X-Fi or HDD

hardc0re_tid · 14 Dec 2006 at 13:23

I am toying with the idea of going for a X-Fi Soundcard but I am also in need for new HDDs (2x250gb 7200.10's SATA) in my new system. i have a 250gb ide drive in my other computer with all my music etc but its a bit annoying having to browse for files on the other computer over the network (and there aint enough room under my desk for 2 comps) putting the IDE drive in the new system is a no-go

help me make my mind up.

PS. The soundcard will be outputting to a Yamaha 5640 6.1 receiver and a pair of Wharedale Laser Range bookshelf speakers, oldies but goodies IMO.

squiffy · 14 Dec 2006 at 13:31

You'll want a soundcard with proper ASIO and bit for bit PCM, and Dolby Digital & DTS streaming. M-Audio Revolution 5.1 will do all them, and have stable drivers and hardware, unlike the X-Fi. I use a Revo 5.1 to a Lexicon AV pre-amp.

If you need a hard drive too buy one also, I also have music server so that requires a couple of hundred gb of storage.

hardc0re_tid · 14 Dec 2006 at 13:43

squiffy said:
You'll want a soundcard with proper ASIO and bit for bit PCM, and Dolby Digital & DTS streaming.

Err.. what? lol, im not an audiophille-tech btw, can you explain please

squiffy said:
M-Audio Revolution 5.1 will do all them, and have stable drivers and hardware, unlike the X-Fi

how do they compare to Creative? Ive always had Creative and had no bother what so ever, saying that I used to be an AMD fan boy but recently switched to Intel

squiffy · 14 Dec 2006 at 13:54

Bit for bit audio is when CD's are sent to the digital output as 44.1khz PCM. Some soundcards will upsample to 48khz. This is bad.

Not sure if the X-Fi streams DD & DTS streams to the digital output. Personally with the X-Fi I would leave it, too many problems that Creative can't be bothered to fix. I don't think you'll be able to get your money back, as the soundcard isn't faulty per se, it's just incompatible/shoddy design/shoddy drivers.

http://forums.creative.com/creative...aster&message.id=46359&query.id=627671#M46359

From "Audiophile" forums it seems people don't choose Creative cards to be used if music quality is prime concern. CL do have the gaming market though, what with EAX, hardware directsound mixing etc.

DirtyJester · 14 Dec 2006 at 14:00

Get the HDD's ........ least they dont need lousy drivers

shadowze · 14 Dec 2006 at 17:17

I just bought me a X-fi gamer card , ***** drivers would make me recommend
you spend your money on HD's

Firegod · 14 Dec 2006 at 17:17

I'd go with the X-Fi. Will make music sound awesome, especially with the hi-fi setup, I really enjoy mine, had it since it first came out! And unlike all the people that say it's rubbish, there are plenty that say it's great... but they just never post about it.

Firegod · 14 Dec 2006 at 17:18

What's all this about rubbish drivers????

I put the card in, and installed from the CD = works fine?

Instead of knocking the card why not sort out the rest of the system. Perhaps a bad bios, reg entry, stray corrupt files, is windows up-to-date, the list could go on!

squiffy · 14 Dec 2006 at 17:21

Firegod said:
What's all this about rubbish drivers????

I put the card in, and installed from the CD = works fine?

Instead of knocking the card why not sort out the rest of the system. Perhaps a bad bios, reg entry, stray corrupt files, is windows up-to-date, the list could go on!

No it's a well known hardware and/or software problem that the X-Fi has. Snap, Crackle & Pop

wellibob · 14 Dec 2006 at 17:25

Never had any pops crackles hisses, whinning, farting sounds or anythink from my x-fi card. Does what it says on the tin. Im not saying x-fi cards are perfect, but i paid like £50 for mine, and its great value.

Firegod · 14 Dec 2006 at 17:32

squiffy said:
No it's a well known hardware and/or software problem that the X-Fi has. Snap, Crackle & Pop

I don't agree sorry, maybes I'm lucky and I got a good card, but I believe it's more down to the way people look after the rest of their system.

There is no hardware and no software problem on my PC, sorry.

squiffy · 14 Dec 2006 at 17:32

It's a flip of coin whether yours suffers from it or not, seems to have problems on several motherboard chipsets. Nforce 4, but also Via and ATI 3200. Intel seem to be free from the problem.

Thing is, if you do have a problem you won't get a refund, Creative have officially refused that it's there problem, instead blaming it on Nvidia. So it's a Nvidia problem. Nvidia don't agree with that, and place the blame back onto Creative. Creative aren't interested/can't release drivers that fix the problem.

