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Old 07-02-2008, 02:37 AM   #1
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Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio 7.1

Hi all,

at the moment im using Realtec High definiton Audio for my sound (mobo one)

Even though it does sound quite good for intergrated do you think this will be better?

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showpr...odid=SC-049-CL

if for some reason the link doesnt work thats a Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio 7.1 Sound Card - OEM (PCI) im looking at.

MY MAX BUDGET IS £30 Inc VAT.

the speakers im using atm are LOGITECH X-140 2.0 which are also great speakers but i l probably be planning to upgrade them with 7.1s at a later date anyway.

also does that card do all the audio processing or would the cpu still do some? does it have x ram or is that only the Fatility?

Thanks in advance for replies
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Old 07-02-2008, 10:27 AM   #2
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Leave well enough alone.
Creative has come out with a pci-e card the requires no hacks for Vista or DX10.1.
Wait till it gets to the U.K. and then reconsider.
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Old 07-02-2008, 11:01 AM   #3
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If you're using speakers that cost less than about $250 each, it would be difficult to hear any diff. between onboard audio and a separate card. The speakers most people use with their PCs is by far the weakest link in the chain.
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Old 07-03-2008, 12:49 AM   #4
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I've noticed a big improvement when using X-Fi Xtreme Audio sound card vs. SoundMAX integrated sound card (which is better than realtek) with my headphones. My friend recently upgraded from realtek integrated to X-Fi Xtreme Audio and his $200 5.1 Logitech speakers have much better sound. The X-Fi Xtreme Audio I'm talking about here is the PCIe version, not sure if it is the same as the PCI version, but the PCIe version comes with more ports than the PCI version and has support for front panel sound; it also costs less where I live.
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Old 07-03-2008, 11:39 AM   #5
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Most people can hear a "big improvement" when they know which component they are listening to.

The trick is, can they hear it when they don't know whether they're listening to the new, more costly component, or the old cheaper component and when the spl levels are matched.
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