Asus Xonar D2X - PCI-Express soundcard - bit-tech.net Forums

Tim S · 13th Jan 2008, 06:16

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

Finally, an enthusiast's soundcard that supports PCI-Express is available, some four years after the interconnect's inception! We throw on some cans and take the latest Asus Xonar D2X with its funky lights and black EMI shield for a spin.

SinxarKnights · 13th Jan 2008, 07:52

Very nice indeed! But what exactly do you mean by "the company’s representatives were unavailable for comment at the time"? Were they on a coffee break or something?

CardJoe · 13th Jan 2008, 10:55

CES I imagine

Bindibadgi · 13th Jan 2008, 11:04

I'm going to get to the bottom of that next week and ill update the article. It seems very strange - I looked everywhere for it - and perhaps worth noting as it was part of the software provided that most people will actually use.

[USRF]Obiwan · 13th Jan 2008, 11:39

Ok, i liked the "product presentation". But where are the benchmarks, what is the cpu usage, etc etc...

DougEdey · 13th Jan 2008, 12:04

The Asus P(i)MP software looks rubbish...

Bindibadgi · 13th Jan 2008, 12:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by [USRF

Obiwan]Ok, i liked the "product presentation". But where are the benchmarks, what is the cpu usage, etc etc...

It's exactly the same as the Xonar D2, it felt excessive to re-review the same hardware - we're literally just covering an update

Kipman725 · 13th Jan 2008, 16:19

I don't understand why there DRM circumvention has to be analog? can't they tap off the signal going to the DAC and record that and convert that back into a file instead?

Skill3d · 13th Jan 2008, 17:50

they sell them over here for 179 euro's

(here being the netherlands)

Gunsmith · 13th Jan 2008, 18:59

nice, i can see these being sought after for those going 2x/3x sli

personally i think i'll be sticking to my x-fi elite pro, ive never had a problem with creative drivers or hardware so i see no real reason to switch

Tile · 13th Jan 2008, 19:07

Deleted

completemadness · 13th Jan 2008, 19:22

PCI-E uses the wrong power? couldn't they convert it?

Seems like a rather rushed product - "Hey, lets shove this converter chip on, and sell it on"
It would be OK if they just put a power regulation chip on so it didn't need a power connector

Firehed · 14th Jan 2008, 04:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tile

The problem that I find with this soundcard is the extra power connector. This is absolutely pathetic - a soundcard that requires additional power. The computer industry as a whole must focus on energiy efficiency.

My thought exactly. What kind of sound card sucks down more than the 75w provided by a PCIE slot?

The state of computer power usage is absolutely insane. I mean I shouldn't talk as I'm probably going to be buying an Xserve shortly which has a 750w unit (though it is a server, to be fair), but we've got foot-long graphics cards that take a pair of the newer 4x2pin PCIE connectors in addition to what it can get through the slot. I thought it was bad enough with the ATI 9-series first had molex sockets. What the hell?
/off soapbox

PCIE - good start (finally!). Backlit analog connectors - sounds stupid, but I see a lot of practical value in that. DDL!/DTS:C - I bought what was, AFAIK, the first card on the market with the feature, so that's important to me. But so much other stuff really comes of as ticking pointless checkboxes on a feature list.

talladega · 14th Jan 2008, 06:32

i looked at gettin the PCI version of this but didnt see enough positive reviews so i went with the HT Omega Claro Plus. any of you have that? i have seen very positive reviews.

The Bodger · 14th Jan 2008, 08:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tile

The problem that I find with this soundcard is the extra power connector. This is absolutely pathetic - a soundcard that requires additional power. The computer industry as a whole must focus on energiy efficiency.

Unless I'm mistaken, it has nothing to do with energy efficiency; the extra power is required simply because PCI express uses 3.3V and the chips on the soundcard use 5V, as they were intended for use on PCI. The card should use only fractionally more power than its PCI counterpart, which doesn't require an extra power header.

completemadness · 14th Jan 2008, 08:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Bodger

Unless I'm mistaken, it has nothing to do with energy efficiency; the extra power is required simply because PCI express uses 3.3V and the chips on the soundcard use 5V, as they were intended for use on PCI. The card should use only fractionally more power than its PCI counterpart, which doesn't require an extra power header.

Its pretty easy to get 3v to 5v converter chips, i just dont get why they didnt do it

Bindibadgi · 14th Jan 2008, 08:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Firehed

PCIE - good start (finally!). Backlit analog connectors - sounds stupid, but I see a lot of practical value in that. DDL!/DTS:C - I bought what was, AFAIK, the first card on the market with the feature, so that's important to me. But so much other stuff really comes of as ticking pointless checkboxes on a feature list.

