Creative X-fi extreme music Or Motherboard Audio (Z270x gamingk5)

Andy Pandy · 17 Dec 2017 at 16:41

Hi all. I am thinking about hooking up my speakers to the computer again but I am unsure on whether I should connect them to my X-fi extreme music sound card or to the Gigabyte Z270x Gaming K5 motherboard. Which should give the best sound quality? Thanks

Andy Pandy · 17 Dec 2017 at 17:23

Just opened up the computer and I realise the sound card won't fit anywhere lol. My motherboard only has pci express lanes and the sound card is too small. I think its for a regular pci lane?

Rroff · 17 Dec 2017 at 17:25

The xtreme music originally came in the old PCI format though I think other models and later releases had PCI-e options.

Andy Pandy · 17 Dec 2017 at 17:37

Yeah. I did get the soundcard 11 years ago so I guess it's time for an upgrade. I tried the motherboard audio, I connected the green orange and black audio cable to the coloured ports on the back of the motherboard but I could only get sound from 1 speaker. I am trying to run my Creative Megaworks 5.1 speakers. I downloaded the X-fi audio driver from the Gigabyte website but it says there isnt a compatible audio device present. Any ideas

?

hornetstinger · 17 Dec 2017 at 17:46

You won't notice the difference in sound quality with those speakers anyway.

Andy Pandy · 17 Dec 2017 at 17:52

Im such an idiot! I forgot I didn't install the Realtek audio driver. Now I have my 5.1 speakers working. Are my speakers not very good any more then? They are the
Cambridge SoundWorks MegaWorks THX 5.1 550. They sound quite good to me but they are old..

hornetstinger · 17 Dec 2017 at 18:03

They're tiny little PC speakers, so not. I had the Creative FPS 2000's and they were bloody awful. I'd look at something like the little Q Acoustics 2000 or Wharfedale Diamond 9.0, with a little T-Amp.

Marsman · 17 Dec 2017 at 18:10

Depends what the OP wants the speakers for. Stereo speakers aren't much use of the OP wants 5.1 sound for gaming.

The speakers he has are fine for gaming.

Andy Pandy · 17 Dec 2017 at 18:17

Well I used to love the speakers for 5.1 gaming but I use 7.1 headphones these days. I wanted to connect the speakers again to rock the house. Before I was quite happy with how loud they went, you could hear them from outside with all the windows closed. I definitely think that I am due a speaker upgrade if I really want to rock the house but I am completely clueless in what to look for. For example, the Edifier Luna E235 sounds good to me but I know nothing about speakers. Do you have any suggestions on what I might want to get

I have a budget of £200-£300 in the new year.

Thanks!

hornetstinger · 17 Dec 2017 at 20:18

Andy Pandy said:
Well I used to love the speakers for 5.1 gaming but I use 7.1 headphones these days. I wanted to connect the speakers again to rock the house. Before I was quite happy with how loud they went, you could hear them from outside with all the windows closed. I definitely think that I am due a speaker upgrade if I really want to rock the house but I am completely clueless in what to look for. For example, the Edifier Luna E235 sounds good to me but I know nothing about speakers. Do you have any suggestions on what I might want to get I have a budget of £200-£300 in the new year.

Thanks!

That loudness is pure distortion. Have a listen to proper hifi speakers and those Creative speakers will be put in the skip (like what I did) Like I said try Q Acoustics 2010i and a T-amplifier, or if you need more inputs, HDMI switching then get a budget AVR, like a Yamaha 300 series

Darren_uk · 20 Dec 2017 at 10:26

Use the onboard Audio on the GA-Z270X-Gaming K5
it as the

Sound Blaster X-Fi MB5 + ALC 1220 120dB SNR HD Audio

Much better than the X-fi extreme music old card.

From the motherboard website

First install: Realtek HD Audio Driver
(For Windows 10 64bit ver.1709)

then install: Creative SB X-Fi driver [1.0.0.19]

Andy Pandy · 21 Dec 2017 at 16:17

Thanks for the replies. I got the sound working in the end and the onboard audio does sound better than my old x-fi card. I will be making a spec me thread for speakers and an amp soon. Hornetstinger has made me feel bad about my speakers

Darren_uk · 23 Dec 2017 at 11:02

Andy Pandy said:
Thanks for the replies. I got the sound working in the end and the onboard audio does sound better than my old x-fi card. I will be making a spec me thread for speakers and an amp soon. Hornetstinger has made me feel bad about my speakers

a Good 5.1 Speaker System Like Logitech 906

mistersprinkles · 23 Dec 2017 at 20:44

Darren_uk said:
Sound even more so with a Good 5.1 Speaker System Like Logitech 906

The words highlighted in red do not belong in the same sentence together any more than:

Donald Trump/Attractive
or
Brussels Sprouts/Delicious
or
Realtors/Sincere

hornetstinger · 23 Dec 2017 at 20:48

My auntie made lovely brussel sprouts. Not bitter or anything. Guess she used butter?

Andy Pandy · 24 Dec 2017 at 11:35

I ordered a Soundblaster Z from a website last night and it was delivered this morning! I've got it setup and my friend has just dropped off his Logitech Z906 for me to try. Wow is all I can say! To me this sounds incredible.. I realise there are far better speakers than these but to me this is perfect!

Darren_uk · 24 Dec 2017 at 12:04

Andy Pandy said:
I ordered a Soundblaster Z from a website last night and it was delivered this morning! I've got it setup and my friend has just dropped off his Logitech Z906 for me to try. Wow is all I can say! To me this sounds incredible.. I realise there are far better speakers than these but to me this is perfect!

Yep, Logitech Z906 System is Very Good, I Have 2 x 906 Systems, One I got for £169 New for back up as they so good,

Edifier Speaker Systems are good also but cost like £400 to 600 & have features for the living room Like Extra Opticals, Bigger Sub, that I don't need, I just use the PC
Would not any difference in sound quality on the PC

What sound blaster Z did you get? , OEM Version ? or The Red cover Retail with beamforming Mic?
CREATIVE SOUND BLASTER ZXR £189 Soundcard Would best Sound, But the price Tag

Andy Pandy · 24 Dec 2017 at 12:42

I got the retail one with the red cover and the mic. Is the mic any good? For £63 the soundcard seemed like a nice price

It's also very good!

Darren_uk · 24 Dec 2017 at 13:19

Andy Pandy said:
I got the retail one with the red cover and the mic. Is the mic any good? For £63 the soundcard seemed like a nice price It's also very good!

The Beam Forming Mic is Very Good, I use it for Discord/ Gaming, I Don't like Headsets

Very Clear Sound with Sound Blaster Z, You got a good buy there, the Same Retail version I have
At a great Price.

Andy Pandy · 24 Dec 2017 at 14:00

The mic does seem very good, ive just tried it. I have an issue now lol. I plugged my Hyper x cloud 2 direct into the soundcard and WOW does it sound better. But the cable is really short! Would a 3.5mm jack extension cable solve this issue?