X-Fi Gamer/Music OEM/Retail question.

just Scott · 26 May 2007 at 20:34

Other than a box, what do you get in the retail version of these sound cards?

Thanks.

MeatLoaf · 26 May 2007 at 21:29

Nothing at all

Jokester · 26 May 2007 at 21:33

Driver CD and I think a case badge as well.

Jokester

squiffy · 26 May 2007 at 21:34

Jokester said:
Driver CD and I think a case badge as well.

Jokester

Got both with OEM!

just Scott · 26 May 2007 at 22:24

I heard there was some diver issuses with the OEM version. Although I don't see how if it's the same disk.

Is this true?

BTW - I plan on getting Vista in soon so I can play Halo 2 Vista, I've heard the Vista drivers are pretty rubbish for these cards. True? Should I consider something else?

squiffy · 26 May 2007 at 22:25

H2F Scott said:
I heard there was some diver issuses with the OEM version. Although I don't see how if it's the same disk.

Is this true?

BTW - I plan on getting Vista in soon so I can play Halo 2 Vista, I've heard the Vista drivers are pretty rubbish for these cards. True? Should I consider something else?

Problems were to do with Dell shipped X-Fi's, no internal DD decoder.

Yes, Windows XP.

just Scott · 26 May 2007 at 22:28

squiffy said:
Problems were to do with Dell shipped X-Fi's, no internal DD decoder.

Yes, Windows XP.

Well what card do you recommend if the Vista support is rubbish then? I was looking forward to getting one of these too. :[

Buffalo2102 · 29 May 2007 at 12:49

Don't worry about it. Most of the Vista driver gripes are from audiophiles who have lost a fair bit of the functionality they had under XP. The current drivers are perfectly adequate if all you want is good quality output sound. My X-Fi works fine and is still a cut above my Realtek on-board sound.

Since Halo 2 is Vista-only, you can't really consider XP can you?

I am running Vista x86 and have a X-Fi Gamer - I have no problems with it at all. Works great for Halo 2 as well.

Having said that, I wouldn't recommend that you rush out and buy one as there are plenty of alternatives available and you should research all options.

james.miller · 29 May 2007 at 12:52

good for you buffalo, because my x-fi gamer isnt picked up at all in vista 32bit :rolleyes:

most of the complaints are for poeple who cant get the cards WORKING in vista, never mind loosing a little functionality.

just Scott · 29 May 2007 at 13:03

Buffalo2102 said:
Don't worry about it. Most of the Vista driver gripes are from audiophiles who have lost a fair bit of the functionality they had under XP. The current drivers are perfectly adequate if all you want is good quality output sound. My X-Fi works fine and is still a cut above my Realtek on-board sound.

Since Halo 2 is Vista-only, you can't really consider XP can you?

I am running Vista x86 and have a X-Fi Gamer - I have no problems with it at all. Works great for Halo 2 as well.

Having said that, I wouldn't recommend that you rush out and buy one as there are plenty of alternatives available and you should research all options.

Yeah but I can wait to play Halo 2 on the PC. I still enjoy playing it on the Xbox.

Buffalo2102 · 29 May 2007 at 14:27

james.miller said:
good for you buffalo, because my x-fi gamer isnt picked up at all in vista 32bit

most of the complaints are for poeple who cant get the cards WORKING in vista, never mind loosing a little functionality.

I don't agree - whilst I have seen some posts about not getting the X-Fi working at all, most are from people who lament the lack of Dolby Digital and DTS decoding and Direct Sound EAX. Also, some of the Creative XP control panel applications don't work.

I have also seen a lot of posts about people getting crackling audio but this has never affected me and is being reported as largely an issue with nVidia based motherboards, particularly 680-based ones. Several of the board manufacturers have already released BIOS updates to fix the audio issues.

I admit that the current Vista drivers aren't the best but they work fine for a lot of people. I daresay that there are issues with other soundcards with certain hardware mixes - as I said, the OP should research all of the suitable models before making a choice.

MeatLoaf · 29 May 2007 at 22:26

james.miller said:
good for you buffalo, because my x-fi gamer isnt picked up at all in vista 32bit

most of the complaints are for poeple who cant get the cards WORKING in vista, never mind loosing a little functionality.

I had an X-Fi gamer and it was fine in vista

just Scott · 29 May 2007 at 22:48

If anyone cares I bought an M-Audio Revolution 5.1. I found one for £35 delivered. I passed on the X-Fi because I didn't need all the gaming features.

Ballistix · 5 Jun 2007 at 22:25

MeatLoaf said:
I had an X-Fi gamer and it was fine in vista

Im using a X-Fi Xtreme Gamer now, with Vista 64 Home Premium and it works superb with the latest creative drivers.

No problems whatsoever.

snazzy_dazzy · 8 Jun 2007 at 22:39

tbh I cant notice any difference between my old asrocks onboard and my xfi xtreme music.

Im using G500 THX speakers.

I got a case badge but no cd

Ballistix · 10 Jun 2007 at 00:09

snazzy_dazzy said:
tbh I cant notice any difference between my old asrocks onboard and my xfi xtreme music.

I think the £44 I paid for my X-Fi was worth it, however onboard sound is getting much better now especially with the latest boards offering HD Quality sound.