Backlit connectors - AWESOME! Ever tried to plug something in in the dark, or even without some direct light?? They work great.

DDL and DTS:C have been around for ages - I got DDL with my first HD-Audio chipset on the intel reference 925X board back in '05.

Power connector is because PCI-E doesn't supply the right voltages, not because it's more power hungry - as I said, it's got exactly the same components on it otherwise.

[USRF]Obiwan · 14th Jan 2008, 10:17

So basicly, its the same old sht...

blackerthanblack · 14th Jan 2008, 10:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Firehed

My thought exactly. What kind of sound card sucks down more than the 75w provided by a PCIE slot?

While I agree with most of what you said, this card is on a x1 connector, not a x16 which can supply the 75W. I'm not sure how much a x1 connector can supply (divide by 16?), but it's nowhere near 75W.

will. · 15th Jan 2008, 13:21

If I had this card, would I be able to play Crysis/Bioshock/COD4/etc in 5.1 surround sound over optical SPDIF to this: Samsung DVD player thingamabob

That's all I'm interested in.

13th Jan 2008, 06:16	#1
Tim S Pewlius Caesar bit-tech Staff Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Ascot, Berks Posts: 18,021	Asus Xonar D2X - PCI-Express soundcard http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/200...ss_soundcard/1 Finally, an enthusiast's soundcard that supports PCI-Express is available, some four years after the interconnect's inception! We throw on some cans and take the latest Asus Xonar D2X with its funky lights and black EMI shield for a spin. __________________ 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)

13th Jan 2008, 10:55	#3
CardJoe Player Character bit-tech Staff Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 8,009	CES I imagine __________________ this is joe's non-bit-tech blog

13th Jan 2008, 11:04	#4
Bindibadgi Richard Swinburne bit-tech Staff Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Omnipwntent Posts: 28,281	I'm going to get to the bottom of that next week and ill update the article. It seems very strange - I looked everywhere for it - and perhaps worth noting as it was part of the software provided that most people will actually use. __________________ Made you look, made you stare, made you clicked this in your underwear! Den of Geek!

13th Jan 2008, 11:39	#5
[USRF]Obiwan Ultramodder Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Netherlands Posts: 1,220	Ok, i liked the "product presentation". But where are the benchmarks, what is the cpu usage, etc etc... __________________ 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.

13th Jan 2008, 12:04	#6
DougEdey I pwn all your storage Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Southampton Posts: 13,933	The Asus P(i)MP software looks rubbish... __________________ Burnout: Paradise Stats!XBL: DougEdey Bindi PSN ID: DougEdey Twitter

13th Jan 2008, 07:52	#2
SinxarKnights Modder Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 54	Very nice indeed! But what exactly do you mean by "the company’s representatives were unavailable for comment at the time"? Were they on a coffee break or something?

13th Jan 2008, 16:19	#8
Kipman725 When did I get a custom title!?! Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: UK Posts: 1,753	I don't understand why there DRM circumvention has to be analog? can't they tap off the signal going to the DAC and record that and convert that back into a file instead? __________________ 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

13th Jan 2008, 17:50	#9
Skill3d Multimodder Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 149	they sell them over here for 179 euro's (here being the netherlands)

13th Jan 2008, 18:59	#10
Gunsmith my supersonic radar will help me! Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 1,432	nice, i can see these being sought after for those going 2x/3x sli personally i think i'll be sticking to my x-fi elite pro, ive never had a problem with creative drivers or hardware so i see no real reason to switch __________________ People who optimise code are wimps. My code knows it's awesome, so it'll take all the time it needs. You can wait in awe

13th Jan 2008, 19:07	#11
Tile Banned Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 376	Deleted Last edited by Tile; 3rd Nov 2008 at 00:44.

13th Jan 2008, 19:22	#12
completemadness Hypermodder Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 887	PCI-E uses the wrong power? couldn't they convert it? Seems like a rather rushed product - "Hey, lets shove this converter chip on, and sell it on" It would be OK if they just put a power regulation chip on so it didn't need a power connector

14th Jan 2008, 10:17	#18
[USRF]Obiwan Ultramodder Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Netherlands Posts: 1,220	So basicly, its the same old sht... __________________ 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.

15th Jan 2008, 13:21	#20
will. A motorbike of jealousy! Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Yorkshire! Posts: 4,407	If I had this card, would I be able to play Crysis/Bioshock/COD4/etc in 5.1 surround sound over optical SPDIF to this: Samsung DVD player thingamabob That's all I'm interested in. __________________ work \| play \| blog PS3 & 360: willblack Flickr my twitter. Last.FM Check out my Last.FM & iToggle & Nav-o-Matic jQuery plugins.