X-Fi sounds cards - what's the difference?

[koocha]

Hey

I'm looking to spend my Google checkout 'voucher' at ebuyer and thought I'd treat myself to a new sounds card (I've got an audidy 2 at the mo)

I was browsing their selection for a decent card. Not specifically a Creative one, but I saw these cards and wondered what the difference was for me (games and music mostly):

Creative SoundBlaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio Soundcard - OEM
http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/121761
£31.30 inc VAT

Creative Soundblaster X-fi Xtreme Gamer Soundcard - OEM
http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/127030
£44.75 inc VAT

Does the increased price tag make that much of a difference? I'm certainly open to suggestions for new sounds cards. Preferably just over £30 inc vat

Thanks

EDIT: I've only got a 4.1 system and that's fine for me. Also It'll need to be compatible with Vista 64x

[Harkin]

I have a Creative Soundblaster X-Fi Xtreme Gamer - Fatal1ty Professional Series(about £80ish). Really good card for gaming obviously, noticed a big diff, but thats only with my Sennheiser headphones, they work a treat together. U get what u pay for I guess

[GrahamGarside]

The audio card is really an audigy and I'm not sure about the gamer.

I don't think either is really worthwhile upgrade from an audigy2 even if the gamer does genuinely use an xfi chip.

The xfi music is a better card if you want a decent upgrade.

[Lucio]

Isn't the X-Fi Gamer just the one with onboard optimisation for some of the common codec's used in games?

[notsobig]

One of customer's review say X-Fi Xtreme Audio Soundcard doesn't actually have X-Fi chip on them but they use rebadged older chipset instead. If this is true then price gap is understandable I guess.

http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/produ...ing=&offset=10

[Leepox]

dont buy either of those.. buy the next model up

[Biscuit]

i would say dont get X-FI at all. I got mine a while ago and it was great but recently i have noticed that its started to crackle with high freq sounds. I assume this is down to a poor choice of componants by Creative

[Leepox]

its basically bad capacitors.. the second generation basically got bad capacitors and esp a core chip that runs hotter. You are lucky if you get those first gen production ones but i doubt they even exist in stores now... all you get is a good sounding card with low quality components. =/

one techie pointed this out on the creative forums that the capacitors are cheapish ones as he recognized those and even put up evidences as to how bad those are

[notsobig]

Any info on upcoming models? Do they have new chip on them?

[Hasnath]

its basically bad capacitors.. the second generation basically got bad capacitors and esp a core chip that runs hotter. You are lucky if you get those first gen production ones but i doubt they even exist in stores now... all you get is a good sounding card with low quality components. =/

one techie pointed this out on the creative forums that the capacitors are cheapish ones as he recognized those and even put up evidences as to how bad those are

glad i've got the 1st gen without the heatsink

[koocha]

I've plumped for.....*drum roll*

The Saitek Eclipse II Keyboard!

It's to replace my Logitech Ultra-X. Don't get me wrong, I love it, just using my computer more in the dark these days

EDIT: Oh, and a CAT5 cable to make it over £30