Audigy or XFI?

[imported_Sifu]

If you could buy the basic XFI or the Audigy 2ZS Platinum Pro (both at same price), which would you buy and why?

 

[Burner27]

The Xfi has a much more sophisticated processor on it compared to the Audigy2 ZS. It can do more voices than any other sound card which means you will hear more things in games that are there simply because the card can reporduce it unlike the Audigy which is ubable to because it isn't sophisticated enough.

My vote, since I have owned everything from the original Sound Blaster all the way up to an Audigy 4 Pro before buying the X-Fi and is head and shoulders above those. If I could get the Fata1ity version which has the 64MB XRam on it I would, but it is too damn expensive. The 64MB or ram, according to Creative will boost the frame rates in games by off loading some sounds that the processor normally would do.

 

[Neurorelay]

Originally posted by: Burner127
The Xfi has a much more sophisticated processor on it compared to the Audigy2 ZS. It can do more voices than any other sound card which means you will hear more things in games that are there simply because the card can reporduce it unlike the Audigy which is ubable to because it isn't sophisticated enough.

My vote, since I have owned everything from the original Sound Blaster all the way up to an Audigy 4 Pro before buying the X-Fi and is head and shoulders above those. If I could get the Fata1ity version which has the 64MB XRam on it I would, but it is too damn expensive. The 64MB or ram, according to Creative will boost the frame rates in games by off loading some sounds that the processor normally would do.

I have the Fatality X-FI, and BF2 rocks, FEAR also, while newer games will begin to support the XRAM feature as time goes on.

 

[Burner27]

Originally posted by: Neurorelay

Originally posted by: Burner127
The Xfi has a much more sophisticated processor on it compared to the Audigy2 ZS. It can do more voices than any other sound card which means you will hear more things in games that are there simply because the card can reporduce it unlike the Audigy which is ubable to because it isn't sophisticated enough.

My vote, since I have owned everything from the original Sound Blaster all the way up to an Audigy 4 Pro before buying the X-Fi and is head and shoulders above those. If I could get the Fata1ity version which has the 64MB XRam on it I would, but it is too damn expensive. The 64MB or ram, according to Creative will boost the frame rates in games by off loading some sounds that the processor normally would do.

I have the Fatality X-FI, and BF2 rocks, FEAR also, while newer games will begin to support the XRAM feature as time goes on.

ok. But did you have either of the lower versions of the X-Fi that you could compare frame rates in? I still don't think $300 is worth spending on a sound card.

 

[mike3uz]

Of course the audigy 2 zs is linux compatible which might be important to the linux users.

 

[darXoul]

Hmm... Not to flame anyone but X-RAM is just regular SDRAM placed on a sound card. How can it be so important in the age of 1-2 GB RAM gaming systems? I read a couple of reviews and no one really noticed a performance boost due to X-RAM. It looks very much like marketing and MMX instructions for Intel CPUs a few years ago...

BTW, most Fatal1ty-endorsed products are aimed at... oh, well - if you compare some heatsinks for instance, you'll notice that exactly the same products without Wendel's nick on them are priced much lower... but I digress.

 

[Pariah]

Hmm... Not to flame anyone but X-RAM is just regular SDRAM placed on a sound card. How can it be so important in the age of 1-2 GB RAM gaming systems?

Very true, and while we're at it, what's the purpose of having RAM on a video card in the age of 1-2GB RAM gaming systems?

It looks very much like marketing and MMX instructions for Intel CPUs a few years ago...

MMX is a very widely used feature set in software of all fields today. If Creative could garner even a fraction of the market support for X-RAM that MMX has, it would have quite a winner on its hand.

BTW, most Fatal1ty-endorsed products are aimed at... oh, well - if you compare some heatsinks for instance, you'll notice that exactly the same products without Wendel's nick on them are priced much lower... but I digress.

There is nothing even remotely comparable from a feature standpoint to the X-Fi Fatal1ty from another manufacturer. Does paying Fatal1ty to endorse the product add to the cost while not providing the user with any benefits? Most likely, but again, unless there is another feature comparable product, it's a moot point. If you don't want the X-RAM, there are cheaper versions without it.

To answer the original question. If you don't need the front mounted connectors, obviously go with the base X-Fi. Whether or not you will be able to hear a difference will depend on your ears and the speakers you use, but regardless of those, if the price is the same, buy the more up to date X-Fi.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

What kind of speakers/headphones are you using?

Do you have any real use for the connections the drivebay the platinum pro would have?

Definately X-Fi unless you have a specific need for the features the other offers imo.

Unless you're pricing is different than normal US deals, these are going to be fairly expensive cards so make sure you have a decent output device before dropping $100-ish on a card to drive them.
If you have a more budget-y set of speakers/headphones, you might want to consider a regular A2value or A2zs for about $35/$50 instead. The quality on those should be virtually identical to the platinum pro.

 

[imported_Sifu]

Thanks for all your thoughts. I use good headphones and Z-5500s - the system I'm building is multi-purpose: games, movies, video editing, home stereo.

I think what I might do is simply go with onboard sound and see what that's like before I spend the money on a sound card, although I have always put dedicated sound cards in my systems.

 

[foodfightr]

Ok I've tested both, I can tell the difference between the X-fi XtremeMusic and the Audigy 2 Zs. The crystallizer is well worth it.

 

[BFG10K]

X-Fi definitely, especially if it's the same price as the Audigy.

 

[KeepItRed]

I'd go for the Audigy 2 ZS since it's price is really good and the performance is double the price. But if money is not a concern. go for the X-FI.

 

[Gooberlx2]

there doesn't seem to be a whole lot of development of the sound card arena anymore (not outside of creative, in the consumer market anyway)....so going x-fi would "future-proof" the system for awhile...at least as far as sound is concerned.

 

[imported_Sincity]

I had same question on a different thread. Here is what I dug up: http://techreport.com/reviews/2005q4/soundblaster-x-fi/index.x?pg=6