Creative X-Fi Fatal1ty FPS soundcard review - bit-tech.net Forums

The_Pope · 31st Oct 2005, 11:09

Performance is supreme, but would you splash the cash for one?

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/200...ive_xfi/1.html

Bindibadgi · 31st Oct 2005, 11:27

For the love of god, why yet another Fatality product?

Im clearly jelous of how much money he's making.

Flibster · 31st Oct 2005, 11:39

Quick little correction for you - the SB Live had the breakout box initially - not the Audigy.

Had a play with one of these on a PC I was building - It does soud pretty damn good.

Simon/~Flibster

atanum141 · 31st Oct 2005, 11:43

the real question is how good is the Xtreme music version?...all well and good having john wendel's products being pimped but i wanna kno about the more affordable option..is it really that good and how would it stand up to my soundstorm(yes i kno its old but its damn good)...

also i wonder what _Dom has to say about this.

awesome article...keep up the good work chaps!

Bindibadgi · 31st Oct 2005, 11:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by atanum141

also i wonder what _Dom has to say about this.

I can tell you already: "Anything less than a 10 grand vinyl kit is crap audio fidelity."

atanum141 · 31st Oct 2005, 11:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bindibadgi

I can tell you already: "Anything less than a 10 grand vinyl kit is crap audio fidelity."

yeah haha i was thinking that!!!...

[USRF]Obiwan · 31st Oct 2005, 11:54

To me it is a very big disapointment that their are no optical/digital outputs on the back of the card. I do not want to run audio cables from the front of the pc to my amp. And the breakoutbox does not fit into a HTPC the place where this card "could" have been perfect for. I mean with the THX certified options, DD, DTS and such..

It is a damn shame...

Update:
Reading the specs on the SBlive site, i noticed a 3 in one jack that supports digital i/o (with AC3 and PCM stereo support)

FlexiJack (Performing a 3-in-1 function, Digital I/O1 / Line In / Microphone) via 3.50mm mini jack

Still a shame because of no optical on the rear

[Tom] · 31st Oct 2005, 12:22

"used to hack their PCs up to a niche, geeky device known as the iPod"

Hook?

Other than that, very well written article which seemed to cover all the concievable bases.

The_Pope · 31st Oct 2005, 12:34

Bugfixed

[sinz] · 31st Oct 2005, 12:54

Yikes! $277 for a sound card? I could see for studio production type stuff but.... wow. The onboard memory is a pretty cool idea. It might not be too long before we start seeing sound cards that need water cooling.

macroman · 31st Oct 2005, 13:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by atanum141

the real question is how good is the Xtreme music version?...all well and good having john wendel's products being pimped but i wanna kno about the more affordable option..is it really that good and how would it stand up to my soundstorm(yes i kno its old but its damn good)...

also i wonder what _Dom has to say about this.

awesome article...keep up the good work chaps!

The Xtreme music is basically the same card but without the onboard ram so audio performance is just as good. It beats the Soundstorm as you can see from the tests.

The_Pope · 31st Oct 2005, 13:23

yep, as it says at the end, if you're not bothered about the X-RAM for gaming, and don't need the front audio input / output jacks, the Xtreme Music card is half the price, and still does EAX 5.0 and has all the top quality sound of the Fatal1ty card.

If you've got the money, the Fatal1ty version is outstanding, but for the budget-conscious gamer, the Xtreme Music version is still better than an Audigy, and way better than on-board sound.

wharrad · 31st Oct 2005, 14:10

Seems if you get this card, then you love high quality music. I know there's gaming features, but as the article said - very difficult to notice. I also take into account the extra voices which may prove useful in future.

But I suggest, if you want to make use of that music quality, then you'll need a good amp and a set of speakers - some good cables for that. You know - adds up to ALOT of money. So if you've got that far, you might aswell add a CD seperate...

So get a cheaper card for the games where you can't really hear the difference, and a music system for music.

Just a thought...

Marquee · 31st Oct 2005, 14:11

Have never been a man into audio to much as my speakers have enough wattage to blast my ears off. But this X-fi thing, I really want to try it out. I want to get more $$$ head phones then my Sony MDR-V300 and check out how it works.

LockmanX · 31st Oct 2005, 15:41

I've been using an old SBLive5.1 for awhile now. About a month ago, I went a LAN and a buddy of mine had just put together a pretty sweet system with one of those X-fi card in it. We were playing the FEAR multiplayer demo and he wanted to see what the game was like on my machine (lowest spec at the LAN). I was expecting the graphic to be better (X850XT > 9600XT) but the sound comming off the card was incredible.

Very nifty card. One is definatly going to end up in my next machine.

I_Slider_I · 31st Oct 2005, 16:00

I was doing some DJin this summer, and I could really hear the difference if I was using a lower quality sound card or onboard sound. I had a laptop with a audigy lap top card, however this didn't turn out to be much of a help because the DJ software that I used really didn't recognize the different channels on the Audigy (front, rear, surround) although the sound quality was up there.

