Creative X-Fi XtremeGamer - bit-tech.net Forums

Tim S · 1st Jul 2007, 14:17

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

The Creative X-Fi XtremeGamer is a recent addition to the very popular X-Fi family, but for its very affordable price, is it worthy of investment if you're an "xtreme" gamer?

Ramble · 1st Jul 2007, 14:37

How can the fact that the X-Fi sounds better on HL2 be put down to EAX when HL2 doesn't support EAX or any sound accel?

Bindibadgi · 1st Jul 2007, 14:52

Sorry, badly worded by myself. :S I meant in general, but it read straight on from the last sentence.

It still sounds better on the X-Fi, I don't know what it does but it just feels more accurate.

Chronic · 1st Jul 2007, 15:02

Great review but was wondering do you know if this is Compatible with 5.1 Digital Speakers, you do mention something about a Digital out but needs a toshlink adapter never heard of this before so might be very interested if this is Full 5.1 Digital now..

Thanks..

Mankz · 1st Jul 2007, 15:04

Nice and very informative review there Rich.

Will there be any reviews of the Xtreme Audio card (£30 or so)?

Bindibadgi · 1st Jul 2007, 15:12

The PCI-Express one with no X-Fi processor? Possibly, we can ask.

Chronic: The toslink cables have a square plug, but you need a square to 3.5mm "pointy" adapter. You can buy them from some electronics or A/V shops as well, you don't have to go to Creative. The S/PDIF out supports the same modes as standard analogue out afaik, I've not got digital speakers nor the adapter unfortunately

I've been meaning to get round to asking someone for a proper amp but we don't do that many soundcard reviews.

DarkLord7854 · 1st Jul 2007, 15:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bindibadgi

It still sounds better on the X-Fi, I don't know what it does but it just feels more accurate.

Bought one myself just recently, gotta agree with that statement, it seems all games I play have a big boost in sound quality even if none of the sound settings have changed

There's an OEM version going for 75$ at Newegg btw

Although, when I installed my X-Fi drivers, I didn't get the control panel and all.. odd.

Bindibadgi · 1st Jul 2007, 15:38

*Phew* As long as I'm not going nuts about the sound

It's hard to explain something that's just "better".

Newegg link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...2E16829102006R

Control Panel: In XP!? I installed it, then it auto-updated and everything was there

DarkLord7854 · 1st Jul 2007, 15:41

I guess I'll try installing from CD instead of downloading them

atanum141 · 1st Jul 2007, 15:46

I like the look of the card and what it has to offer but the software looks far to bloated. My Current Audigy has nothing but the drivers & small control panel. Thats what i want with the X-Fi.

DarkLord7854 · 1st Jul 2007, 15:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by atanum141

I like the look of the card and what it has to offer but the software looks far to bloated. My Current Audigy has nothing but the drivers & small control panel. Thats what i want with the X-Fi.

When installing the drivers you can choose all the different software components you want to add/remove, there's a lot, so you have the choice on what to add/remove

Though honestly, it may seem bloated, but it's had no effect on my boot/load times

Edit: My only complaint bout this card is that it's bringing out the cheapness of my speakers

Spacecowboy92 · 1st Jul 2007, 17:01

I always wondered why they put those environment effects on, they work well and sound convincing but who wants to listen to music in a sewer pipe?

Neogumbercules · 1st Jul 2007, 18:29

Or a cathedral hall? Or inside a trash can? Or through a vocoder?

Cupboard · 1st Jul 2007, 18:46

toshlink=toslink?
are they the same thing, or is one a new version of the other? or maybe a Creative thing?

Mattt · 1st Jul 2007, 18:59

"toshlink=toslink?"

exactly what i was wondering!

Veles · 1st Jul 2007, 20:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cupboard

toshlink=toslink?
are they the same thing, or is one a new version of the other? or maybe a Creative thing?

