Prelude or Xonar?

Looks like its got interesting with the Xonar D2X EAX 5.0 update... however...

Xonar
It appears the EAX 5.0 Encoding is done via software which puts pressure on the CPU, HOWEVER, the DD LIVE encoding is done on hardware.

Prelude
EAX 5.0 encoding is done on hardware ALTHOUGH the DD Live encoding is done via software.

Which one is going to be more CPU intensive?

Also, is OpenAL on the Xonar hardware or software based?
 
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Gimpymoo said:
Looks like its got interesting with the Xonar D2X EAX 5.0 update... however...

Xonar
It appears the EAX 5.0 Encoding is done via software which puts pressure on the CPU, HOWEVER, the DD LIVE encoding is done on hardware.

Prelude
EAX 5.0 encoding is done on hardware ALTHOUGH the DD Live encoding is done via software.

Which one is going to be more CPU intensive?

Also, is OpenAL on the Xonar hardware or software based?
Click to expand...

Anyone?
 
Im still unsure which to get.

My Current train of thought:

The Xonar is the better card on paper.
Encodes DD Live via hardware.
No hardware based EAX/OpeanAL support above EAX 2.0 (Correct?) - Although minimal impact on resources?
Does the Xonar support OpenAL at all?

The prelude supports hardware based EAX/OpenAL (OpenAL is hardware based even in Vista right?)
DD Live is encoded via software - Although minimal impact on resources?

HELP
 
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Thanks for the reply.

Who would you say can be most relied upon for driver updates?

Stability is the most important thing.
 
GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR.

Prelude - Would be great, although the low Mic input levels are putting me off.

Have a good analogue Microphone and the onboard Mic doesnt do it justice so reluctant to buy a USB Microphone... the Soundcard SHOULD be able to do this. The difference between the Elite PRO Mic and the onboard was like night and day.

Xonar - Again, would be perfect bar the lack of Front panel audio connector and no Hardware audio acceleration via openAL OR EAX.

Im tempted to just change my mobo and get another Elite PRO :eek:
 
Stuff it.

Have decided to get BOTH :eek:

The Xonar D2X PCIe card for music and movies and the Prelude for games.

All bases covered.
 
I'd only be paying for the Xonar (Funded by the sale of my Elite PRO) and am able to get the Prelude at no cost to myself.

I want a top end audio card.. with just the one of them, I felt I was making a compromise I didnt want to make. It is hardly my fault there is not currently a sound card supporting front panel audio connectors, hardware based DSP, good inputs and DD Live. All of which I need.
 
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