Sound Blaster X-Fi Fatal1ty FPS (PCI) - from 2005

[destrekor]

This might belong in General Hardware ... but I'm looking specifically for the gamer's input, since this is considering gaming more than anything else.

I have this card sitting unused in my previous system.


I've been content with my onboard Realtek audio, but... BF3 has been giving me fits since the last patch/DLC, and I want to test this "get a sound card" theory (hoping that BF3 crashing even with my G35 USB headset is a separate issue, or at least also audio-based).

But this card is so old. And old-school PCI. Will it conflict with a system that is predominantly PCI-Express focused? Will it conflict with anything?

Will the drivers work on Windows 7 64bit, and do so in a happy and stable fashion? Will the processing play nice with modern game audio engines?

There are no locally-available PCI-Express sound cards, aside from one at Best Buy (Creative's Recon3D card D: and it's a $150 for that junk D.
And this is all still a theory that a dedicated sound card will solve my woes and allow me to get back to BF3. I would quit the damn game until a patch fixed my issues (if ever)... but if I already have a card that will actually work, cool. If I can even spend less than $100 for a good card... perhaps.

I don't have audiophile-level equipment, but an upgrade from onboard could be cool. I don't NEED it though...

 

[CrackRabbit]

Should work fine, but expect the usual creative sound card issues: Crackling/Popping and static.

 

[destrekor]

Should work fine, but expect the usual creative sound card issues: Crackling/Popping and static.

hmm

next concern:

it will be filling the one-card slot space between my two 560 Ti cards.

Think it will hurt the cooling that much for the top card?

 

[Markbnj]

hmm

next concern:

it will be filling the one-card slot space between my two 560 Ti cards.

Think it will hurt the cooling that much for the top card?

I don't think it will help, but it won't necessarily make the video cards too hot to operate.

 

[supremor]

It should work just fine even with the ancient official Creative drivers. I ran an original PCI X-Fi XtremeMusic on W7 X64 with no issues. However I'd recommend getting some custom X-Fi drivers.

If you're going for the official Creative drivers (honestly I wouldn't bother) make sure to look carefully that the one you download actually supports your particular model because their support site is dreadful.

If you're interested in some custom drivers here's a few links:
Daniel K drivers:
The full software package with all the utilities
http://forums.guru3d.com/showpost.php?p=4140359&postcount=87
I made sure it has your card listed.
If you want the drivers only (I'd recommend atleast getting the console launcher to go with it) :http://forums.guru3d.com/showpost.php?p=4011256&postcount=63

The other guy who mods Creative drivers is Robert McClelland and his release is what I have been using with my previous X-Fi XtremeMusic and my current PCIe X-Fi Titanium with absolutely ZERO issues.
Full software package:
http://www.hardwareheaven.com/pax-d...te-v2-00-default-tweak-edition-6-29-12-a.html
Driver only:
http://www.hardwareheaven.com/pax-d...ci-xfi-all-os-driver-2012-v1-00-released.html

Hope you find this helpful and that it will help you with your BF3 issue. While you're at it I'd give CMSS3D a try using game mode and see how you like that in comparison to whatever solution the G35 uses for surround simulation in headphones.

As for your cards if they are using blower coolers the X-Fi ought to be short enough to not interfere. If they are open air cooler cards then it probably won't help your temps but it shouldn't hurt them much either. Worst case you just yank it back out and be done with it.

 

[shortylickens]

I finally gave up my Audigy Ex a while back for onboard sound and frankly I dont miss it. Especially cuz I prefer high quality stereo to any surround.
And the few games I still play that support EAX have issues. I normally disable it.

 

[MentalIlness]

I'm currently using a Sound Blaster Audigy 4 in my PC. Specs in sig.

No issues at all.

 

[destrekor]

It should work just fine even with the ancient official Creative drivers. I ran an original PCI X-Fi XtremeMusic on W7 X64 with no issues. However I'd recommend getting some custom X-Fi drivers.

If you're going for the official Creative drivers (honestly I wouldn't bother) make sure to look carefully that the one you download actually supports your particular model because their support site is dreadful.

If you're interested in some custom drivers here's a few links:
Daniel K drivers:
The full software package with all the utilities
http://forums.guru3d.com/showpost.php?p=4140359&postcount=87
I made sure it has your card listed.
If you want the drivers only (I'd recommend atleast getting the console launcher to go with it) :http://forums.guru3d.com/showpost.php?p=4011256&postcount=63

The other guy who mods Creative drivers is Robert McClelland and his release is what I have been using with my previous X-Fi XtremeMusic and my current PCIe X-Fi Titanium with absolutely ZERO issues.
Full software package:
http://www.hardwareheaven.com/pax-d...te-v2-00-default-tweak-edition-6-29-12-a.html
Driver only:
http://www.hardwareheaven.com/pax-d...ci-xfi-all-os-driver-2012-v1-00-released.html

Hope you find this helpful and that it will help you with your BF3 issue. While you're at it I'd give CMSS3D a try using game mode and see how you like that in comparison to whatever solution the G35 uses for surround simulation in headphones.

