The lowdown on Creative Sound Cards

[wenis]

Ok People, when looking for good options to replace onboard audio it always starts here. I've heard the newer Audigy 2z's are nice cards and that the help gaming. Tell my why these cards suck or why I should by one. What are some real alternatives sound solutions for gamers and audiophiles looking to go 5.1 or 7.1 and upgrade onboard sound? Lets hear it.....

[Norky]

I've got an Audigy 2 ZS Platinum Pro and I can't recommend it enough! I use the breakout box to get surround sound from my PS2 and to use the MIDI ports but if you don't need them you can just get the Audigy 2 ZS. Either way, it will be an awesome card

[unrealrocks]

If you want a card for gaming - these are great. For music listening there not so great - personally the mAudio cards are much better for that.

Its all about what you want the card for.

[wenis]

Well I would like a card the performs well at gaming and music and DVD audio.

[SilentDeath]

If you want a card that:
(correct me if im wrong.. cba to back it upwith links)

installs loads of unnessasary crap with drivers (alteast with the card I used to have)
has misleading marketing on the box (a1/2 - 24bit sound when only the dac is 24bit and the rest is 18).
Doesnt follow PCI spec properly, even though the standard is about 10 years old...

[BlueMagician]

Can you be more specific? Do you mean you want something that will help you create audio, or do you just want a multipurpose output card for desktop/gaming use?

You can't beat Creative's lineup for all round 'home desktop' performance, but as a studio/home recording interface, they suck bigtime. For this, read M-Audio/MOTU/Yamaha.


S.

[wenis]

Can you be more specific? Do you mean you want something that will help you create audio, or do you just want a multipurpose output card for desktop/gaming use?

You can't beat Creative's lineup for all round 'home desktop' performance, but as a studio/home recording interface, they suck bigtime. For this, read M-Audio/MOTU/Yamaha.


S.

BlueMagician I want a great multipurpose card. The Creative Cards hardware decode and encode right so there is no load on the CPU during game play? I'm using MCE 2005 so I want something that sound goods in 5.1 for entertainment, but enhances game play. Music would be great but DVD play is more important. And what about all this dolby,24bit,thx 5.1,7.1 crap?

Creative seems to get a bad rap from some people so I am usure.

[Xaneden]

Tbh, I think we are all being a bit.... picky.

Lets face it, in real life performance, it'll work great. I doubt the 16bit/24bit muddle etc makes that much of a difference, and you'll probably love the quality of sound it'll give you.

[wenis]

Tbh, I think we are all being a bit.... picky.

Lets face it, in real life performance, it'll work great. I doubt the 16bit/24bit muddle etc makes that much of a difference, and you'll probably love the quality of sound it'll give you.

Its too bad there is not a card that most people agree with. That said I have heard the Audigy 2z is pretty good. Is there anyway to pair down there drivers?

[Xaneden]

Is there anyway to pair down there drivers?

What do you mean by pairing down a driver Wenis?

[wenis]

What do you mean by pairing down a driver Wenis?

Just using the simple driver to run the hardware and forgo installing the extra crap? Or dare I say use a Microsoft Driver. The reason I mention it is because drivers are one of the primary complaints I hear from people about Creatives cards.

[idimmu]

the only thing i dont like about the creative audigy2 ive got is the software, and general installation.

if you get one i wouldnt bother using the gui installer, just install the drivers directly from the cd, then browse the cd to install other necessary apps, like speaker setup and mixers.

apart from that the audigy2 will be fine for what you i want, if i have read this thread correctly.

[Thorsson]

Install the drivers, but none of the apps - unless you really want them.

[Xaneden]

Well, I presume if you go into Device Manager, right click on the Sound Blaster, and select 'update driver', direct it to the Drive/Software CD, it'll just locate and install the necessary hardware bits?

Worth a try.

[Kumagoro]

If you are not going to spend money on quality speakers and i mean really good ones
then you wont notice much difference in quality if at all.

[Xaneden]

Very true. Creative's speakers btw, are a bit hit and miss. The 250 quid ones are excellent, but their budget ones really don't compare well to the quality of other manufacturer's budget series.