VirusType2
Newbie
- Joined
- Feb 3, 2005
- Messages
- 18,189
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Hey what kind of cards are you guys using?
I can't find my install disc, and Creative says that my card is "at the end of it's life" - Which normally would piss me off, since it's about 2 years old and is a 24 bit 5.1 HD sound card with EAX and optical output. I can't see how this would ever be out dated, I mean, when will audio become outdated? People have been using mono and stereo for like 150 years, and it still plays audio, still does what it was intended to do, as long as the equipment still works. It's a way of forcing you to buy a new card in order for it to be compatible with the newer games. Since there really isn't much of an alternative, it's a monopoly.
Well, it doesn't piss me off too bad, because I would love nothing more than to throw this piece of shit through a window at the Creative office building with a dried up piece of shit tied to it. DON'T WANT.
I have had nothing but issues from this card, from installation problems, to random and permanent crashes after installing other software that had nothing to do with it, forcing me to try and get lucky and get it working by spend all day installing the 20 various software patches that suck, to incompatibility with games, to being a gigantic memory hog, and more! Yay!
I want a sound card that is compatible with all (or most all) games, and sounds incredible. Does anyone have a card that fits this description?
I wouldn't mind spending a large amount of money for a quality product.
Then there is this issue about Vista drivers, so I don't know. Not only are drivers hard to come by, but so far all sound cards no longer use hardware acceleration in Vista, which defeats half the purpose of the card. It might be a bad time to upgrade, but I'm stuck with on-board sound/software sound again, so I could use a new card really bad.
Speaking of Vista, I have a feeling that with Vista, and Microsoft's new audio implementation, it's a way of making all other sound cards obsolete by making the hardware acceleration not work. It looks to me like Microsoft is trying to elbow it's way into the sound card market and gain a market share. They have teamed up with Razer for their sound cards apparently. See here: http://www.google.com/search?q=raze...-us&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&startIndex=&startPage=1 At least they shouldn't have any problem creating drivers for Vista, since they have Microsoft on their team. See here:
http://www.razersupport.com/index.php?_m=news&_a=view
They are also trying to gain some profits on keyboards and mice from Logitech territory, but that is another story.
With the poorness that Creative creates sound drivers, I think they have a huge opportunity to gain a market share, except for the fact that Razor isn't well known like Creative, so most consumers will ignore their products. Well, tbh, I don't give a **** who makes what, or what kind of monopoly anyone has, as long as I get a product that ****ing works right, and is a decent value!
Anyway, back to present time:
The new Fatality Xtreme gamer card with the on-board memory sounds like it is a great idea, but I hear there are issues with the memory making it buggy as crap.
Then there are the other Fatality Xtreme gamer cards that don't have memory, but are still buggy.
Newegg sound card selection:
http://www.newegg.com/Store/Category.aspx?Category=36&name=Sound-Cards-MIDI-Devices
Well, I've been searching. So far, I'm not coming up with much.
I don't need many features. I just want the most compatible, clearest sounding 2channel card, but I don't even know if they make them in 2channel anymore, so 5.1 or better will be fine.
EDIT: Well, I did some reading, and would you look at this?
Anyway, this card actually does sound pretty ****in beast, but it's $200. It uses the same chip as some other cards that sell for about that same price though, so I guess it isn't overpriced, it's just new tech.
Again, it's got the glowing razor symbol on the card. I might get this ****er if I can get it on sale or something, and if it uses hardware acceleration in Vista. I don't plan on buying another sound card, at least until PCI express sound cards and mobo's are everywhere.
Here read this. Maybe just glance over the bold, to avoid reading all of the hyperbole.
That is some seriously crystal clear SNR, that's for sure. Thats way better than the Fatality.
Also, the 720 audio (hmmm... razor xbox 720 anyone?) sounds tight, but you might need the special headphones - I'm not sure. You can buy both and save. For $300, it better sound incredible and get lots of game support.
Anyway, back to just the card, I just want something that sounds clear and is compatible. The low memory optimized drivers sound good. It said basically "other cards use oudated legacy drivers as the framework for their 'gaming' sound cards" It could explain why they are so ****ing buggy.
While I'm skeptical, I'm rooting for Razor, because there needs to be some competition in the sound card department. Creative has been taking advantage of it's position, and pissing on the customers.
