Replace onboard sound with an old X-Fi?

uZi

uZi

uZi

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1 Aug 2003
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314
I'm currently using the onboard sound from my motherboard (see Sig). I've also got an old X-Fi (Fatality edition with the front breakout box, etc).

I'm using a pair of sennheiser HD595s which are plugged into the front sockets on my case. Sometimes I feel I miss things like footsteps in FPS games, or my teammates seem to have heard something I haven't (e.g. in pubg).

Do you think I'd see an improvement with the X-Fi and/or the breakout box added?

Obviously I could just try it, but the cards in a box buried, in the attic, so thought I'd get opinions first:)
 

Marsman

Marsman

Marsman

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18 Oct 2009
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In most cases, the only issue with using an old card, is when it comes to drivers. Hardware wise, old cards are still very good.

I've no idea what drivers are like for X-Fi cards with Windows 10; whether Creative's work, or whether you'd need to use modified drivers. Just looking now; PAX drivers are still going.

It's worth a try, because with onboard audio, you don't get any sound location at all (besides left and right); except what the game itself has built in.
 

EsaT

EsaT

EsaT

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Now that's old sound card. Had that myself long time ago...
Though it lasted longer than my HD595...
You must have hit lottery jackpot if you haven't had to glue them completely back together by now.

Primary improvement wouldn't come from technical signal quality improvement, but from binaural sound.
And X-Fi's CMSS-3D would be pretty much insanely detail emphasizing. Though at expense quite a heavy general mangling of sound and loss of bass.
Making Creative's newer HRTF algorithm's better for such bass neutral headphone.
https://youtu.be/d1_20T8x_OI
With good headphones binaural sound makes standard stereo suck more than vacuum:
https://youtu.be/d1_20T8x_OI?t=12m56s
 
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