Santa Cruz or Game Theater XP?

[yaethom]

I know this has been thrown around a lot on the forums, but I haven't found a definite answer or opinion from anyone yet....

I'm also thinking of doing the upgrade from my current sound blaster Live Value. (i'm not really having problems with it, I just need to give new soundcards to the older computers at home) So, I'd like to know which is better? the Santa Cruz or the Game Theater XP. I like the Game Theater's deck, which looks like its really convenient, especially to headphone users like me. Although if the Game Theater is much worse than the Santa Cruz (quality wise), I guess it wouldn't be worth shelling an extra 25 bucks just for a deck and a crappy sound card.

Help.

Tom

 

[m1ke101]

i've heard great things about both so you wouldn't be going wrong with either.

 

[RanDum72]

They both use the same chip so sound quality/performance should be the same. The bottom line is your budget.

 

[Sugadaddy]

They're basically the same sound card, it's just they have different features. (kinda like the Live Platinum compared to an X-gamer...)

I have the GTXP, and I love it. Here are a few reasons why:

It has USB ports which is very convenient when a friend comes over and brings his own controller. (I was going to buy a hub before I got the card anyways, so it saved me money)

All the inputs/outputs are right next to me on my desk. Since my computer is in a desk specially made for computers, taking it out and plugging things in the back is a real pain. Now I only have to reach besides me and plug whatever I want.

It has a separate volume knob for headphones. Before, with my Live! Value, I had to adjust the volume for headphones through Windows ( or the Live software). That's OK if you're listening to music, but if you're playing a game, then you don't have access to the volume anymore. (very annoying because the volume can change...)

I'm sure you already know this, but it has TONS of inputs/ouputs . The ones I like are that it has both RCA (left and right) and 1/8" mini plugs for the front and rear channels. This means you could plug your computer speakers, and be able to also plug a stereo with the RCA plugs. (do I hear LOUD music )

Even though I don't use them, it has optical and coaxial digital outputs and inputs, and it's the only card I know of that supports DTS passthrough. (with the included PowerDVD)


BTW, I don't work for Hercules, I actually used to praise Creative's cards, but I have seen the light!

 

[bozo1]

I have the Game Theater and love it. Yes, the breakout box IS convenient. Only problem I have is that Hercules hasn't released any beta XP drivers (Santa Cruz has) and the 'generic' ones built in to XP RC1 don't work at all for some people and don't work for anyone if you have 512M or more RAM installed. Hopefully they'll have some drivers soon.

 

[Sugadaddy]

<< I have the Game Theater and love it. Yes, the breakout box IS convenient. Only problem I have is that Hercules hasn't released any beta XP drivers (Santa Cruz has) and the 'generic' ones built in to XP RC1 don't work at all for some people and don't work for anyone if you have 512M or more RAM installed. Hopefully they'll have some drivers soon. >>



Yep, that's the only reproach I have for Hercules, but XP isn't officially out yet, so they don't really have an obligation to release drivers. The win2k drivers work fine in XP, but you have to have 256MB or less of RAM. I dual boot XP and 2K and have 384MB of ram. At first all I got was screeching noises in XP, but dropping the ram to 256MB fixed it immediately. (Hercules are aware of the problem, and they said they'd have new drivers for the Win XP launch)

In the meantime, if you're dual booting and don't want to have to take out a stick of ram every time you go in XP, do this:

open your Boot.ini file, and add the following at the end of the line containing windows XP:

/maxmem=256

 

[DARRIN]

If there was a poll I would vote for the Game Theater XP. I would love the external box.

 

[QuestionsandAnsweres]

well i was wondering which company has the best drivers. Hercules or Tbeach... Since i dont need the box that comes with hercules ill buy the one that has best drivers. thanks

 

[NFS4]

If I were you, I'd get the Santa Cruz. It has tons of features, excellent drivers (lovin' my XP drivers right now), and if can be had for $70 or less. You can't go wrong there.

 

[DARRIN]

<< well i was wondering which company has the best drivers >>



Are you wondering which is more stable?

 

[WyteWatt]

DARRIN i am. Which one is more stable please? or are they both the same in stabilty ?
but BTW i am not going to windows xp staying with windows 2k pro forever

 

[rommel]

well from the revues that i read when i was thinking of getting a santa cruz it seemed that every one liked it the price was very good for the features it had adn it was the only real alternative to the soundblaster live cards unless you wanted really high end stuff to do some serious music editing or whatever...but for the normal user its a very good card...i love mine and will probably not go back to sb

 

[yaethom]

Thanks SOOO much guys.

That clears that up, I think im gonna go with the GTXP, I need (well more like WANT) those inputs &amp; outputs. I got tons of stuff that could really be useful now due to that.

Tom

*typos

 

[QuestionsandAnsweres]

well i wanted to know does the hercules game theater xp or santa cruz have better WIN 2k drivers. (more stable, works wiht most (if not all) games etc....)

 

[dowxp]

hmm, win2k drivers arent so good. eax doesnt work correctly. you have to use ghetto methods to make it work. and when it does, it only uses 2 channels.

 

[QuestionsandAnsweres]

both of them have that problem?

 

[Sugadaddy]

my GTXP works flawlessly in win2k. Haven't had a problem with any games I've tried until now. I use a 4 speaker setup, and it always plays through 4 speakers...

 

[QuestionsandAnsweres]

ok sounds like GAME THEATER XP has god WIN 2k drivers. How about TBEACH. anyone have WIN 2k and a santa cruz sound card? have any problems? thanks

 

[WyteWatt]

QuestionsandAnsweres i am shopping for a sound card too mostly but its so hard to find one just right for win2k which i hate. But i am going to make sure i get one that good in it. So far i know both i hear seem to work good in windows 2000 but i have never tried either myself in it.
i just got a old sound card right now so i can have sound at least hehe.

 

[QuestionsandAnsweres]

ya but there has to be one that works better than my sound blaster live =P..

 

[WyteWatt]

QuestionsandAnsweres yep for sure. either one does i heard. I was told not to get a sblive so i will make sure i dont hehe. And even with all the problems i read i still wouldnt get one.
but i wanted to get one because i seen them at compusa and they looked cool but i didnt know much about them then and i am happy i have learned more and didnt get one at the time. I will give myself a long while to chose a sound card just to make sure is the right choice.

 

[snidy]

Santa Cruz, I'm about to get one myself