However, even though the audigy improved my sound, it still wasn't as good quality as using CDs. It does take a trained ear and good speakers to hear it, but MP3's just don't have the quality. I wonder what this new crystalizing feature will do to improve MP3's, my guess is its a lame effect and won't really be able to make up for crappy quality.

Any thoughts?

The cheapskate · 31st Oct 2005, 16:05

Well I run A yamaha 5.1 Amp (rx-v357), and a set of Gale silver moniter hifi speakers, they run from the onboard sound on my ASUS a8nsli main board by the optical lead.

Currently it sounds fantastic, but would it be worth me plumping for the new card? as i would have thought that currently its the amp that does all the work?

any advise people~?

J-Pepper · 31st Oct 2005, 16:17

I've always used the top audigy cards paired to a set of top quality headphones (Pioneer DJs and Grados).. it beats anything else out there... but at almost £200 for a soundcard!!!...

I want this, but I think i'm going to have to plump for the cheaper £100 version.. I just can't justify the extra expense for 64MB ram.

Kipman725 · 31st Oct 2005, 16:19

You forgot the daddy of ISA soundcards the AWE 64 I like to pick those up from ebay for a few pounds. THe stereo quality on them is superb compared to Ac97 onboard audio but people just don't want them because there ISA. With a yamaha daughter board of a simlar generation with loads of extra midi voices on you can get some awsome midi instruments that sound asif your actualy listening to the cd.

http://www.classicalarchives.com/ <--- some good midi files for testing midi ect. instead of using "flourish"

kiljoi · 31st Oct 2005, 16:31

Looks nice, but way too expensive for me. I can't even afford to spend that on a video card, much less sound. BTW, is this the first pre-modded sound card (with the little red light)?

31st Oct 2005, 11:09	#1
The_Pope Geoff Richards Moderator Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: UK Posts: 2,089	Creative X-Fi Fatal1ty FPS soundcard review Performance is supreme, but would you splash the cash for one? http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/200...ive_xfi/1.html

31st Oct 2005, 11:27	#2
Bindibadgi Richard Swinburne bit-tech Staff Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Omnipwntent Posts: 28,264	For the love of god, why yet another Fatality product? Im clearly jelous of how much money he's making. __________________ Made you look, made you stare, made you clicked this in your underwear! Den of Geek!

31st Oct 2005, 11:39	#3
Flibster Multimodder Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Hitchin, Herts Posts: 73	Quick little correction for you - the SB Live had the breakout box initially - not the Audigy. Had a play with one of these on a PC I was building - It does soud pretty damn good. Simon/~Flibster __________________ "You know," said Arthur, "it's at times like this, when I'm trapped in a Vogon airlock with a man from Betelgeuse, and about to die of asphyxication in deep space that I really wish I'd listened to what my mother told me when I was young." "Why, what did she tell you?" "I don't know, I didn't listen." Douglas Adams - Hitch Hikers Guide To The Galaxy - My Hexus Rating Click here to email me

31st Oct 2005, 11:43	#4
atanum141 I fapped to your post! Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: London Posts: 7,538	the real question is how good is the Xtreme music version?...all well and good having john wendel's products being pimped but i wanna kno about the more affordable option..is it really that good and how would it stand up to my soundstorm(yes i kno its old but its damn good)... also i wonder what _Dom has to say about this. awesome article...keep up the good work chaps! __________________ Welcome to Thunderdome, B*tch XBL: atanum141

31st Oct 2005, 11:54	#7
[USRF]Obiwan Ultramodder Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Netherlands Posts: 1,220	To me it is a very big disapointment that their are no optical/digital outputs on the back of the card. I do not want to run audio cables from the front of the pc to my amp. And the breakoutbox does not fit into a HTPC the place where this card "could" have been perfect for. I mean with the THX certified options, DD, DTS and such.. It is a damn shame... Update: Reading the specs on the SBlive site, i noticed a 3 in one jack that supports digital i/o (with AC3 and PCM stereo support) FlexiJack (Performing a 3-in-1 function, Digital I/O1 / Line In / Microphone) via 3.50mm mini jack Still a shame because of no optical on the rear __________________ Mascleta: "The most accurate simulation of thunder, humans can simulate..." The answer is 42, so... whats the question again? If you know what 'Peek' and 'Poke' represents, then you are probably as old as me. Last edited by [USRF]Obiwan; 31st Oct 2005 at 12:00.

31st Oct 2005, 12:22	#8
[Tom] Supermodder Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Surrey, England Posts: 489	"used to hack their PCs up to a niche, geeky device known as the iPod" Hook? Other than that, very well written article which seemed to cover all the concievable bases.

31st Oct 2005, 12:34	#9
The_Pope Geoff Richards Moderator Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: UK Posts: 2,089	Bugfixed

31st Oct 2005, 12:54	#10
[sinz] 69 Dude!! Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 69	Yikes! $277 for a sound card? I could see for studio production type stuff but.... wow. The onboard memory is a pretty cool idea. It might not be too long before we start seeing sound cards that need water cooling.

