Which Sound Card is Better for Me?
So, Creative Labs has now released a new series of sound cards, the Recon3D series, in the form of these two sound cards here. They seem to be very awesome, but I still wonder if I should remain with the X-Fi series, in the form of this card, when I eventually upgrade to a new computer. The Recon3D series has a dedicated audio processor, which is very awesome, but it lacks the onboard memory of the X-Fi series, which is very odd to me, and it seems to be designed specifically for video games, rather than for all purposes, as is the X-Fi series, and I play movies and music more often that I play video games, so I would prefer to have a sound card that is suited for all audio tasks.
What does everyone else have to say on this subject? Which series of sound card would be better for someone who uses their computer to perform a wide array of audio tasks? I eagerly await your responses.
Re: Which Sound Card is Better for Me?
Get an ASUS. Cheap one is still better than Creative's line. Also, Win7 doesn't support extra audio processors, it's still going through the CPU. Not sure about how the Linux kernels handle it.
Re: Which Sound Card is Better for Me?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Kayin
Get an ASUS. Cheap one is still better than Creative's line. Also, Win7 doesn't support extra audio processors, it's still going through the CPU. Not sure about how the Linux kernels handle it.
Will proper drivers be able to help the sound card to function properly?
Re: Which Sound Card is Better for Me?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Kayin
Get an ASUS. Cheap one is still better than Creative's line. Also, Win7 doesn't support extra audio processors, it's still going through the CPU. Not sure about how the Linux kernels handle it.
It's picking up both on my pci-e Azuentec and my on board and my old PCI creative card?
I've been running my games on my azuentec, with the other processor running my music(Azuentecx2). and the third (Creative) handles television audio and my on board(RealTEK HD) is dedicated to system sounds for about 2 years now just fine?
arrow to the knee www.thebestcasescenario.com
Re: Which Sound Card is Better for Me?
Lol... I'm with Kayin, a cheap asus is way better
Re: Which Sound Card is Better for Me?
Ultimately, I purchased the X-Fi titanium Fatal1ty professional card that I mentioned in my previous post, as I am very fond of Creative Labs and their new series is meant for gaming.
However, I do have a question about it: before I install the new sound card, will I need to uninstall or remove the drivers of my previous card, which is also a Creative Labs card? I recall that when I upgraded from a Radeon HD 4000 series video card to a Radeon HD 6000 series video card, I did not need to alter any software, as both cards used the same set of drivers and utility software, so I am hoping that that shall also be the case with these sound cards. Can anyone who has worked with Creative Labs sound cards offer me any insight into this situation?
Re: Which Sound Card is Better for Me?
The utilities should be the same.
Seriously, dink around with EAX some time.
Re: Which Sound Card is Better for Me?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
AmEv
Seriously, dink around with EAX some time.
If I play any games that use EAX, I shall definitely do so, but I have not been playing very many video games since I started college in 2005; I graduated in 2009, and I still do play some games, but my I have lost much of interest in video games, as I prefer to read books, hike outside, or play board games and card games. The sound card shall be most excellent for listening to music and watching movies, for which I use my computer regularly.
Re: Which Sound Card is Better for Me?
There is an EAX control panel integrated. When my SBLive was working, my brother would mess around with the voice distorter, echo/reverb effects, etc.
Re: Which Sound Card is Better for Me?
The sound card that I ordered arrived today, and I am actually surprised that it so very small and lightweight, especially in comparison to my current video card, but I am certain that it shall produce excellent and high-quality sound. I also am certain that it would be a wise idea to remove the drivers for my old sound card before I install the new sound card, but what is the best method for performing that action? Should I do so through the Device Manager, or use a utility program, such as Driver Sweeper?
Re: Which Sound Card is Better for Me?
Just remove the drivers and utilities, shut down, install the new card, turn back on, install drivers and utilities, reboot.
Re: Which Sound Card is Better for Me?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
AmEv
Just remove the drivers and utilities, shut down, install the new card, turn back on, install drivers and utilities, reboot.
I shall do that; thank you very much.
Re: Which Sound Card is Better for Me?
I installed the new sound card, and it apparently was working very well, but I noticed that "Sound Blaster X-Fi" appeared twice in the list of programs installed on my computer, so I uninstalled both instances of it and then re-installed it, but now the sound card is not producing any sound, and my computer is not even detecting the device. What should I do now? Any help that anyone here can offer would be supremely appreciated.
EDIT: I uninstalled all the software again, and now my sound card is producing sound again, but the advanced features, most importantly the 10-band graphic equalizer, are not available, so I shall again install everything and hope that that is able to remedy the situation.
