All of the Live! Cards , whether they are Value, MP3, X-Gamer or Platinum, of roughly the same date vintage, are precisely the same cards. The only difference is in the software supplied. You get some games with X-Gamer, some MP-3 playing software with the MP3+ (which you can substitute with as good or better MP3 software from the net for free), and I think both with the Platinum. Creative does its best to obscure this fact for marketing reasons, and to make the cards appear different. The Platinum also has a breakout box which you can mount in a 5.25 drive bay if you want to use one up for that, which brings some connections to the front of your computer. Net, net it's all about price and whether you want the three games, unless you have to have that breakout box. The X-Gamer deal at Staples with their $25 off coupon for a net $55 plus tax delivered looks like a good deal to me, cause I like a couple of the games. See the other thread.
The 5.1 version of these cards is hardware different, I'm pretty sure. Not absolutely positive, but it makes sense, and I think I've read that they are different in reviews. The idea of the 5.1 is that it packages a 5.1 DVD sound decoder on the sound card. Hardware decoder, I'm pretty sure. AV receivers, preamps and amps which have 5.1 DVD decoders build in sure aren't using a general purpose cpu and software to decode 5.1 digital sound.
Some computer (as well as home) amp/speaker systems pack this chip decoder in their amp circuitry. So then you don't need it. You also don't need it if you don't play DVD movies on your computer, but instead have a separate DVD feeding your TV and home surround sound system (like me). (It's called multitasking. Keep that computer screen free for web surfing while you are watching your DVD - or cable.)
I don't think any games use 5.1 encoding. Actually, I think it would be a disadvantage for games. Directional sound is the idea with them, and the center monitor speaker tends to obscure that to the extent it is used.
The main reason for the center speaker in movies is especially if your speakers are deep against a wall and your TV screen is up closer to your couch or whatever. In that case, dialog from the actors will seem unanchored from them. This will be much less of a factor with computer front speakers which are near each side of your monitor and more or less flush with it. And for games you usually want maximum directional impact.
Of course Creative is planning on introducing a 7.1 sound system in the near future. (Two side speakers added.) They've got to come up with something to get people to throw out their old Soundblaster Live! Cards, and buy new ones. And to justify a bump up in the now declining retail prices, by new "improved" technology. I very much doubt that 7.1 will add much to computer sound, myself.
BTW, I have a 10K plus home surround sound system for music and movies, with killer speakers and a huge subwoofer, etc. I spent a bunch of time researching before buying, although that was a few years ago now. I know some things about this area.
The 5.1 version of these cards is hardware different, I'm pretty sure. Not absolutely positive, but it makes sense, and I think I've read that they are different in reviews. The idea of the 5.1 is that it packages a 5.1 DVD sound decoder on the sound card. Hardware decoder, I'm pretty sure. AV receivers, preamps and amps which have 5.1 DVD decoders build in sure aren't using a general purpose cpu and software to decode 5.1 digital sound.
Some computer (as well as home) amp/speaker systems pack this chip decoder in their amp circuitry. So then you don't need it. You also don't need it if you don't play DVD movies on your computer, but instead have a separate DVD feeding your TV and home surround sound system (like me). (It's called multitasking. Keep that computer screen free for web surfing while you are watching your DVD - or cable.)
I don't think any games use 5.1 encoding. Actually, I think it would be a disadvantage for games. Directional sound is the idea with them, and the center monitor speaker tends to obscure that to the extent it is used.
The main reason for the center speaker in movies is especially if your speakers are deep against a wall and your TV screen is up closer to your couch or whatever. In that case, dialog from the actors will seem unanchored from them. This will be much less of a factor with computer front speakers which are near each side of your monitor and more or less flush with it. And for games you usually want maximum directional impact.
Of course Creative is planning on introducing a 7.1 sound system in the near future. (Two side speakers added.) They've got to come up with something to get people to throw out their old Soundblaster Live! Cards, and buy new ones. And to justify a bump up in the now declining retail prices, by new "improved" technology. I very much doubt that 7.1 will add much to computer sound, myself.
BTW, I have a 10K plus home surround sound system for music and movies, with killer speakers and a huge subwoofer, etc. I spent a bunch of time researching before buying, although that was a few years ago now. I know some things about this area.
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