X-fi music soundcard not detected

Lighters · 21 Jun 2006 at 15:02

I have inserted my soundcard correctly in its slot as it fits snug and it lights up red.

I uninstall my onboard sound via control panel.

Now i turn on my pc and i have no sound even when i try to install drivers it says its not detected.
Whats the deal?

Mobo - GA K8NXP-SLI nforce 4 i think

Anyhelp appreciated as i'm a heavy gamer and sound is important

Pygmy_Shrew · 21 Jun 2006 at 16:32

Try a diff PCI slot?

iMacMart · 21 Jun 2006 at 17:11

I didn't uninstall my old sound, nor did I disable it within the BIOS I just whacked the X-fi in (bottom slot away from Graphics card) and started pc up, cancelled XP's 'found new hardware' pop-up and installed the drivers and I was away gaming straight after!

Lighters · 21 Jun 2006 at 18:48

ah well its fixed now

I disabled my onboard sound in bios hehe.

Its still got crap drivers off disk - i tried 2 install via auto isntall and half way through it says does not recognise you have x-fi etc.

Yet on detected hardware i go install and insert disk it installs fine!

I then proceeded to install the latest drivers not beta but i dont rate the card that much.

I am running through some sennheiser pc 155 and i am struggling to find whats better eax 3.0 or 2d miles fast.
I really dont think i got a good deal considering i am sure i heard just as much before i bought that card - yes am not using usb on headset either.

Any ideas - i am on gaming mode but i dont hear an increase in sound range or better positioning of enemy or anything - admit music sounds a tad better but i dont even like the 3d surround stuff it just ups the bass really. The crystaliser doesnt seem 2 add anything.

squiffy · 21 Jun 2006 at 19:00

I wouldn't bother with any DSP mode, I've yet to hear any good audio processing on low end gear, bar Lexicon Logic 7 on top-end gear which doesn't mess the sound up. Try straight stereo, no enhancments.

You're probably limited to your headphones, try a pair of Sennheiser HD-650's or Grado RS-1's.

Lighters · 21 Jun 2006 at 20:44

dont really understand you much dsp? and what you mean straight sterio how do i set it like that?

I am sure am not limited with my current headset sennheiser pc 155 they were/are pretty good - i am sure its all BS coz am sick of wasting money coz i can already hear everything my m8 can hear with a cheap headset and we have had people who claim they can hear more yet they cant when tested.

Explain the advantages over a better headset what would help/be more clear exactly?

and low end gear what you mean

spec amd 4000+ x850 xt pe 2gig ram

Psycho Sonny · 21 Jun 2006 at 23:11

you have to disable your mobo's onboard sound in the bios before installing any x-fi because they interfere with each other

Lighters · 22 Jun 2006 at 01:54

yes so i realised and stated above - am just kinda unhappy that a spent that cash on something i consider useless as theres been no real gain in gaming experience from it.

Efour · 22 Jun 2006 at 13:30

spend another few £100 on some good speakers

Curio · 22 Jun 2006 at 14:55

Lighters said:
yes so i realised and stated above - am just kinda unhappy that a spent that cash on something i consider useless as theres been no real gain in gaming experience from it.

I think maybe your expectations were too high. The truth is that, for most people, there really isn't much difference between on-board and the more expensive cards. I noticed a slight improvement in music quality between my X-Fi and the old SB Live. The EAX and pseudo-surround was definitely better in games and movies. The better your headphones and speakers the more you'll notice the improvement.

But yeah, compared to a video card or CPU upgrade I guess soundcards don't offer good value for money - unless you have very good, revealing speakers or headphones.

TALON1973 · 22 Jun 2006 at 15:24

squiffy said:
I wouldn't bother with any DSP mode, I've yet to hear any good audio processing on low end gear, bar Lexicon Logic 7 on top-end gear which doesn't mess the sound up. Try straight stereo, no enhancments.

You're probably limited to your headphones, try a pair of Sennheiser HD-650's or Grado RS-1's.

just had the card today.waiting to get home to install. will Sennheiser HD-600 headphones be ok to use ????

Lighters · 22 Jun 2006 at 16:18

well i thought sennheiser pc155 was great - so how exactly will a better headset or speakers help me? I could already hear 360 around me i just cant hear above or below me or a further radious

EAX is crap imo it sounds so shiat and even takes more processing power.

My advice to anyone is get a cheap headset and if u can hear 360 around u ** sorted!

My friend got his for like £13 and his sound is as good as mine!

squiffy · 22 Jun 2006 at 16:29

Clueless mate. No point getting a decent soundcard if you're using nasty headphones. No need to go silly but there is a improvement with decent headphones. You'll want a pair of Sennheiser Orpheus.

DSP = rock, disco and reverb modes. Rubbish
Low end gear as in your headphones, not your PC spec.

Lighters · 22 Jun 2006 at 18:28

whats low end about sennheiser pc 155 these were ment 2 b unreal for gaming when they was released now am told there low end! u mad!

I am confident there is f all difference between these and any others. If so someone please come 2 a cod2 server with me and we will do some tests?

squiffy · 22 Jun 2006 at 18:39

Proper phones

Although for gaming wouldn't bother with such high-end phones, but you could do better. What about getting a headphone amplifier?

Speakers will sound better generally (sound quality, not looking at cost involved)

TALON1973 · 22 Jun 2006 at 19:15

lol i dont think he's in the market for £300 sennheisers. although for serious hi-fi use they are very good. speaking from experience as well. you could also try getting the sennheiser px200 . nice at £35 . got them for my ipod nano. swapping from them to my highend cans you can tell the difference ( to many cans there lol ).

Lighters · 22 Jun 2006 at 20:00

sound quality is fine but all am saying is there has been no improvement in my opinion over my headset soundcard and onboard soundcard and my x-fi xtreme music soundcard.

I only really play games and there hasnt been a benefit on sound range quality or around me as i could always hear a 360 radious around me but i can really hear above or below thats my only problem

and i dont want to buy speakers for gaming am a headset/mic combo man

Alexrose1uk · 23 Jun 2006 at 13:43

Going from onboard to the X-Fi (I got fatality for the front panel), I DID notice an improvement in quality. Bass sounds snappier, and music in general sounds better.
Not to mention, I can enable higher levels of EAX without CPU utilisation, and I can hear sounds in games like WoW that I couldnt hear before, like a rustle when I stop moving. I even got my mate to come over, and when I pointed out the sound, he agreed he'd never heard it before.
Its not a leap into space, but it is a definate improvement in features, and quality to my old NForce4 Ultra onboard.

For the record Im using Sennheiser PC130 headset (although I may order PC150/160s as they look like they may offer better sound with the different earpad design) and Creative I-Trigue 5.1 5600 Speakers.
Not the best gear, but I did notice an improvement using them.