Thoughts?
I can't find my install disc, and Creative says that my card is "at the end of it's life" - Which normally would piss me off, since it's about 2 years old and is a 24 bit 5.1 HD sound card with EAX and optical output. I can't see how this would ever be out dated, I mean, when will audio become outdated? People have been using mono and stereo for like 150 years, and it still plays audio, still does what it was intended to do, as long as the equipment still works. It's a way of forcing you to buy a new card in order for it to be compatible with the newer games. Since there really isn't much of an alternative, it's a monopoly.
Well, it doesn't piss me off too bad, because I would love nothing more than to throw this piece of shit through a window at the Creative office building with a dried up piece of shit tied to it. DON'T WANT.
I have had nothing but issues from this card, from installation problems, to random and permanent crashes after installing other software that had nothing to do with it, forcing me to try and get lucky and get it working by spend all day installing the 20 various software patches that suck, to incompatibility with games, to being a gigantic memory hog, and more! Yay!
I want a sound card that is compatible with all (or most all) games, and sounds incredible. Does anyone have a card that fits this description?
I wouldn't mind spending a large amount of money for a quality product.
Then there is this issue about Vista drivers, so I don't know. Not only are drivers hard to come by, but so far all sound cards no longer use hardware acceleration in Vista, which defeats half the purpose of the card. It might be a bad time to upgrade, but I'm stuck with on-board sound/software sound again, so I could use a new card really bad.
Speaking of Vista, I have a feeling that with Vista, and Microsoft's new audio implementation, it's a way of making all other sound cards obsolete by making the hardware acceleration not work. It looks to me like Microsoft is trying to elbow it's way into the sound card market and gain a market share. They have teamed up with Razer for their sound cards apparently. See here: http://www.google.com/search?q=raze...-us&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&startIndex=&startPage=1 At least they shouldn't have any problem creating drivers for Vista, since they have Microsoft on their team. See here:
http://www.razersupport.com/index.php?_m=news&_a=view
They are also trying to gain some profits on keyboards and mice from Logitech territory, but that is another story.
With the poorness that Creative creates sound drivers, I think they have a huge opportunity to gain a market share, except for the fact that Razor isn't well known like Creative, so most consumers will ignore their products. Well, tbh, I don't give a **** who makes what, or what kind of monopoly anyone has, as long as I get a product that ****ing works right, and is a decent value!
Anyway, back to present time:
The new Fatality Xtreme gamer card with the on-board memory sounds like it is a great idea, but I hear there are issues with the memory making it buggy as crap.
Then there are the other Fatality Xtreme gamer cards that don't have memory, but are still buggy.
Newegg sound card selection:
http://www.newegg.com/Store/Category.aspx?Category=36&name=Sound-Cards-MIDI-Devices
Well, I've been searching. So far, I'm not coming up with much.
I don't need many features. I just want the most compatible, clearest sounding 2channel card, but I don't even know if they make them in 2channel anymore, so 5.1 or better will be fine.
EDIT: Well, I did some reading, and would you look at this?
ORLY? Hmmm.
Anyway, this card actually does sound pretty ****in beast, but it's $200. It uses the same chip as some other cards that sell for about that same price though, so I guess it isn't overpriced, it's just new tech.
Again, it's got the glowing razor symbol on the card. I might get this ****er if I can get it on sale or something, and if it uses hardware acceleration in Vista. I don't plan on buying another sound card, at least until PCI express sound cards and mobo's are everywhere.
Here read this. Maybe just glance over the bold, to avoid reading all of the hyperbole.
That is some seriously crystal clear SNR, that's for sure. Thats way better than the Fatality.
Also, the 720 audio (hmmm... razor xbox 720 anyone?) sounds tight, but you might need the special headphones - I'm not sure. You can buy both and save. For $300, it better sound incredible and get lots of game support.
Anyway, back to just the card, I just want something that sounds clear and is compatible. The low memory optimized drivers sound good. It said basically "other cards use oudated legacy drivers as the framework for their 'gaming' sound cards" It could explain why they are so ****ing buggy.
While I'm skeptical, I'm rooting for Razor, because there needs to be some competition in the sound card department. Creative has been taking advantage of it's position, and pissing on the customers.
Thoughts?
