The lowdown on Creative Sound Cards

[aidanjt]

I got myself an SB Audagy 2 ZS and I couldn't recommend it any more... I just downloaded the drivers only from the website and I'm using them, works flawlessly. I like a minimalist OS install.

[Xaneden]

I have a SoundBlaster Live! 5.1, and it works well, but its a bit crap t'be honest.

I was going to invest in one of these Audigy 2s, but I think if I do I'll get an external USB2 one, cos by the time I have a system powerful enought to compliment it, PCI will be long dead.

[wenis]

I have a SoundBlaster Live! 5.1, and it works well, but its a bit crap t'be honest.

I was going to invest in one of these Audigy 2s, but I think if I do I'll get an external USB2 one, cos by the time I have a system powerful enought to compliment it, PCI will be long dead.

Thats one of my concerns with the newer boards. I really don't want to buy anything in PCI. I would rather go full PCI-E. Too bad no boards are all PCI-E yet. I am an add-on card freak!

[aidanjt]

very few will be PCI-E 1x for awhile, you'll need to wait, PCI will still be more popular for soundcards and the like since it suits a far broader audiance.

[noah]

so can anyone recommend a good card for primarily music (2 channel stereo through a quality hi-fi amp and speakers) and dvd with games being the second (but important) use ?

[aidanjt]

if your gaming at all then the Audagy 2 is your only option, most games only support the EAX API, and its more Creative Labs specific.. i did get 5.1 headphones for £45 quid with it as well, and well worth the money when you sit back and listen to DVDs and games.

[Xaneden]

I remember seeing a pic of PCI express cards. They had modems, network cards and more. But I have yet to see any of this stuff on the market.

What is up with these manufacturers?!?!?

[Xaneden]

And don't say there isn't a market for them, in the next year all new PCs will have PCI Express.

Thats what I call a market opportunity!

[aidanjt]

yep, but if your designing a cheap device like a soundcard, you don't want to have to have two development brances of the same card, one for PCI, and one for PCI-E, considering you need to provide PCI for people with older computers and try to accomidate people with newer computers also.. PCI-E boards will continue having 1 or 2 PCI slots for the next year or so.