Current best drivers to use for Audigy 1?

[BD2003]

From what I have figured so far, there are 3 main drivers floating around:

.323, .283 and .25something.

Which is the best to use? Least bugs, fastest in games etc? Do I need to install the old drivers off of the CD first?

 

[RayEarth]

There should be 2 main considerations, the .323 or the .253. The .283 is the full driver set and is needed in updating to .323. Both the .283 full set and .323 update set are whql. The .253 aren't whql, I haven't tried the latest updated .253(it's only a language pack update so it might still be non-whql.) The .323 does provide better quality in sounds. I have noticed a performance decrease with them when running emulator games. Think of updating to the .323 as an increase in quality at the cost of some performance in some games but not all.

I did a fresh install of windows followed by just using the downloaded full set of .283 and just updated to the .323

 

[John]

I use the 253's on my other rig and SQ wise it seems fine. These are available from Creative's website.

 

[Steven the Leech]

I use the Audigy 2 drivers v5.12.1.283. Work really well for me.

 

[BD2003]

How much of a performance drop? My primary concern is gaming performance, with sound quality coming in second.

Above all, I want it to be as bug free as possible.

Why even consider the .253 when theres the .283 and .323 available?

 

[XBoxLPU]

Originally posted by: RayEarth


I did a fresh install of windows followed by just using the downloaded full set of .283 and just updated to the .323

Where can download these ?

 

[RayEarth]

I have only noticed performance drops when using an emulator with certain games such as Marvel vs Capcom or Super GEM fighter, but with standard PC games, I haven't noticed much of a drop but then again the only pc game I've played lately is the raven shield demo. Perhaps if you have a pentium4 you might not even notice a performance hit. There's not a major sound quality increase so you might want to stick with the .253. Get the .323 if you want an updated driver set that's whql along with a few fixes. I formatted my computer twice before I got the perfect setup steps for using the .323 and all softwares without a problem. This turned out to be a waste since I'm getting an audigy 2.

 

[Steven the Leech]

http://www.asia.creative.com/support/drivers/newfiles.asp

 

[XBoxLPU]

Originally posted by: RayEarth
I Get the .323 if you want an updated driver set that's whql along with a few fixes. I formatted my computer twice before I got the perfect setup steps for using the .323 and all softwares without a problem. This turned out to be a waste since I'm getting an audigy 2.

What are these "perfect setup steps " you speak of ?

And where can you get these drivers... ( Creative doesn't label drivers like .253, .323 ) 😛

 

[RayEarth]

the full driver set ver .283 can be downloaded in the forums at driverheaven.net you need to register to go in. There's a sticky thread in the audio section which is quite long that has a ftp listed you can download at a good speed also. Just download the .323 from the official creative asia site and extract the files with winrar. All the instruction needed can be found at the forum as well. It's a long thread, be ready to read.

 

[XBoxLPU]

K I downloaded the Dec 31 drivers of Asia server the other day and ran the exe ..

I will find the thread and see what the steps are

 

[BD2003]

Originally posted by: RayEarth
the full driver set ver .283 can be downloaded in the forums at driverheaven.net you need to register to go in. There's a sticky thread in the audio section which is quite long that has a ftp listed you can download at a good speed also. Just download the .323 from the official creative asia site and extract the files with winrar. All the instruction needed can be found at the forum as well. It's a long thread, be ready to read.

Link?

 

[XBoxLPU]

The Thread

 

[RayEarth]

Here's a tip:
The most common problem people have with these is that they install using the setup. Install using the file "ctzapxx.exe" located in the drivers folder. All other software can be installed with the setup.exe except the driver.

The second is if the driver works the software doesn't work. After a clean install of windows I installed the audio driver, followed by all the sp updates available after sp1 before I even installed the creativ software such as speaker calibrator/settings, I did a search for all files and folders for "*.plx". The results should be plxcmn.plx, plxcore.plx and grph.plx. If none of these files are listed, then after you restart you will get an error about creative apps not being able to load.

Out of the whole download these are the only folders I needed in installing the drivers and software:
Audio
AudioHQ
Common
CTEngine
CTRun
CTShared
Diagnose
Drivers
EaxCon
SFBMgr
SpkCal
SpkSet
SurMixer

The updates available to .323 are:
Drivers
EaxCon
SFBMgr
SpkSet

I installed directx 9 after this to verify the whql authenticity.

 

[Ben]

This is re-dam-diculous. Creative has their head so far up their ass.

I came here to find a solution to my brand new Audigy and it's skipping, chirping, habit. So I can fix it if I perform a séance and install these unofficial asia drivers using an unofficial method? Why do I have to go through this!?!?

<sigh>

Anyway, thanks for the help guys. I'll see what I can do. My solution might be sticking this P.O.S. soundcard back in the box and taking it back to Best Buy.

 

[Auric]

Did you try the A2 drivers as per the other thread?

Particularly:


--
Fetch from link
http://www.entcity.com/shownews. asp?id=2575

Audigy2 CD with apps and 5.12.1.283 drivers
sb_install_multilang.rar


compatability hack
ctcomp.exe


5.12.1.323 driver update
AUD2DRVL11021217.exe


App updates from Creative
SPKSETSP021213.exe
EAXCONSP021213.exe
CM021119.exe
CMSP021216.exe


WinRAR or similar will be required to expand archives.


Uninstall all previous Creative drivers and apps. Make certain nothing is left by searching system for old Creative files and folders and cleaning the registry of all Creative entries with RegCleaner from jv16.org.


Expand sb_install_multilang.rar and run ctcomp.exe pointing to Setup folder then the Setup can be run to install that driver and the apps you choose.


Install updated apps as required by running them.


Expand AUD2DRVL11021217.exe and run ctcomp.exe pointing to its Setup folder then the driver Setup can be run to update the driver.
---

 

[Ben]

Turned off "spread spectrum modulation" in my BIOS and that fixed 95% of my skipping problems.

I guess I may have jumped the gun. Now I'm not sure who to blame for the problem.