Asus Xonar Essence STX Advice

Wiry · 7 Dec 2011 at 15:37

Just a quick question then. Here is my MoBo

I decided to opt for a Xonar Essence STX. I had a look at some new-ish motherboards and I noticed they come with none/very few pci lanes. So I don't want to not be able to use the card 2 years down the road (reason purchasing the STX over the ST). So here is abit of Info about my position. I cannot use the middle 2 pci-e x1 slots just below the top x16 for obv reasons (5850 just blocks them totally). From people with the card, would it fit in the very top pci-e x1 lane, and I am running 2 x 4 gb of corsair dominator in both BLACK Ram slots. Also I don't need to worry about it colliding with a cpu cooler as I have a cpu water block. I'm just a bit worried that I'll buy a costly card and then It's not compatible/doesn't fit. I can't imagine it not fitting, but the worst thing would be to install it on Christmas day to find out it's too big etc. Also I cannot see the dimensions anywhere so if someone has one and could maybe spare 5 minutes to quickly measure the height and length, that would be superb. I have measured the dimension and the height from the very top of the x1 lane to the gpu below is about 3cm. and then the very bottom pcie x1 is very close to the gpu above so it may prevent heat issues. Also I'm guessing if I moved the gpu to the lower x16 it would be the gen 1 lane.

Many Thanks, Wiry

Marsman · 7 Dec 2011 at 15:45

I'll measure mine later. Admittedly it's an ST, but they are same dimensions. Would be able to get an idea of how far along it will go until it gets to the RAM slots.

Wiry · 7 Dec 2011 at 15:51

Thanks man. I sure hope it'll fit ! aha

MrZippo · 7 Dec 2011 at 16:26

I took some pics for you of my setup so you can see how much distance you got from the card to the ram and the cpu cooler.

I got a H100 cpu cooler in my Asus P8Z68-V pro with two MSI 6870s

Hope that hopes
I didn't have a measuring tape handy but I found some dimensions online for you.
Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 11.2 x 3.1 inches

Wiry · 7 Dec 2011 at 16:46

It's not likely to colide with any cathodes on my board is it? The one just to the left of the x1 lane and the one half way between the ram slots and the x1 lane. Many thanks for the responses so far and thanks for the picture mrzippo

Sorry If im boring you all ! but im new to this :/

MrZippo · 7 Dec 2011 at 17:03

I am pretty sure it will be ok if you use the top slot (the one nearest the ram and cpu)

Marsman · 7 Dec 2011 at 18:55

Wiry said:
It's not likely to colide with any cathodes on my board is it? The one just to the left of the x1 lane and the one half way between the ram slots and the x1 lane. Many thanks for the responses so far and thanks for the picture mrzippo Sorry If im boring you all ! but im new to this :/

Hard to say really without any picture to go by. Cathodes aside, I don't think you will have any problems.

Wiry · 7 Dec 2011 at 19:25

Here they are !

I'm sorry if they're unclear, in which I will re-take the photographs. But here are the best 4 I could take aha. And could I use the other x16 socket? its only gen 1 but it'll still be fast enough right?

Marsman · 7 Dec 2011 at 20:58

If you have got the other 16x slot free, you can use that.

Wiry · 7 Dec 2011 at 21:04

Marsman said:
If you have got the other 16x slot free, you can use that.

"1 x PCI Express gen1 x16 slot supports x4 speed (PCI_E5)
- supports ATI® Crossfire" (the second gpu x16 lane.)

Won't this downclock the Gpu or does this only apply if your using multiple gpu's? Also, because it's gen 1, will it be fine?

Marsman · 7 Dec 2011 at 21:14

That will only apply for Crossfire, or any GFX card in the 2nd 16x slot. Putting a sound card in there will have no bearing on the GFX card in the main 16x slot.

Wiry · 7 Dec 2011 at 22:46

Okay. All seems reasonable! Will have to order some time when they're back in stock/from somewhere else. But I dislike many companies like dpd because when I'm not in they always take it to the nearest depot 40 miles away. Thanks for the help: Marsman, MrZippo

Much appreciated!

Wiry · 8 Dec 2011 at 19:06

Do i need to un-install my realtek drivers so It doesn't ****-up the Asus Xonar when I receive it.

Inferno99 · 8 Dec 2011 at 19:28

Disable onboard audio in the bios :-)

Wiry · 8 Dec 2011 at 19:41

Ok thanks. I'm guessing it's the "hd audio controller"

Marsman · 8 Dec 2011 at 22:31

Yep, that'd be the one.

titaniumx3 · 9 Dec 2011 at 00:54

This is what I'd do:

- Uninstall the Realtek onboard sound drivers.

- Turn off computer and install Essence STX.

- Turn on computer and go straight into bios to disable onboard audio.

- Boot into Windows and install latest Asus drivers for the Essence.

- Weep as the glorious waves of sound caress your ear drums.

Guest2 · 12 Dec 2011 at 06:44

Remember its phono out too, not 3.5mm, so you will need a 1/4" > 3.5mm adapter if you are outputting to 3.5mm

Personally my ST outputs to phono which is connected to an amp & speaker setup

Marsman · 12 Dec 2011 at 13:36

The Essence comes with a RCA to 3.5mm socket cable. Didn't yours have one?

Also comes with a 6.35mm to 3.5mm adaptor.