I wouldn't mind a X-Fi, just for gaming and probably good enough. But no way pay upfront for one, want to borrow one for a while before purchase.

squiffy · 14 Dec 2006 at 17:34

Firegod said:
I don't agree sorry, maybes I'm lucky and I got a good card, but I believe it's more down to the way people look after the rest of their system.

hahaha have you seen the huge threads on Creative forums? So dismissing hundreds of posters, just because you've had a good one? LOL!

DirtyJester · 14 Dec 2006 at 17:37

Firegod said:
What's all this about rubbish drivers????

I put the card in, and installed from the CD = works fine?

Instead of knocking the card why not sort out the rest of the system. Perhaps a bad bios, reg entry, stray corrupt files, is windows up-to-date, the list could go on!

No offense dude ... I tried my X-Fi on TWO systems both failed ... left it back to shop and got phone call from them... quote " how many times did you get a blue screen ?" I kid you not.

Firstly turned out the driver CD was knackered BUT even with a download of latest version the card still wouldnt work on my two systems OR the shop's(NOT OCuk BTW!) Oh and when Creative Support ask you is your cd/dvd drive faulty cause it may not read the disk correctly EVEN thought they told you to download the latest drivers ... yeah you just give up !

DirtyJester · 14 Dec 2006 at 17:44

Firegod NO need to apologize whats so ever ! The fact you got a card that works is great and the fact you like / love it is even sweeter ! Its just when ever someone goes out and spends hard earned cash on a reported ... good item and it turns out dud is bad enough but whenever you try the dud on two systems (diff. motherboards diff. chipsets one clean install of Win XP and nothing else) and still failure ... then the shop you buy it from has similar problems ... you feeling my pain yet?

Mud · 14 Dec 2006 at 17:45

Obviously personal experience is all that counts, but I've used my x-fi in an ASUS A8V and DFI UltraD with no problems in either. Don't bother with the crystalliser though.

hardc0re_tid · 14 Dec 2006 at 17:48

I have NEVER had bother with my current Audigy 2 or my SoundBlaster Live or even my very first ISA? (long black slot on old mobo's) SoundBlaster AWE 16 or AWE32 cards?

are CL going to the dogs?

EDIT: My SB Audigy 2 has been in 3 systems over the past 4 years now and is still going strong

squiffy · 14 Dec 2006 at 17:51

hardc0re_tid said:
I have NEVER had bother with my current Audigy 2 or my SoundBlaster Live or even my very first ISA? (long black slot on old mobo's) SoundBlaster AWE 16 or AWE32 cards?

are CL going to the dogs?

I had the following

Soundblaster, the original 8 bit ISA
Soundblaster 16
AWE32
AWE64
All of the above were great cards
Soundblaster Live- rubbish, crackling sound, digital out blew the input module on my av processor

DirtyJester · 14 Dec 2006 at 17:56

Squiffy I had and still have ( roofspace for most now

) all the above and NEVER once had a problem.

Firegod · 14 Dec 2006 at 17:59

squiffy said:
hahaha have you seen the huge threads on Creative forums? So dismissing hundreds of posters, just because you've had a good one? LOL!

Not dismissing them at all, who knows, there may have been a "bad batch" which Creative don't want to admit hence the surge of "my x-fi sucks" posts, but we could put down loads of theories tbh.

I think they've done a good job with this card and the software compared to preivous releases. I'm not going to defend a product which is rubbish, as the old Audigy2 which I had was RUBBISH and I don't mind saying that. I'd have BSOD's galore with the flaky drivers, but this X-Fi is rock solid.

DirtyJester said:
No offense dude ... I tried my X-Fi on TWO systems both failed ... left it back to shop and got phone call from them... quote " how many times did you get a blue screen ?" I kid you not.

Firstly turned out the driver CD was knackered BUT even with a download of latest version the card still wouldnt work on my two systems OR the shop's(NOT OCuk BTW!) Oh and when Creative Support ask you is your cd/dvd drive faulty cause it may not read the disk correctly EVEN thought they told you to download the latest drivers ... yeah you just give up !

That is bad I must admit.

DirtyJester said:
Firegod NO need to apologize whats so ever ! The fact you got a card that works is great and the fact you like / love it is even sweeter ! Its just when ever someone goes out and spends hard earned cash on a reported ... good item and it turns out dud is bad enough but whenever you try the dud on two systems (diff. motherboards diff. chipsets one clean install of Win XP and nothing else) and still failure ... then the shop you buy it from has similar problems ... you feeling my pain yet?

Aye, it is never nice when something doesn't work.