EDIT #2: I re-installed the sound card's software again, and it functions perfectly well. I suppose that the difference in sound quality between this new card and my previous card is minimal, but I did notice that I do not need to adjust levels of the equalizer quite as high as I did before to achieve the same quality sound, plus, the fact that this new card uses a PCI-express interface, rather than a traditional PCI interface, shall ensure that it can communicate faster and more efficiently with my computer's CPU and shall help it to remain future-proof, as the conventional PCI interface is being phased out in favor of the PCI-express interface. One other benefit is that this new sound card is far away from my video card and therefore does not hinder its airflow; my previous sound card blocked the airflow of my video card because of limited expansion slots on my motherboard; as a side note, my next motherboard shall definitely be one with a greater number of PCI-express slots. Overall, I am now very satisfied with my purchase, and shall definitely keep this new sound card for as long as is possible.
Re: Which Sound Card is Better for Me?
Can't wait for motherboards with 112 lanes....
Re: Which Sound Card is Better for Me?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
AmEv
Can't wait for motherboards with 112 lanes....
Forgive me for needing to ask, but how many lanes do most current motherboards have?
Re: Which Sound Card is Better for Me?
Max I've heard is low-mid 40s.
Re: Which Sound Card is Better for Me?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
AmEv
Max I've heard is low-mid 40s.
I see; in that case, motherboards with a hundred or more lanes would indeed be a great advancement.
As for my previous sound card, I shall install it in on of the other computers in my household, as I doubt that the card is worth much money currently, and the other computer does not have a dedicated sound card.
Re: Which Sound Card is Better for Me?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Kayin
Get an ASUS. Cheap one is still better than Creative's line. Also, Win7 doesn't support extra audio processors, it's still going through the CPU. Not sure about how the Linux kernels handle it.
Asus is the best. asus all the way.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
diluzio91
Lol... I'm with Kayin, a cheap asus is way better
my thoughts exactly
Quote:
Originally Posted by
DemonDragonJ
Ultimately, I purchased the X-Fi titanium Fatal1ty professional card that I mentioned in my previous post, as I am very fond of Creative Labs and their new series is meant for gaming.
However, I do have a question about it: before I install the new sound card, will I need to uninstall or remove the drivers of my previous card, which is also a Creative Labs card? I recall that when I upgraded from a Radeon HD 4000 series video card to a Radeon HD 6000 series video card, I did not need to alter any software, as both cards used the same set of drivers and utility software, so I am hoping that that shall also be the case with these sound cards. Can anyone who has worked with Creative Labs sound cards offer me any insight into this situation?
i have had nothing but trouble from creative labs. not only are their drivers crap, the quality of their cards are crap, and everything else about them is crap including interference. i had the xfi fatality whatever ya call it, with the front panel, and everything. "Can anyone who has worked with Creative Labs sound cards offer me any insight into this situation?" don't buy them ever? lol
Quote:
Originally Posted by
DemonDragonJ
I installed the new sound card, and it apparently was working very well, but I noticed that "Sound Blaster X-Fi" appeared twice in the list of programs installed on my computer, so I uninstalled both instances of it and then re-installed it, but now the sound card is not producing any sound, and my computer is not even detecting the device. What should I do now? Any help that anyone here can offer would be supremely appreciated.
EDIT: I uninstalled all the software again, and now my sound card is producing sound again, but the advanced features, most importantly the 10-band graphic equalizer, are not available, so I shall again install everything and hope that that is able to remedy the situation.
EDIT #2: I re-installed the sound card's software again, and it functions perfectly well. I suppose that the difference in sound quality between this new card and my previous card is minimal, but I did notice that I do not need to adjust levels of the equalizer quite as high as I did before to achieve the same quality sound, plus, the fact that this new card uses a PCI-express interface, rather than a traditional PCI interface, shall ensure that it can communicate faster and more efficiently with my computer's CPU and shall help it to remain future-proof, as the conventional PCI interface is being phased out in favor of the PCI-express interface. One other benefit is that this new sound card is far away from my video card and therefore does not hinder its airflow; my previous sound card blocked the airflow of my video card because of limited expansion slots on my motherboard; as a side note, my next motherboard shall definitely be one with a greater number of PCI-express slots. Overall, I am now very satisfied with my purchase, and shall definitely keep this new sound card for as long as is possible.
:whistler: like i said, and you found out, they are a pain. :whistler:
Re: Which Sound Card is Better for Me?
Myself i think it depends on the sound system you have to determine the choice of sound card to pick..I'll use the Logitech Z-5500 as a good borderline..If you have this system them your able to get away with using 1 of many audiophile cards on the market which are classified as a highend soundcard. But if your sound system isnt up to par them id go with one of Creative cards and may i ad Creative with my experiences dont make a audiophile card...The very best cards on the market are Asus Or Omega..
