Spec me a soundcard X-Fi?

1mm3 · 15 May 2007 at 22:05

Hi, i currently have a 5.1 surround speaker system connected to my onboard realtek souncard.

I have one very important thing that i need from the new soundcard- it must have an optical (toslink/spdif) INPUT (to enable me to output 5.1 surround sound from my xbox 360 through my pc to my speakers- unfortunately my speakers dont have optical IN)

I'm very fond of upgrading to the X-fi range of soundcards- judging from the comments and reviews i've read. I use my pc for music (mp3s)/ gaming (bf2142, CnC3, CoH etc..)/ movies and tv episodes (xvid/divx). I think a sensible budget of around £50 would do the job?

I've tried googling around but specifications given for the x-fi range of cards are mostly vague and marketing talk takes up most of the literature.

Thanks

alitheg · 16 May 2007 at 19:12

The Fatal1ty Champion card (while not cheap):

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=SC-050-CL

Has a front drive-bay module with several connectors, including optical in and out.

PS. I'm sorry OcUK, but it's cheaper (including shipping) directly from Creative.

ShiWarrior · 16 May 2007 at 21:04

X-fi Xtreme Music, just got one, and i do what u do as well

alitheg · 17 May 2007 at 12:21

I can't find anywhere that says the XtremeMusic has optical in

ShiWarrior · 18 May 2007 at 08:50

alitheg said:
I can't find anywhere that says the XtremeMusic has optical in

u want optical in ?does the breakout box do it?

1mm3 · 18 May 2007 at 17:55

X-fi Xtreme Music

Inputs: Digital in, line in, mic via 3.5mm mini-jack Outputs: 3 x 3.5mm mini-jack analogue surround out Audio technologies: CMSS-3D, 24-bit Crystalizer, EAX 1-5, DirectSound3D, OpenAL, ASIO 2, THX-certified, Dolby Digital ES, DTS-ES Extras: Port for X-Fi breakout box

does the digital in refer to the optical in?

also can someone elaborate on what a breakout box is?

Shiwarrior can you please confirm you are using the optical lead from the back of your xbox 360 cable to the optical in on your soundcard?

Thanks

squiffy · 18 May 2007 at 17:57

If you want digital input you'll need to get the X-Fi with front panel I/O. The cheaper one (card only) only has digital out.

ShiWarrior · 18 May 2007 at 17:57

I dont have an x-box mate sorry

if u get the breakout box then it connects one to the SPDIF, then u have optical in (what squiffy said

)

1mm3 · 18 May 2007 at 18:05

Ah, so this would work out quite expensive. Thanks for the info guys