yfital Posted October 10, 2006 Posted October 10, 2006 well, just dont forget that the extreme music is not that expensive now'o'days. but ya, if you dont have a good speaker system, or good headphones, its useless. FYI, in games, you will notice a lot more "action" and voices coming all over with a dedicated sound card... onboard just has its limits, and when you reach them, the cracking begings... dont bother with an x-fi with a bad sound system, or if you dont plan on some solid music hearing, movie playing and gaming... luck mate Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angry_Games Posted October 10, 2006 Posted October 10, 2006 here's my take on it  onboard sound is ok for testing and machines that aren't getting full-time or daily use.  any gaming rig or machine that is used full-time i go with an Audigy 2 ZS sound card. I've purchased probably 6 of them in our own For Sale section here at DFI-Street, and all have cost $30-$35. Never paid more than $35 for one.  All are superior to onboard sound. All are superior in gaming. All provide higher quality audio for music (though there are some pci sound cards that are even better for music/recording if you are into that....Creative cards are made for gamers, and the music playback quality is excellent so it is usually the more popular choice).  Any good sound card will not only reproduce audio in games better, but it will reduce cpu cycles needed. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DuTcH Posted October 10, 2006 Posted October 10, 2006 audigy2 is a worthy upgrade if your gaming sound wise, as many games now are setup using creatives eax technology. I have used the xfi and to be honest, cost versus improvement ratio is why its not on my list, yet! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mihkail Posted October 10, 2006 Posted October 10, 2006 i got a $30 audigy a walmart and it has 24 bit sound. i could tell the difference from onboard sound, but this is my first sound card so i dont have anything to compare it to. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angry_Games Posted October 10, 2006 Posted October 10, 2006 also there's a big thing about how Realtek's ALC doesn't actually do EAX...it simulates it or such (and quite poorly if I remember...will have to find the article(s) about it if I can). Â Most games these days have EAX, EAX2, or EAX3 abilities (is there an EAX4 yet?) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angry_Games Posted October 10, 2006 Posted October 10, 2006 http://www.elitebastards.com/forum/viewtop...a4a11e34c112a8e  article here: http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=3948 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
yfital Posted October 11, 2006 Posted October 11, 2006 yup, eax 4 is the new stuff with x-fi... and yeah, realtek's EAX (only eax1, maybe 2?), isnt real... its some sort of emulation or something... i still wouldnt recommand an x-fi for someone who isnt really into games... but maybe your right and a small nice audigy2 can do the trick Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
fmc_boss Posted October 11, 2006 Posted October 11, 2006 I picked up an XFi-Music a couple of days ago - i was going to go with a Audigy 2/4, but the Music wasn't all that much more. Â Main reason for buying was that the on-board was playing up with an older game(GPL Ledgends), & i kept having to go into sound options & turning off h/w accelleration. Â 1st sound card i've had since my SB Live shat itself a couple of years ago, & i must say it's a noticable step up, even with the cheap 2.1 setup i have. Â Yeah - that Crystalization option really seems to liven up everything. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Icez84 Posted October 11, 2006 Posted October 11, 2006 Guys, Â Â Thanks for all the feedback and information, greatly appreciated.. and HG thanks for the link to the article, its great but again why they wanna complaint when they used a onboard.. anyway, i'll think i'll stick to my onboard for a while longer before going upgrade... still trying to get my ddr.... every ram in singapore is shooting up in price(ocing ram), out of my budget... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DuTcH Posted October 11, 2006 Posted October 11, 2006 yeah the xfi is a definate upgrade IMO the only significant one since audigy2 again thou it still remains over-priced, I recommend a 2nd hand audigy to any gamer still using onboard Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brother Esau Posted October 11, 2006 Posted October 11, 2006 Over priced maybe, but worth it yes! It will improve you're sound by 3 fold no exageration! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
yfital Posted October 11, 2006 Posted October 11, 2006 i find it hard to believe many people will find much of a difference between an audigy2 and an Xfi, yes, you have the crystel effect (which usually makes games acctually worse, its like too much treble), and a whollota better position (espically for headphones!) but unless your CSing or something, its probably not worth it... maybe if your connected to a very good home stereo, and wanna hear a lot of good music... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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