Nah it's they hyperbolic equivalent

Bindibadgi · 1st Jul 2007, 20:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cupboard

toshlink=toslink?
are they the same thing, or is one a new version of the other? or maybe a Creative thing?

Yes, it's Toslink

It's designer was Toshiba, so the association is in my brain

Wiki is awesome: It's a mini-Toslink jack uses a TRS connector

Bladestorm · 1st Jul 2007, 21:55

Arg I was all ready to abandon creative sound cards when it came time for a new one, but this sounds nice to the point that I might have to pick one up whenever I do my Vista+DX10 upgrade.

Cthippo · 1st Jul 2007, 22:20

Did they ever get the linux drivers sorted? I've still get an Xfi collecting dust in my case because of a lack of driver support

dom_ · 2nd Jul 2007, 00:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bindibadgi

The PCI-Express one with no X-Fi processor? Possibly, we can ask.

Chronic: The toslink cables have a square plug, but you need a square to 3.5mm "pointy" adapter. You can buy them from some electronics or A/V shops as well, you don't have to go to Creative. The S/PDIF out supports the same modes as standard analogue out afaik, I've not got digital speakers nor the adapter unfortunately

I've been meaning to get round to asking someone for a proper amp but we don't do that many soundcard reviews.

Speakers are analogue.
A "digital" speaker is an active speaker (one with its own amplifier) that has a dac built in or is a true digital amp (most class d's are not).
A "proper" amp wont help as a "proper" amp would be i assume a power amp. Which will only have a single analogue input.
A line stage or pre amplifier allows multiple sources to be used and allows you to adjust gain etc.
A dac is a digital analogue converter.
Something with two or more of the above is an intergrated amp.

In the interests of testing audio gear i would hope that you had the above available, as testing with active pc speakers or headphone plugged directly to soundcards can not allow you to assess sound quality. You need something better you need hi-fi components. Not PC components.

1st Jul 2007, 14:17	#1
Tim S Pewlius Caesar bit-tech Staff Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Ascot, Berks Posts: 18,021	Creative X-Fi XtremeGamer http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/200..._xtremegamer/1 The Creative X-Fi XtremeGamer is a recent addition to the very popular X-Fi family, but for its very affordable price, is it worthy of investment if you're an "xtreme" gamer? __________________ Tim on Twitter \| Tim's Blog \| Tim's Flickr The bit-tech Blog \| bit-tech on Twitter \| Join the bit-tech & Custom PC folding team (#35947)

1st Jul 2007, 14:37	#2
Ramble Ginger Nut Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Exeter, Devon/Wantage, Oxfordshire Posts: 5,234	How can the fact that the X-Fi sounds better on HL2 be put down to EAX when HL2 doesn't support EAX or any sound accel? __________________ Kirk, Spock, McCoy, and Ensign Ricky are beaming down to the planet. Guess who's not coming back.

1st Jul 2007, 14:52	#3
Bindibadgi Richard Swinburne bit-tech Staff Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Omnipwntent Posts: 28,228	Sorry, badly worded by myself. :S I meant in general, but it read straight on from the last sentence. It still sounds better on the X-Fi, I don't know what it does but it just feels more accurate. __________________ Made you look, made you stare, made you clicked this in your underwear! Den of Geek!

1st Jul 2007, 15:12	#6
Bindibadgi Richard Swinburne bit-tech Staff Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Omnipwntent Posts: 28,228	The PCI-Express one with no X-Fi processor? Possibly, we can ask. Chronic: The toslink cables have a square plug, but you need a square to 3.5mm "pointy" adapter. You can buy them from some electronics or A/V shops as well, you don't have to go to Creative. The S/PDIF out supports the same modes as standard analogue out afaik, I've not got digital speakers nor the adapter unfortunately I've been meaning to get round to asking someone for a proper amp but we don't do that many soundcard reviews. __________________ Made you look, made you stare, made you clicked this in your underwear! Den of Geek! Last edited by Bindibadgi; 1st Jul 2007 at 20:44.