31st Oct 2005, 13:23	#12
The_Pope Geoff Richards Moderator Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: UK Posts: 2,089	yep, as it says at the end, if you're not bothered about the X-RAM for gaming, and don't need the front audio input / output jacks, the Xtreme Music card is half the price, and still does EAX 5.0 and has all the top quality sound of the Fatal1ty card. If you've got the money, the Fatal1ty version is outstanding, but for the budget-conscious gamer, the Xtreme Music version is still better than an Audigy, and way better than on-board sound.

31st Oct 2005, 14:10	#13
wharrad Hypermodder Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Burford, Oxfordshire Posts: 866	Seems if you get this card, then you love high quality music. I know there's gaming features, but as the article said - very difficult to notice. I also take into account the extra voices which may prove useful in future. But I suggest, if you want to make use of that music quality, then you'll need a good amp and a set of speakers - some good cables for that. You know - adds up to ALOT of money. So if you've got that far, you might aswell add a CD seperate... So get a cheaper card for the games where you can't really hear the difference, and a music system for music. Just a thought... __________________ Jimmy Carr - "It's easier to get forgiveness than permission"

31st Oct 2005, 14:11	#14
Marquee Supermodder Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Toronto Canada Posts: 404	Have never been a man into audio to much as my speakers have enough wattage to blast my ears off. But this X-fi thing, I really want to try it out. I want to get more $$$ head phones then my Sony MDR-V300 and check out how it works. __________________ Project Log: Knight Rider CWC

31st Oct 2005, 15:41	#15
LockmanX Supermodder Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 376	I've been using an old SBLive5.1 for awhile now. About a month ago, I went a LAN and a buddy of mine had just put together a pretty sweet system with one of those X-fi card in it. We were playing the FEAR multiplayer demo and he wanted to see what the game was like on my machine (lowest spec at the LAN). I was expecting the graphic to be better (X850XT > 9600XT) but the sound comming off the card was incredible. Very nifty card. One is definatly going to end up in my next machine.

31st Oct 2005, 16:00	#16
I_Slider_I Multimodder Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: The Park Posts: 88	Crystilizer I was doing some DJin this summer, and I could really hear the difference if I was using a lower quality sound card or onboard sound. I had a laptop with a audigy lap top card, however this didn't turn out to be much of a help because the DJ software that I used really didn't recognize the different channels on the Audigy (front, rear, surround) although the sound quality was up there. However, even though the audigy improved my sound, it still wasn't as good quality as using CDs. It does take a trained ear and good speakers to hear it, but MP3's just don't have the quality. I wonder what this new crystalizing feature will do to improve MP3's, my guess is its a lame effect and won't really be able to make up for crappy quality. Any thoughts?

31st Oct 2005, 16:05	#17
The cheapskate One custom title before Matty Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Near liverpool Posts: 885	Well I run A yamaha 5.1 Amp (rx-v357), and a set of Gale silver moniter hifi speakers, they run from the onboard sound on my ASUS a8nsli main board by the optical lead. Currently it sounds fantastic, but would it be worth me plumping for the new card? as i would have thought that currently its the amp that does all the work? any advise people~? __________________ VAIO

31st Oct 2005, 16:17	#18
J-Pepper Ultramodder Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: UK Posts: 1,445	I've always used the top audigy cards paired to a set of top quality headphones (Pioneer DJs and Grados).. it beats anything else out there... but at almost £200 for a soundcard!!!... I want this, but I think i'm going to have to plump for the cheaper £100 version.. I just can't justify the extra expense for 64MB ram. __________________ Flickr deviantART portfolio.KS ~ Macbook For Sale 100GB 7200RPM 2.5" HDD for sale

31st Oct 2005, 16:19	#19
Kipman725 When did I get a custom title!?! Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: UK Posts: 1,753	You forgot the daddy of ISA soundcards the AWE 64 I like to pick those up from ebay for a few pounds. THe stereo quality on them is superb compared to Ac97 onboard audio but people just don't want them because there ISA. With a yamaha daughter board of a simlar generation with loads of extra midi voices on you can get some awsome midi instruments that sound asif your actualy listening to the cd. http://www.classicalarchives.com/ <--- some good midi files for testing midi ect. instead of using "flourish" __________________ Sn45g game server mod My Electronics Site Hardware: 3400+ Sempr0n, 1GB RAM, 1.28TB local storage, x1950pro,Razer Viper,M$ comfort curve 2000,L70S + 17", Fujitsu 17" CRT Audio: HD-650's, PE congress amp, Sound Blaster AWE64, Soundblaster 24bit

31st Oct 2005, 16:31	#20
kiljoi I am a computer king. Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: pants! Posts: 2,302	Looks nice, but way too expensive for me. I can't even afford to spend that on a video card, much less sound. BTW, is this the first pre-modded sound card (with the little red light)? __________________ I NEEED YOU AND TEH GUYS HELP ME TO GET TEH ORANGE BOX WITH WHICH I DONT KNOW I NEED TO KNOW FORM YOU