Question for X-Fi owners.

[cheesewz]

For those of you with an X-Fi soundcard, do you notice any difference in the game sounds or performance at all? I've got an Audigy 4 and was wondering if the X-Fi is better enough to warrant an upgrade.

[sackynut]

Re: Question for X-Fi owners.

well I do not have one (yet) it is in the mail. but from what I have heard and asked around, there is no real performance difference (unless you are using VERY old like nforce2 integrated sound). the onyl difference is the Ultra High Sound setting and the sound quality. I have heard it is frickin amazing and well worth it. My integrated nforce4 sound is very very good too, but I ordered the x-fi anyways. hopefully you can test one out to see how good the sound it, I heard it rocked.

[knghtwhosaysni]

Re: Question for X-Fi owners.

well, I upgraded from lame intel onboard.... so I can't really tell you how it compares to an audigy 4. I do really like it though with my 5.1 speakers :)

[cheesewz]

Re: Question for X-Fi owners.

sacky, please let me know your opinion is after getting yours and playing it. I suspected as much as you said. If I recall correctly, my audio settings are on highest with EAX and it sounds great through my 7.1 setup.

Creative has been making a big deal about their X-Fi with XRam (or whatever) and saying that it will increase FPS by moving more load away from the CPU. In theory this would work if the games (or whatever software) is written to take advantage of that hardware. Same goes for multi-core CPU's. If the software isn't written to take advantage of multi-threading it doesn't amount to much of an improvement. Maybe we'll find out in BF3.

Thanks.

[sackynut]

Re: Question for X-Fi owners.

sacky, please let me know your opinion is after getting yours and playing it. I suspected as much as you said. If I recall correctly, my audio settings are on highest with EAX and it sounds great through my 7.1 setup.

Creative has been making a big deal about their X-Fi with XRam (or whatever) and saying that it will increase FPS by moving more load away from the CPU. In theory this would work if the games (or whatever software) is written to take advantage of that hardware. Same goes for multi-core CPU's. If the software isn't written to take advantage of multi-threading it doesn't amount to much of an improvement. Maybe we'll find out in BF3.

Thanks.

Will do! also, to get the x-ram you need to purchase the Fatal1ty edition for 300$. it takes a SMALL SMALL SMALL load off the CPU and by the time games utilize it, they will have better sound cards out. I would go with the xtreme music or the paltinum ( i personally ordered the platinum, for the front panel) but if you have the cash the fatal1ty would be cool.

[cheesewz]

Re: Question for X-Fi owners.

Will do! also, to get the x-ram you need to purchase the Fatal1ty edition for 300$. it takes a SMALL SMALL SMALL load off the CPU and by the time games utilize it, they will have better sound cards out. I would go with the xtreme music or the paltinum ( i personally ordered the platinum, for the front panel) but if you have the cash the fatal1ty would be cool.

I'm a gadget whore, so the cash is never the issue Just prefer to make sure that my money is well spent. No sense in dropping another 300 bucks when I already dropped almost that much on the Audigy 4 if it isn't going to make things better. When video cards started having real GPU's it took awhile for the software to catch up. Probably will be the same with the sound card processor improvements.

[sackynut]

Re: Question for X-Fi owners.

if you're a gadget whore (i am too, but I cant afford some of the stuff since Im not that old) then you are gonna love the Aegia PhysX processer, it is a physics calculator that goes in the PCI slot and takes a crapload of stress off the CPU. but games are yet to utilize it, so it hasnt been released yet. 3dmark06 does tho.... so when it does come out your score will go way higher with it, at least the CPU score.

[Talus]

Re: Question for X-Fi owners.

I enjoyed a huge difference going from an Audigy 1 to the X-Fi XtremeMusic.

[cheesewz]

Re: Question for X-Fi owners.

I enjoyed a huge difference going from an Audigy 1 to the X-Fi XtremeMusic.

In sound quality or FPS?

[Talus]

Re: Question for X-Fi owners.

Sound quality.

Going from High + Hardware audio mode to Ultra High + X-Fi audio mode gave me an aural improvement with no FPS loss (or gain) whatsoever...which is nice. Having better quality with no decrease in performance is a bonus.

People who go from onboard should, however, see an FPS boost.

[Sir. MatDef]

Re: Question for X-Fi owners.

if you're a gadget whore (i am too, but I cant afford some of the stuff since Im not that old) then you are gonna love the Aegia PhysX processer, it is a physics calculator that goes in the PCI slot and takes a crapload of stress off the CPU. but games are yet to utilize it, so it hasnt been released yet. 3dmark06 does tho.... so when it does come out your score will go way higher with it, at least the CPU score.

Take a look at this:

http://www.bfgtech.com/future/

I think I might know what the future is.

[Talus]

Re: Question for X-Fi owners.

The Aegia Pysx or whatever it's called?

Yeah, I'll be buying one of those for sure..so long as they aren't too expensive.

[|AFF|Soupyblister]

Re: Question for X-Fi owners.

I upgraded from my on board sound to the Fatal1ty X-Fi. Holy crap dude, BIG sound performance gain. I couldn't believe the difference. Since I got this card, NO one has been able to sneak behind me and kill me, I hear EVERYTHING. Its so great. I would highly recommend to get X-Fi card.

[sackynut]

Re: Question for X-Fi owners.

I upgraded from my on board sound to the Fatal1ty X-Fi. Holy crap dude, BIG sound performance gain. I couldn't believe the difference. Since I got this card, NO one has been able to sneak behind me and kill me, I hear EVERYTHING. Its so great. I would highly recommend to get X-Fi card.

ooo alrighty thanks

[Jofaba]

Re: Question for X-Fi owners.

All XFI cards have Xram. The Fatal1ty just has 64mb compared to 2mb which is what all the under cards have. Considering only BF2 utilizes xram (that I know of and have read) I don't think it's worth the extra bread. Some people do have issues with XFI and BF2 compatability though. I've had sound problems through two motherboards, videocards, sound cards. It's much better now, but still staticy/poppy at times. Everything else sounds great though. I suggest the xtreme music unless you MAKE music, because that's all the front panel is really good for (and it costs $70 for that addition)