SB Audigy Reviews seem to be missing an important point.

[Pacinamac23]

CPU USE!

If you all remember, the SB Live had terrible CPU Usage. Far far higher then other sound cards like the Game Theater XP. I would like to see a good review that tests CPU usage and even frame rates in games.

 

[pay]

good point....why dont you test it out for us

 

[robg1701]

One of the Preview/Reviews i saw did testing for cpu usage and found it to be competative....cant remember which one though sorry.

 

[Ferrari]

GTaudiophile has posted a link to a review that had CPU usage. The Audigy is AMAZING!!!

http://firingsquad.gamers.com/hardware/audigy/page11.asp
http://firingsquad.gamers.com/hardware/audigy/page12.asp

link 1
link 2

"In a lot of the stressful tests where 32 audio streams are being played simultaneously, the Audigy leads over the Live! by an 81% average delta"

 

[NFS4]

Umm, with most of us running 800MHz - 1GHz+ processors and GeForce2 level video cards, I really don't see the point in whining over 4-5 FPS due to your sound card.

 

[TunaBoo]

<< Umm, with most of us running 800MHz - 1GHz+ processors and GeForce2 level video cards, I really don't see the point in whining over 4-5 FPS due to your sound card. >>



Some people care about every frame they can get. Personally, I don't care as long as everything runs
well enough. But to each his own.

 

[Insane3D]

I have to agree with NFS4 here...if you have a modern 1ghz+ CPU, I think this is irrelevant. I did a test the other day since someone was saying that the Philips AE used a "ton of CPU power" and it "dragged the system down". I yanked my AE and played some Max Payne and Q3...I got like 1 FPS more...WOW!

 

[NFS4]

<< I have to agree with NFS4 here...if you have a modern 1ghz+ CPU, I think this is irrelevant. I did a test the other day since someone was saying that the Philips AE used a "ton of CPU power" and it "dragged the system down". I yanked my AE and played some Max Payne and Q3...I got like 1 FPS more...WOW! >>


LOL!! I just think it's weetahdid to scream b/c Quake3 runs at 121 FPS instead of 125 FPS in Demo2CrushMonsterPurpleDinosaur. Or maybe b/c 3DMark2001 runs 15 points lower.

Cry me a river!!

 

[Mem]

I really think the most important thing is stability with all board chipsets & good sound quality, get these right and you can`t go far wrong.

 

[Pacinamac23]

I'm sorry but I disagree with a few of you guys. In many cases the Live was using 25% CPU Usage and even more. This was a big problems that needed to be corrected.

 

[QuestionsandAnsweres]

yes it was. now the audigy uses less than the santa cruz. lol

 

[Insane3D]

"I'm sorry but I disagree with a few of you guys. In many cases the Live was using 25% CPU Usage and even more. This was a big problems that needed to be corrected. "

25% of what CPU speed? If I understand correctly, the faster the CPU is running, the less amount of the CPU cycles the sound card will need...correct? For instance. a Live using 25% of say a 700mhz CPU will use a much smaller percentage on a 1.2ghz CPU. I may be wrong on this though...any input from anyone?