Halo 1 & 2 for PC
This topic has moved here: Poll [8 votes]: Which sound blaster do you recommend?
  • Poll [8 votes]: Which sound blaster do you recommend?
Subject: Creative Sound Blasters
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

Poll: Which sound blaster do you recommend?  [closed]
X-Fi Elite Pro:  38%
(3 Votes)
X-Fi Fatal1ty:  12%
(1 Votes)
X-Fi Platinum:  0%
(0 Votes)
Other:  50%
(4 Votes)
Total Votes: 8

I've decided to get a sound card for my birthday, which is in two days, but I don't know which one I should get.

  • 07.02.2006 7:57 AM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

Should I get the X-Fi Elite Pro,
X-Fi Fatal1ty, or the
X-Fi Platinum?

  • 07.02.2006 9:51 AM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

Kim,

I have an Audigy 2 ZS and its very nice. I just recently purchased the X-Fi Xtreme Music (or whatever its called). The only reason you would want to get one of the other models is if you record alot of stuff or would need to connect things externally through the front with the faceplate. In reality, there isnt much to plug in there that you are going to use. If you're just looking for a nice gaming card and a music card, get the xtreme music. the other ones also have extra ram, but you dont need that yet for much. what kind of speakers do you have? unless its at least 5.1 i wouldn't get one of these cards. if you need a 5.1 system i am selling my Z680's from Logitech :D

  • 07.02.2006 10:01 AM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

Get the audigy series,they are still very good for the price,don't pay SO MUCH money more for just a X-FI while there is not such a big improvement.
There also are alot of bugs for the X-FI's
I just orderd my audigy4 :)

  • 07.02.2006 10:41 AM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

Sorry,double post.



[Edited on 7/2/2006]

  • 07.02.2006 10:41 AM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

I don't have a 5.1 surround sound system, but I do have a headset. I heard (no pun intended) that these sound blasters enable surround sound on stereo headsets.

  • 07.02.2006 4:36 PM PDT

* Pr: ĭnʹtərnĕts: "I hear there's rumors on the uh (pause), Internets...

The X-Fi series is your best bet.

Get just the Xtreme Music, or the Fatal1ty; the 64mb of 'X-RAM' will do you good in the future.

  • 07.02.2006 4:52 PM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

I also have the Audigy 2 ZS. Great for a home computer, playing games, surround sound. Capable of 7.1 surround sound. Me, I just have my turtle beach 5.1 surround sound headset into the card. Other than that, there would be no use for it.

[Edited on 7/2/2006]

  • 07.02.2006 4:54 PM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

Turtle Beach has headsets for the PC? I thought they only made them for the Xbox.

  • 07.02.2006 5:30 PM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

the creative cards (newer ones) can create a surround sound like affect, but its not true surround sound. i think you'd be better to just get something else unless your onboard sound is hurting you that bad. if you do decide to get a card try the Audigy 2 ZS or gamers edition.

p.s. does anyone know if creative will be making PCI-E sound cards soon?

  • 07.02.2006 11:33 PM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

Are they externally mounted? Or must they be installed internally?

  • 07.03.2006 4:43 AM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

Posted by: Master Kim
Are they externally mounted? Or must they be installed internally?


Most likely internally. I've never seen an external sound card.

  • 07.03.2006 6:27 AM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

Pretty much all Sound Blaster solutions are internally based. Nothing beats the performance of a card plugged right into a system's BUS. This includes the X-Fi series

However, all three of those X-Fi products have external hardware as well.

First, let's talk about the Fatal1ty and the Platinum. They have what's called the I/O Drive. The Drive just provides more interface options for you to connect with the card. These other interfaces include the options to record sound from mixers, amplifiers, keyboards, etc.

It looks like the I/O Drives require a 3 1/2 inch bay (Floppy drive bay), as opposed to a 5 1/4 (DVD - CD-ROM drive bay), so if you want to use the I/O Drive, you'll need a free 3 1/2 inch drive bay. It's hard to tell which bay size it wants from the picture, and the rest of the specifications don't say anything, but it does look like a 3 1/2 inch unit, and I've had Sound Blaster I/O bays before, so I'm pretty sure it's still 3 1/2. Modern ATX cases usually have two 3 1/2 inch bays, and up to four 5 1/4 inch bays. Almost always, the second 3 1/2 is free, the first is used for the floppy drive.

The external component for the Elite Pro is a stand-alone external component and it just connects to the card without the need for a drive bay. Regardless of this, all three solutions require installing a card internally in the PC.

[Edited on 7/3/2006]

  • 07.03.2006 7:25 AM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

If your getting a new apu,you need a better headset or it is useless.

Get Meduse or Sennheiser,they cost alot but they own everything.

  • 07.03.2006 8:30 AM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

actually kim,

the creative front plates use a 5" bay, where the EIDE optical drive or fan contorller would go. you really arent ever going to use it, trust me its a waste of money to pay all that extra money for the face plate.

  • 07.03.2006 9:02 AM PDT
  • gamertag: opog
  • user homepage:

Posted by: McKeegan_WRX
It looks like the I/O Drives require a 3 1/2 inch bay (Floppy drive bay), as opposed to a 5 1/4 (DVD - CD-ROM drive bay), so if you want to use the I/O Drive, you'll need a free 3 1/2 inch drive bay. It's hard to tell which bay size it wants from the picture, and the rest of the specifications don't say anything, but it does look like a 3 1/2 inch unit, and I've had Sound Blaster I/O bays before, so I'm pretty sure it's still 3 1/2. Modern ATX cases usually have two 3 1/2 inch bays, and up to four 5 1/4 inch bays. Almost always, the second 3 1/2 is free, the first is used for the floppy drive.


My X-Fi Platinum required a 5 1/4 inch bay.



[Edited on 7/3/2006]

  • 07.03.2006 9:06 AM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

Hmm. Do you all recommend a new sound card or a new headset? My birthday is tomorrow and I need to choose quickly.

  • 07.03.2006 9:38 AM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

My motherboard is fine. I have an Intel Pentium 4 Processor with 3.20 GHz, which is pretty good by my standards.

Also, I would upgrade from AGP to PCI-E if I could, but I can't do that this year. When my birthday comes next year I can upgrade to PCI-E.

  • 07.03.2006 3:26 PM PDT