X-Fi Titanium issues

MeatLoaf

MeatLoaf

MeatLoaf

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Just got hold of a 2nd hand X-Fi Titanium Fatality Pro PCI-E

Having problems with the sound breaking up, volume altering by itself and basically sounding rubbish

What ive tried :

2 different official drivers off creative website
2 different sets of PAX drivers
NO drivers at all, using the standard HD Audio driver installed by windows.

3 different PCI-E slots, a x1 slot, and 2 different x16 slots.

All to no avail, its the same in all 3 modes.

Rest of my spec

2500K, P8P67 Pro, 16Gb RAM, HD7950.

Really stumped as I had a PCI Elite Pro and that worked perfect, as does a Xonar DGX.

Any ideas guys and gals?
 
Any chance the card could have a fault? Would be easiest to find out if you either a spare machine to try it in, or maybe try it with a fresh install. Latter would be easier if you have a spare HDD you can use,rather than having to completely re-install everything.
 
Marsman said:
Any chance the card could have a fault? Would be easiest to find out if you either a spare machine to try it in, or maybe try it with a fresh install. Latter would be easier if you have a spare HDD you can use,rather than having to completely re-install everything.
Click to expand...

Not sure tbh, until I find another machine to test in im a bit stuck. Could even be a Win 8 issue.
 
As mentioned, a new PC to test with is your best bet to isolate where the issue lies.
 
Disable the onboard sound AND the audio drivers (via device manager) on the GRAPHICS CARD. Restart.

You might want to use a DPC latency checker to check for any weird spikes that would indicate a conflict.

p.s. Gotta love the Elite Pro :-D (Shame it's PCI).
 
Marsman said:
Before you tried the PAX drivers, did you use a driver cleaner first?
Click to expand...

I did indeed, I removed the asus drivers for the DGX, used drivercleaner, took dgx out, installed x-fi, installed drivers.

Havent tried disabling the sound on the GFX card tho I'll give that a try.

Also, I played an MP3 with the X-fi in and it sounded awful, cracking, distorted and breaking up. I recorded it using the record button in the audio creation mode.

I put the DGX back in and played back the saved file and it was clear as a bell, no distortings, no crackiling even tho they were there as it was being recorded. Which makes me wonder if its the speaker cable, but if it was why is it ok on the DGX :confused:
 
Scougar said:
Try the other suggestions first.... but also...

http://forums.creative.com/showthread.php?t=697307

Picking up noise from the system?
Click to expand...

Yup I saw that, although I thought this shield thing it had on it already was meant to provide some sort of shielding.

Im just off to test the card in my dads pc, its pretty different to mine, hes got a Celeron g530, 8gb RAM, H61 mobo and an 8800GTS 320Mb and Windows 7.
 
MeatLoaf said:
Yup I saw that, although I thought this shield thing it had on it already was meant to provide some sort of shielding.

Im just off to test the card in my dads pc, its pretty different to mine, hes got a Celeron g530, 8gb RAM, H61 mobo and an 8800GTS 320Mb and Windows 7.
Click to expand...

Only other thing I can think off (beside a conflict or driver issue.... get that DPC Latency checker running!!!!), is it might be a grounding issue... but it's highly unlikely (the bracket isn't loose is it?)
 
Scougar said:
Only other thing I can think off (beside a conflict or driver issue.... get that DPC Latency checker running!!!!), is it might be a grounding issue... but it's highly unlikely (the bracket isn't loose is it?)
Click to expand...

Just got back from dads and it didn't work in dads pc at all. Got a load of what id call 'thunder rumbling' noises thru the speakers but no actual proper sound.

Funny you should say about the bracket as it wasn't on when I received it, I had to reattach it. Its as tight as it can be but im wondering if it should have some grounding 'washers' or something.

EDIT : Ive tried it without the bracket and the metal shield and its the same.

DPS didn't pick up any problems.
 
Last edited:
Furthur update...

With the x-fi chip itself taped inside an antistatic covering as per the suggestion above I get good clear sound, however its very low volume, even with speakers on max, and the volume set to 100% :confused:
 
Sounds to me as if it has become really perceptible to interference. I had a Xonar DG which did that. It worked great for 2 years, then one day it started putting out nothing but distorted sound. Tried everything, but it had clearly had it. It still worked to some degree, but not without a load of interference.

It's ironic really. These EMI covers on some sound cards, that some people seem to think really make a difference, is nowhere near as good as an anti-static bag. Can't say I'm surprised really; that's marketing BS for you. Kind of reminds of 'true' 5.1 headsets. More marketing nonsense that gamer's gobble up, because some company tells them that it's better. I know it's no laughing matter, having bought a sound card that doesn't work properly, but it does make me laugh that an anti-static bag does a better job.
 
Marsman said:
Sounds to me as if it has become really perceptible to interference. I had a Xonar DG which did that. It worked great for 2 years, then one day it started putting out nothing but distorted sound. Tried everything, but it had clearly had it. It still worked to some degree, but not without a load of interference.

It's ironic really. These EMI covers on some sound cards, that some people seem to think really make a difference, is nowhere near as good as an anti-static bag. Can't say I'm surprised really; that's marketing BS for you. Kind of reminds of 'true' 5.1 headsets. More marketing nonsense that gamer's gobble up, because some company tells them that it's better. I know it's no laughing matter, having bought a sound card that doesn't work properly, but it does make me laugh that an anti-static bag does a better job.
Click to expand...

Who want's to buy a sound card with a bag on it? Most devices state that they 'have' to accept interference. EMI shields DO work, sometimes the problem isn't an EMI issue though, which is why some people say it works, and others don't (like any other PC problem). Also.. metal cases protect us against EMI, which is why it's good to have a metal case.... (but let's not get into that here.. lol).

I find it a little odd that the volume is incredibly quiet with the bag on though, makes me think something is shorting out.
 
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