Soundcard help for gaming

[Nick1881]

I been using onboard sound for ages, people tell me its loads better to have a good SB soundcard. I have a PC151 headset on the way and I want to make the most of it.

Im looking at the X-Fi range

Will this - Creative X-Fi Xtreme Audio 7.1 Soundcard - OEM £25.84 inc VAT

be as good as these

Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Music 7.1 Soundcard - OEM £51.11 inc VAT

Creative X-Fi Xtreme Gamer 7.1 Soundcard - Retail £58.74 inc VAT

Will the Gamer/Music be worth paying double the money for? I really want to hear everything and have a very worth upgrade over my onboard sound.

Also my speakers dont have a headphone socket so I want to use the front panel audio on my Antec case, do these cards all have the required connection?

Thanks for the help and advice people.

 

[Chris Beard]

Yes. They are worth twice the money. The Xtreme Audio is not worth anything.
EDIT: Retail is worth getting for the extra few quid as it really helps when your X-Fi goes wrong.

This is second hand info - not stuff I've experienced personally.

 

[Tombo]

Not just one, but two months.

 

[Chris Beard]

I only found it because I was searching to see if PC151 headphones were any good. Don't normally spend time in sound city...