Creative Labs SB0460

Cookeh

Cookeh

Cookeh

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Evening.

I just found this knocking around in the spare bedroom, I have no idea where it came from as I certainly didn't buy it, but hey ho. A quick Google seems to be indicative of it being a Creative Labs Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeMusic, could anyone with some knowledge of older soundcards (I'd estimate it be anywhere from 5-8 years old) confirm this? Reckon its even worth searching for drivers for it and running it or will it be inferior to my onboard, given its age?

Cheers chaps.
 
I can tell you the Z is a lot more work to get decent sound from and most of the EQ's do nothing bar the Classical.

No game mode and scout mode sound crap and weird so you need to mix you own game mode.

The upmixing stereo to 5.1 is not as good and not equal from speakers.

Again takes a lot of work to get decent, lack of support/drivers as all of Creatives hardware.
 
TwsT said:
what does it look like.

specs are still listed on a rival american site.
Click to expand...

Identical to the pics on this page but with Hynix ram instead of Sammy. Does this mean its an Audigy and not a true X-Fi or was it just a change up in the manufacturing line due to price or something?

Specs look reasonable, and CMSS-3D is pretty decent, just a question of whether or not it still runs and if it is still up to snuff given its age.
 
All functions of my Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Champion (hardware based+64MB Xram same as before) ran in Win 8 so assume it will but grab the Pax drivers.
 
just different ram, they use what they can get hold of asides hynix is good.

Creative released an updated driver it's definitely worth a look.
 
Yeah, cant figure out what power source it needs, is it 4pin floppy drive? Left my headphone amp/dac set-up at my Uni house, so curious to see the difference a former high-end card makes.
Is that the 2.18 driver?
Thanks TwsT (and jh30)
 
Paha, it works, and it is indeed an XtremeMusic. Feedback to come with regards to differences vs 'modern' onboard with passive speakers and a variety of headphones in music and gaming.
 
Brief update:

With my Diamond 9.0s through the SA770, there is very little discernable difference. Slightly great clarity in the treble and the bass seemed to extent a bit deeper. I certainly found this to be a disappointing occurrence, I was expecting more from a soundcard that retailed at £120!

Figured I should give them a go for gaming, test out the CMSS-3D software with a few pickups on CSGO. My initial thoughts weren't that great, the soundstage was certainly wider, but the sound became very thin and lifeless. Got a bit into the game, starting focusing on the actual positional audio and my viewpoint was flipped - it seems lifeless due to the slightly clipped bass and a mild mid-boost, but this very much works to its advantage. Weapon switches and footsteps became that much more apparent and less shielded by the detonation of nades/weapon fire. I shall have to try it with a more immersive game to determine how much that bass reduction affects non-comp games. I also need to experiment with CMSS-3D and other presets to see if I can maintain the increase in positional accuracy without detracting from overall immersion.

As my headphones were already plugged in (and I'm a lazy prat) I figured Id' leave them in, and give a few of my favourite tracks a go. First thing I noticed was a much more forward sound. Bass is more lively, more restrained but with a deeper impact. Trebles are a bit more prominent whilst still maintaining a more neutral sound signature.

More to follow with more experimentation.
 
Cookeh said:
Same card. The Fatal1ty version had a different model number, as did the XtremerGamer variant.
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You sure?

I'm sure I bought this

http://support.creative.com/Product...SET=prodfaq:PRODFAQ_16559,VARSET=CategoryID:1

or something similar it was definitely a fatality one, unless i threw that out and then bought another sound card.

i doubt it though as i moved it between my last few machines and i paid a crap load for it. i threw the remote and panel, etc out for sure.
 
XtremeMusic had a panel that plugged into the soundcard, I am also missing that part. As far as I can tell the D model number changed from XtremeMusic to XtremeGamer to Fatal1ty. Yours matches mine and my card is recognised as the XtremeMusic.
 
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Great card OP. I've been running the exact same one for some years now with Pax drivers. Not had a single issue a sound quality is crisp. Put it this way just the other week i got a Soundblaster Z from work and took it back the day after. I couldn't put my finger on it but basically the crispness wasn't there.
 
Seemingly. Gunna try fresh PAX drivers in the am. After about 5 hours of listening today it just emitted a high pitched squeal (think coil whine x100), and my PC kept BSODing and hanging.

Removed the card, and voila, no issues at all.
 
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