1st Jul 2007, 15:38	#8
Bindibadgi Richard Swinburne bit-tech Staff Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Omnipwntent Posts: 28,228	Phew As long as I'm not going nuts about the sound It's hard to explain something that's just "better". Newegg link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...2E16829102006R Control Panel: In XP!? I installed it, then it auto-updated and everything was there __________________ Made you look, made you stare, made you clicked this in your underwear! Den of Geek!

1st Jul 2007, 15:02	#4
Chronic Modder Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Bury Posts: 51	Great review but was wondering do you know if this is Compatible with 5.1 Digital Speakers, you do mention something about a Digital out but needs a toshlink adapter never heard of this before so might be very interested if this is Full 5.1 Digital now.. Thanks..

1st Jul 2007, 15:41	#9
DarkLord7854 Web Developer Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: West Palm Beach, Florida Posts: 3,825	I guess I'll try installing from CD instead of downloading them __________________ Current Computer: eVGA 780i Motherboard \| Q6600 Core2Quad \| eVGA GTX260 896Mbs 216-core \| 2x Seagate 500Gbs \| 8Gbs OCZ Platinum DDR2 800 \| Creative XtremeGamer X-Fi \| Thermaltake Armor Case Custom WordPress, ZenCart, Joomla, vBulletin, etc installs and skinning, PM/E-Mail for a quote

1st Jul 2007, 15:46	#10
atanum141 I fapped to your post! Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: London Posts: 7,536	I like the look of the card and what it has to offer but the software looks far to bloated. My Current Audigy has nothing but the drivers & small control panel. Thats what i want with the X-Fi. __________________ Welcome to Thunderdome, B*tch XBL: atanum141

1st Jul 2007, 17:01	#12
Spacecowboy92 Gettin' Lazy Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Winchester, UK Posts: 757	I always wondered why they put those environment effects on, they work well and sound convincing but who wants to listen to music in a sewer pipe? __________________

1st Jul 2007, 18:29	#13
Neogumbercules Ultramodder Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Connecticut Posts: 1,494	Or a cathedral hall? Or inside a trash can? Or through a vocoder? __________________ Abit AB9 Pro, Intel Core 2 Duo E6400 CPU, 2GB Corsair DDR2 6400, nVidia 8800GT, Seagate 160 GB HDD.

1st Jul 2007, 18:46	#14
Cupboard I'm not a modder. Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Bury St Edmunds/Durham Uni Posts: 1,841	toshlink=toslink? are they the same thing, or is one a new version of the other? or maybe a Creative thing? __________________ i7 920, 8800GTS 512, 6GB Corsair all in an Intel DX58SO; 3*320GB RAID5; CM Stacker Samsung Q45.

1st Jul 2007, 18:59	#15
Mattt Hypermodder Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Chatham, kent Posts: 628	"toshlink=toslink?" exactly what i was wondering! __________________ www.lanremix.co.uk Current project - Project peltier beer cooler/tea warmer.

1st Jul 2007, 21:55	#18
Bladestorm Hypermodder Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 682	Arg I was all ready to abandon creative sound cards when it came time for a new one, but this sounds nice to the point that I might have to pick one up whenever I do my Vista+DX10 upgrade. __________________ Athlon 64 X2 3800+ @ 250x10 (1.475v) \| EVGA GTX 260 55nm SSC \| A8N-SLI Premium \| 2x(4GB) Corsair Twinx2048-PC3200C2 \| Asus Xonar DX \| Antec truepower 550w \| Akasa Eclipse-62 DDC12VPlus1, DD TDX, 3/8 tygon r3603 tubing, PA120.2, DD double floppy bay res

1st Jul 2007, 22:20	#19
Cthippo Can't mod my way out of a paper bag Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Bellingham, WA Posts: 4,459	Did they ever get the linux drivers sorted? I've still get an Xfi collecting dust in my case because of a lack of driver support __________________ Notice: If we see you flaming we will assume you are on fire and take appropriate measures - The Bit-Tech Fire Brigade.