SB Audigy vs SB Live...worth the extra $$$ ??

[CtlAltl33t]

Simple question: I currently have a SB LIVE VALUE and I'm considering upgrading it and dropping it into another, less important computer.

So, my question is: Is the SB audigy line of cards really worth the extra $30-40 over buying a second LIVE/LIVE VALUE?

Thx in advance

 

[BD231]

I think so, if your into to gaming then it's no doubt the better buy.

 

[CtlAltl33t]

I did some reading and it seems a lot of people prefer the Game Theater XP and the Santa Cruz by Turle Beach over the audigy? Any comments?

 

[Barnaby W. Füi]

sb live = old junk
sb audigy = good for games, ok for music
santa cruz = good for music, ok for games (GREAT for headphones)

i think the GTXP is the same chip as the santa cruz, the cs4630, but i dont know if it's quite as good quality wise. it has an expansion bay thingie though...

santa cruz supposedly has great windows drivers too, not sure on that, i never noticed them being bad or good, they just *worked*...

 

[Mem]

<< SB Audigy vs SB Live...worth the extra $$$ ?? >>



I would say it`s worth it,IMHO the Audigy is the best gaming card,it has the lowest CPU usage of any sound card and sound quality wise compared to the good old Santa Cruz is very close betweeen them.

 

[Barnaby W. Füi]

<<

<< SB Audigy vs SB Live...worth the extra $$$ ?? >>



I would say it`s worth it,IMHO the Audigy is the best gaming card, >>


yeah


<< it has the lowest CPU usage of any sound card >>


yeah


<< and sound quality wise compared to the good old Santa Cruz is very close betweeen them. >>


NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Mem]

BingBongWongFooey,the truth hurts ,btw driver wise with the Audigy over last 6 months has been excellent,no problems with any of my games .

 

[Comp625]

<< BingBongWongFooey,the truth hurts ,btw driver wise with the Audigy over last 6 months has been excellent,no problems with any of my games . >>



True. Creative has since cleared up their driver issues with WinXP. The CPU usage thing is really useful if you want to pump around 5-10 more fps in your games (especially in EAX enabled games).

 

[CtlAltl33t]

Thx for the tips so far. I've pretty much narrowed it down to either an Audigy or the Santa Cruz as the GTXP costs well over $100 (on pricewatch anyway).

Santa Cruz - ~$45
Audigy OEM - ~$50
Audigy Xgamer/Mp3+ - ~$85


Now to refine the question a little more... is there any significant features that warrant the price difference between the Audigy OEM and the Audigy gamer/mp3 cards?

I'm a hardcore gamer and a hardcore MP3 junkie, so I need the best of both worlds.

Thx in advance again.

 

[krackato]

Plus you get that cool firewire port that works so well. It's always good to be able to say that you're compatible with everything.

 

[Mem]

<< is there any significant features that warrant the price difference between the Audigy OEM and the Audigy gamer/mp3 cards? >>



I believe the only difference is no free software like games with OEM version,also OEM version does not have gold plated connections,so you just get sound card with joystick adaptor and drivers only.

 

[Comp625]

Yeah the gold plated connections are just for asthetics anyways. I don't believe they improve anything in terms of performance. Go with OEM, save some bucks and go buy yourself a new game.

 

[CtlAltl33t]

Thanks for the help

 

[rjcoolpix880]

I bought a sb audigy off of half.com a few months ago for $60, and am pleased with it. One thing to note is that the difference between them is all software. The Gamer comes with 2 games(i think deus ex and giants), and the MP3 comes with music software, etc. If you dont want any of the software, just get the plain old card and save a few bucks.

 

[Eug]

<< Plus you get that cool firewire port that works so well. It's always good to be able to say that you're compatible with everything. >>


Yeah, and don't forget that if you need Firewire you save not only the price of a new PCI card, but you save a PCI slot as well. Firewire is great by the way. I own 4 Firewire devices, and they work great on my XP box and my Mac. Daisychaining also works great (although the downstream chain breaks if I turn off an upstream unit, for obvious reasons).

 

[jose]

Can you use the external bay that comes w/ the Live Platiumn w/ the Audigy ?

Thanks
Jose