Asus or Creative Labs for upgrade

Michaeljcox24

Michaeljcox24

Michaeljcox24

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Currently running an X Fi Fatality Extreme gamer, which I'm sure is causing my machine to take an eternity to shut down. Also, sound isn't all that loud and clear as it should be, so I'm thinking about an upgrade.

Do people recommend the Xonar cards more than the creative cards? The more I read the more people are slating the creative cards which as long as I've been into computer have been 'the' name for sound cards.

What would be a decent upgrade from the card I have?
 
To be honest, the XFI is a near to brilliant card. You certainly should not be suffering clarity issues or loudness and if you are, then you have issues.

Saying that, a great many people are indeed having issues with creative cards, but to be fair, the number of users with creative cards is massive.

I myself are using creative cards in all my LAN PCs with the exeption of two and they are ASUS... A DX1 and a cheapie DG.

The creative cards are either Audigy 1, 2, XFI Gamer or XFI Fatal1ty and annoyingly, there is very little difference between the Audigy cards and there is pretty much ZERO difference between the XFI Cards although there is a small noticeable difference going from audigy to XFI, but what of the ASUS? - In truth, while ASUS is definitely a nice warm sound, I quite like the Creative cards...

As for the reliability , I never went through any issues as such like many had, however last year I did seem to catch up, but only for a short time.

The drivers seem to be sorted out now, but then with Win7 I am just as happy to let Windows itself use its own drivers.

I think that if you feel that your card is slowing it down, then take the thing out and uninstall any and all drivers and have a few tests of shutting it down to make sure, and if the card is at fault then maybe try a different slot to install it to, and maybe even the latest drivers before you go spending.

The lower end asus cards are nmot going to be any better than the XFI, only the better ones and even then its also dependant on your speaker setup too! its no good buying a top notch ASUS if you have only spent a few quid on a billy-lal special offer speaker setup.
 
I stopped using creative cards a couple of years ago. Xonar are an altogether different beast. As said above it does depend on the speakers used.
 
To add to my last post :-

And also I would use the DX as my main PCs card, however I am currently using the XFI with the Drive bay add-on as I need both the HeadPhone connection, but also I occasionally use the other connections too, the MIC IN for my Bass Guitar, the AUX ins for ripping Various Audio ( LP / TAPE ) to MP3, and I do miss the FireWire from the Audigy Drive bay, but the Mobo has onboard at least for the Video Camera, so if I could find a drive bay thingy with all of those for the ASUS, Id swap it over in an instant.
 
The speakers I use are the HK soundsticks, the ones with a capacitive silver button at the bottom to turn the sound down.
So you lads reckon if I upgraded to the Asus Xonar D2 I wouldn't hear any difference?
 
Yes, you would hear a difference, and while I know that Hardmans Hardon speakers are usually good, I know nothing of the Soundsticks other than what Id know after a quick peek on google, but yes, you will hear a difference... enough to notice, but will it be enough to warrant the cost?

Id still try sorting your creative first.
 
My Creative XFI Fatl1ty has been in 3 rigs now and is still going strong. Ok ive had a few issues and had the lousy support but the way it sounds trully makes up for it.
 
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