Creative X-Fi worth it?

[shaithis]

Ah yes the 4gb 5.1 channels of screaming static. Ah, they were happy days. Thanks for that creative

I bet they were happy, at least it proved they had all 5.1 channels active

[aidanjt]

Any driver releases fixing something would be nice. We've had nothing for over 4 months. They started off well enough, fixing a few induvidual things with patches then incorporating them into drivers.

And what are these MAJOR problems that Asus need to fix with the Xonar drivers? Or is it that you just assume that a driver release, no matter what the point of it is, somehow magically cures cancer and makes your hardware superduper?

[Uriel]

And what are these MAJOR problems that Asus need to fix with the Xonar drivers? Or is it that you just assume that a driver release, no matter what the point of it is, somehow magically cures cancer and makes your hardware superduper?

Off the top of my head - microphone and line-in input lag (about 200ms - shouldn't happen - this is AISO capable hardware) when monitoring using the Xonar control panel. Broken EAX2 in Rome and Medievel II Total War (sounds gradually go missing during play - the only fully working sound mode that's not dreadful is software). Dolby decoding from optical doesn't work in vista (not sure about XP but it certainly does in Linux), Dolby decoding generally in Windows - the hardware's capable but drivers don't support it - so you have to use a software decoder like the bundled PowerDVD).

More minor issues are generally related to DS3D-GX and EAX. There are a number of games where leaving DS3D-GX on breaks the game sound (Mass Effect being the last one I noticed) If you want some more issues go and read the Asus Forums. Admittedly I'm grateful to have EAX3-5 emulation at all, as it wasn't an advertised feature.

[aidanjt]

Yes.. well, a few minor niggles is far more preferable to completely broken support, to no support at all.

[Uriel]

To be fair to Asus, they do seem to be taking the whole driver release thing quite seriously. I've been exchanging emails for a few months with Asus' Technical Support and they're usually quick to respond. They keep sending me forms to fill in about bugs I've found etc. Trouble is it all feels like great support - for a beta test...

In fact - let's not beat about the bush: it is a beta test. We've still not had final WHQL drivers for any of the Xonars.

Had an email from them today (after updating them on some of the above issues) and they've informed me that a driver is currently undergoing testing so I'm hopeful of a release in the not too distant future.

I'm thinking about getting a Creative USB soundcard to fill in the compatibility gaps for the time being. The sound bugs in games I'm trying to play are driving me nuts. If I can get something with negligible mike delay that would be great.

If I was into music recording, the mike and line in delays would be a complete deal breaker. It's not a minor issue. I've recorded a couple of songs (just vocals and guitar) on the PC before. I could not do that easily on my Xonar in its current state.

[TooNice]

Disclaimer: I've never used an X-Fi on Vista, so I am not sure if it is still plagued with issues.

On XP, I don't have a software related problem (all games works as intended). Certainly nothing like back in the Live! days. The hardware did fail, but RMA service was good. Not exceptional, but good.

There is one feature I just don't want to do without on a PC I watch movie on: CMSS. It's the best implementation of 3D positioning for movies over headphones that I've come across. I've simply not found a better alternative for it. It's not really meant for use for music etc., but for music, I'd opt for a dedicated DAC + Amp setup if possible. For gaming (where it is meant to work), I find it 'different' but not different good or bad.

[jim]

X-Fi on Vista x64 was fine last time my PC was actually working, but it was a complete shambles when Vista x64 was pretty new, most of the features didn't work and all they seemed to be doing was removing compatibility with each update.

I *almost* went insane, but managed to hang on long enough for them to sort it out properly, and now it's fine. I wish I had it back again

Mind you, if I was buying again I don't think I'd touch Creative with a certain type of stick

[Uriel]

Oops. Slip of the wallet. Just ordered a Prelude, so I can see what it's like (assuming I can get it working with 4GB RAM, unlike my XtremeMusic...).

Sound not working properly in a few games on the Xonar and it's getting annoying.

If CMSS headphone on the Xonar doesn't sound as good as Dolby Headphone for music, I can see myself keeping the Xonar too though.

Do you think a Prelude and a Xonar D2 in the same PC might be overkill?

[Powderhound]

I'd have thought the drivers would conflict big time.

[Blackmage]

I'm sure creative have fixed the majority of problems with the x-fi range now?

[Uriel]

I'm sure creative have fixed the majority of problems with the x-fi range now?

I think they have - for the majority of users. I've heard several people report that new Creative Drivers fixed their 4GB noise issues. Mine was different - a 4GB silence issue.

I've run multiple soundcards in Vista on a couple of occasions - generally with no problems. The only sound conflict issue I ran into were IRQ conflicts when I installed my HD4850 (which has a basic onboard sound chip). The XtremeMusic was run on its own and was the first soundcard I had installed with Vista so it couldn't have been a conflict with a different soundcard.

I must admit the Prelude buy is a bit of an experiment and I won't be surprised if I get nothing but Glorious silence there too with 4GB.

[shaithis]

Supposedly, the preludes drivers are substantially better then creatives (not that anyone should be surprised )

I still refuse to buy one as it's indirectly funding creative and the few tiny niggles with the Xonar I have yet to experience. Guess I don't play any of the few games that has issues.

[format]

I get a wierd thing where if I don't have any audio going out for a while, the speakers won't work. Windows won't register there is a problem, but it won't play back any audio.
I just go in to the playback devices thing and disable then reenable the soundcard output, and it's fine :S

[Lozza81]

I would simply say if you listen to music or watch movies on your pc then always buy the best soundcard and speaker setup you can afford.

I have the very first Creative X-Fi in this pc which I bought in October 2005 and it is the pci version and I noticed a massive difference in sound quality through my BOSE speakers when listening to the above when compared to my previous soundcard which was a Soundblaster Audigy.

This has resulted me in buying the pci express version the Creative X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Pro 7.1 Soundcard recently for new new core i7 build as I'd prefer to have the faster bus used in my new pc.

I am also not sure why people are berating Creative Labs drivers. I have used their soundcards since the mid1990s and apart from sound issues in the odd game, which was later corrected in a driver update or game patch, I've never had any problem with their products both hardware or software related.

Or were all the problems Vista/ memory related? Which some blame at least could be attributed to Microsoft?

[shaithis]

Or were all the problems Vista/ memory related? Which some blame at least could be attributed to Microsoft?

That was the problem but you cannot attribute any blame to Microsoft.

Creative had the betas of vista for ages, they waited until very late in the day to release drivers and they were terrible. The trend of terrible drivers persisted until over a year after Vista went retail.

Everyone elses sound card drivers were pretty much working fine while Vista was still in beta.

Not supporting 4GB of RAM in 64bit drivers has to be the dumbest mistake/oversight/choice/cock-up you could probably make as a hardware manufactuer.

[Lozza81]

Not supporting 4GB of RAM in 64bit drivers has to be the dumbest mistake/oversight/choice/cock-up you could probably make as a hardware manufactuer.

I knew there must have been a good reason for me jumping from 2GB RAM straight to 6GB and waiting for VISTA to be out for at least 18-months before getting it!
Still that sounds like a major cock-up from one of the most experienced pc hardware manufacturers in the world (Creative).

Will this problem reoccur again when Windows 7 goes retail or will Creative have some WHQL drivers ready in time for their X-Fi range?