Creative - Audigy SE vs. X-Fi Xtreme Gamer

Totally Dubbed

Totally Dubbed

Totally Dubbed

Associate
Joined
5 Jan 2010
Posts
475
Location
London
Hey all,
I'm new to these forums, so please be easy on me :D

(I know it's long, but better give a good story, instead of a bad one. Also, in case you need to know the details of the situation too)

My dilema:
I bought a dodgy X-fi Xtreme gamer 7.1 from ebay: SB0770.
The card doesn't work on my PC for starters, the driver disk provided is a copied one (even i could do that), the item was refurbished, the drivers for that model cannot be found on the creative website, although it can on HP and Alienware.

Well unless you guys have got better suggestions for it, please do let me know, as i have tried almost everything for it. (given up). And as i bought it from the US, and they won;t refund my postage...it means i either "gain" £14 in my bank account, and lose £21 from the transactions, or lose £35 all together....

Anyway, my thread isn't to rant about really dopy issues like this one, (unless you can help :D)

But it's rather:
What sound card would be better for me?
The Audigy SE vs the X-fi Xtreme gamer
£30 vs £70

Let me tell you what i'm running:
1.6ghz duel core, overclocked to 2.7ghz per core.
2 Gb ram on XP pro SP3
Nvidia 7600 GT
1.5 TB HD :P
New power supply (dunno which one, a good friend got it for me (Payed by me, from ******, around £30 i think)

The motherboard has an on-board sound slot.
I can put the green, orange and the black in there. (i'm not too technical sorry :D)

Motherboard:
GIGABYTE S-series: GA-EP31-DS3L

Right, well in terms of sound, i had and still have a X-540, but i upgraded for the Z-5500 Logitech 5.1 505 watts :P

So i like sound, and think if iv'e spent £240 on the system, might as well spend some on the PC to optimise the sound quality.

What i do on the PC?
Don't game. (i know it's un-holy, i used too though, so i'm redeemed right? :D )
I listen to music, surf the web, the usual jargon. But usually listen to music. That's why i got the sound system, as i really do enjoy music.

Now to the point (again) sorry for it being long winded.
Should i spend the extra £40 on the better sound card? As i don't game, but i do like listening to music. Will i notice the difference?

I don't mind dishing out the extra dosh, but should i really do it? It's not like the money is a REAL concern here, but is there any need to spend money that isn't needed?


Links to both cards:
Audigy:
http://uk.store.creative.com/products/product.aspx?catid=1&pid=14257

X-Fi Xtreme Gamer:
http://uk.store.creative.com/products/product.aspx?catid=1&pid=15853


Thank you for your patience, and your replies! :D

Dubbed
 
If you're not using headphones and just your 5.1 setup the Xonar DS is supposed to be a great card and is at a very good price. I'd definitely choose that over any audigy card :)
 
Forget the Audigy SE, waste of time. I know, I had one. For a few £ more the Xonar DS is a much better buy, which I currently have. DS replaced the Audigy SE. I would not bother with the Xtreme Gamer, it is aimed at gamers really, and at £70 is over priced, which really is a waste of £70 for someone who won't use it for gaming.
 
Yeah the Audigy SE is horrible for driver support, actually I will reprash that, creative are horrible for drivers, they keep there top end happy but the cheap stuff they don't give a damn about, its just far too much hassle for a poor quality sound card. I like the ASUS cards at the moment :)
 
I would go with a Xonar D1/DX (PCI/PCI-E) for Z-5500, from what I understand its got better surround sound options (dolby) and z-5500 are dolby right?

Will need to be verified by someone else but I think you might be wishing for more options if you end up going with the DS.

Also there is the Digital output, which Im not sure either have, but looking at the D1 Manual it supports digital speaker..
 
iNPUt said:
I would go with a Xonar D1/DX (PCI/PCI-E) for Z-5500, from what I understand its got better surround sound options (dolby) and z-5500 are dolby right?

Will need to be verified by someone else but I think you might be wishing for more options if you end up going with the DS.

Also there is the Digital output, which Im not sure either have, but looking at the D1 Manual it supports digital speaker..
Click to expand...

Well, the z-5500, have THX, DTS 96/24, Dolby digital pro logic.
More so they have optical output as well, along with coax connection , and obviously the analog.

So d1's/dx then?
 
Totally Dubbed said:
Well, the z-5500, have THX, DTS 96/24, Dolby digital pro logic.
More so they have optical output as well, along with coax connection , and obviously the analog.

So d1's/dx then?
Click to expand...

If musics your thing then yes the X1/DX without a doubt. The DS is also a great card, but as others have said its lacking the extra features and if it were me with those speakers i'd be buying the either the DX or X1 right now.
 
I'd grab the DX/D1, if you are going to use analogue. The DX/D1 has superior circuitry, which should help to produce a better sound.

If you are going to connect with optical, then you are bypassing all that, then the Z-5500 will handle the DAC, so you might aswell go with the DS if that is the case.
 
Nocky24 said:
If musics your thing then yes the X1/DX without a doubt. The DS is also a great card, but as others have said its lacking the extra features and if it were me with those speakers i'd be buying the either the DX or X1 right now.
Click to expand...

You mean d1 or Dx :P
Yup will do. Just have to double check with a friend tomorrow about the connection type. Don;t want to make a silly mistake!
 
can do optical on I think theres a little connecter in the box, but check, they would still work normally as well..

ye typo - d1 / dx :)
 
iNPUt said:
can do optical on I think theres a little connecter in the box, but check, they would still work normally as well..

ye typo - d1 / dx :)
Click to expand...

Totally Dubbed said:
You mean d1 or Dx :P
Yup will do. Just have to double check with a friend tomorrow about the connection type. Don;t want to make a silly mistake!
Click to expand...

Sorry LOL i think i must have been thinking about turtlebeach headsets at the time :p but yeh a D1 or DX would be a wise choice :)
 
Marsman said:
Ever heard of the phrase, don't judge a book by it's cover. :p

They have what is known as a flexi jack, which can take optical and mic. A little adaptor is included to which a standard optical cable is connected. :)
Click to expand...

And that comes with it?
Now that's like an added bonus! And like a free present :D hehe!
Thanks for the info!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom