting. What they mean is that you just set your receiver to DD and forget it. You don't have to change from Digital In to Analog, Pro-Logic or some kind of simulated surround.

The best output for Games is Analog and Compressing it causes loss of sound quality.

[alg7_munif]

The best output for Games is Analog and Compressing it causes loss of sound quality.
Compression and analogue causes loss of sound quality, if you compress an analogue sound, it will futher degrade the sound quality. With X-Fi out of the box, you can only get a surround sound from games through analogue but with some efforts, actually you can use AC3 compression and send the surround sound through SPDIF output. When using AC3, the D-A conversion is done by your receiver instead of the sound card. Sometimes a lossy compression & D-A conversion done by the receiver can give a better sound than a lossless & D-A conversion done by a sound card, sometimes it could be the other way around.

[Donnie27]

Compression and analogue causes loss of sound quality, if you compress an analogue sound, it will futher degrade the sound quality. With X-Fi out of the box, you can only get a surround sound from games through analogue but with some efforts, actually you can use AC3 compression and send the surround sound through SPDIF output. When using AC3, the D-A conversion is done by your receiver instead of the sound card. Sometimes a lossy compression & D-A conversion done by the receiver can give a better sound than a lossless & D-A conversion done by a sound card, sometimes it could be the other way around.


Again, STRAIGHT Analog is just fine for Games thank you:) No, you're NOT getting 5.1 from X-Fi SPDIF and the D-A Conversion is FINE! No, that signal will not bypass anything and go straight to the receiver's DAC. Unless that hack is finished. I'm talking about for Games, not CD, DVD or etc.....Other than that, the Sound Card's DAC's and the Receiver's AMPs are fine!

[alg7_munif]

Unless that hack is finished.
It is, you just need to search for it...

[Donnie27]

It is, you just need to search for it...

Hehehehe!

[alg7_munif]

Hehehehe!
Did you say before that X-Fi's analogue is great? I don't think you need it :p

[Donnie27]

Did you say that X-Fi's analogue is great, I don't think you need it.

No, I said it was good enough for Games.

[CrimandEvil]

No, I said it was good enough for Games.
Which is pretty much the only reason to bother with a Creative card.

[Donnie27]

Which is pretty much the only reason to bother with a Creative card.

X-Fi has been Zero bother at all LOL!

[ballpoint]

Personally I love my X-Fi Platinum, connected via analogue to a Creative Inspire 5300 amb\sub powering Cambridge Soundworks Four Point Surround with Inspire 5300 centre channel. The live drive is great... no more reaching around behind the PC if I wanna use headphones, etc.

[jflail2]

The Gamer should be here tomorrow. Thanks for your input all; learning more by the day ;)

[Donnie27]

The Gamer should be here tomorrow. Thanks for your input all; learning more by the day ;)

Good Luck!

After playing with several cards, I'd easily buy X-Fi Xtreme Music again. Price to Performance is hard to beat.

[yossarian]

Personally I love my X-Fi Platinum, connected via analogue to a Creative Inspire 5300 amb\sub powering Cambridge Soundworks Four Point Surround with Inspire 5300 centre channel. The live drive is great... no more reaching around behind the PC if I wanna use headphones, etc.

That's good to hear. My platinum should arrive Friday from Amazon ($139 w/$50 rebate!) :cool:

[SoylentGreen]

I believe the xtreme gamer is hardware accelerated, while the regular audio one is only software accelerated.

[Xaeos]

If I'm correct here, the X-Fi Fatality FPS and the Fatality Pro Gamer are both exactly the same except the FPS has the 5 1/4 inch bay drive. Am I correct? I am considering and upgrade as well, and though I don't want the big external box of the Elite Pro, the next model "down" so to speak would be the Fatality? Could I buy the Pro Gamer and then get the front panel bay later? Or is there some advantage to having the special FPS panel?

Oh, and does anyone know if the X-Fi has decent linux support as of yet? Awhile ago, the Audigy 2 ZS was the last supported Creative card for linux.

Bah. We wouldn't have to go through this if one of the other manufacturers that makes better sound cards could have access to EAX 3+

[Moofasa~]

Last I heard Creative was still working on a linux driver for the X-Fi series. Not sure if they released it yet, but there is one in the works.

[I(illa Bee]

I bought the low profile gamer (70SB073A00000) because it has standard front pannel audio hook up on the card. all the other creative cards do not. You have to deal with moding a plug to fit the special dell plug on the card to get you front pannel jacks hooked up.. and then they dont even work right.