As for your cards if they are using blower coolers the X-Fi ought to be short enough to not interfere. If they are open air cooler cards then it probably won't help your temps but it shouldn't hurt them much either. Worst case you just yank it back out and be done with it.

It seems my cards are sort of a mix of open-air and blower. Fans are located toward the middle, so even a short PCI card looks like it might limit air intake.

I have one last driver to try with my onboard solution and will test BF3 in a few moments. I'll likely tackle this project tomorrow.

In my attempts to find more people talking about this old card with Windows 7, I did see some people discussing those "community" driver packs.

Thanks for the thorough unofficial driver information!

If this is the route I go, and the G35 continues to freeze the game on its own, I'll probably use creative's virtual surround with my stereo cans. I rarely use the mic anyhow, especially considering BF3 makes no use of it (outside of battlelog), so I'd probably just keep it to games that otherwise play along with it fine.

 

[supremor]

Well the good thing about blowers is that they don't need as much breathing room as fans do. Just keep an eye on the temps after you put the X-Fi in and if there is more than 3-4C load temp difference then you might want to avoid using the card then.

 

[destrekor]

Well good thing - apparently I COULD fit a PCI-Express sound card in my top 1x slot - just barely. The CPU cooler is massive, so it might need a little wiggling - but if the X-Fi works but temps rise too much, I should be able to fit (a few mm of clearance at most ) a 1x card at the top (between CPU cooler and first 16x slot). That would give everything the breathing room needed.

 

[Imp]

I was using an original PCI Soundblaster X-fi Xtrememusic in my 2 year old system up until a few months ago. Not a single problem.

I replaced it with a Creative X-fi HD USB. No lag, sounds amazing, even slightly better than my Xtrememusic I think, and is less than $100. Think it's $70 or less in the US of A. No advanced EAX (like 4 or 5?) though.

 

[Kalmah]

I'm using the same card in windows 7 64bit using the creative drivers. It works fine.

I also have a usb headset(which splits into a standard audio jack as well), the sound quality is far better through the x-fi than usb without question.

I was using stereo speakers but recently grabbed some 5.1 surround sound, now I get constant clicks and pops out of the speakers. (the damn things pick up some radio frequencies too which is annoying). Games just aren't designed to sound good in surround sound I think. The only thing I ever really hear out of the back speakers is footsteps occasionally and it serves more as a distraction than immersion. When I'm playing a game in a forest I want it to sound like I'm in a damn jungle... but nope, mostly silence from the rear. (even with the rear speakers turned up much further than front).

This is my second set of surround speakers and was disappointed with the first set I had years ago as well.

Anyways, I'd say if you have the card might as well put it in. I do notice quite a difference in sound clarity compared to my usb soundcard. I'm pretty sure I'll never buy a new soundcard again though. My next rig I'll most likely just keep with onboard myself. If I'm not mistaken, windows vista and beyond make soundcards mostly useless without tricks to get eax working.

 

[ockky]

I'm still using an old Audigy2...just be sure to use DK's drivers and you should be fine

 

[iahk]

I have the X-Fi Platinum and use the official creative drivers in win7 64bit with no issues either.

 

[MustangSVT]

I use even older audigy 2 I think and its working fine in win7 64.

 

[borisvodofsky]

ALL Creative cards with the exception of the Titanium HD, SUCK ASS

I'm using the extreme music, with 4 modded op-amps. Better, but it's still not as good as a simple $100 receiver.

 

[Whirlwind]

I joined the Asus Xonar side and have never looked back....to hell with creative soundcards.

 

[IGemini]

Also using the XtremeMusic in my computer (it's the oldest part ). I switched to the PAX drivers in the past couple months but even with the default drivers, playing games was never an issue.

 

[imaheadcase]

Just use onboard sound, seriously won't notice a single difference. The only thing is if you need it for a specific sound setup, or are interested in headphone amps built in. But even then its not worth it.

I know, i've went through every Creative soundcard out there, they are all currently sitting in closet.

 

[Whirlwind]

Just use onboard sound, seriously won't notice a single difference. The only thing is if you need it for a specific sound setup, or are interested in headphone amps built in. But even then its not worth it.

I know, i've went through every Creative soundcard out there, they are all currently sitting in closet.

Well, if you have a good set of cans for listening to music....then a good soundcard with an amp is very nice, and a huge step up from onboard....for gaming...go with the onboard.

 

[Worthington]

I have the X-Fi Platinum and use the official creative drivers in win7 64bit with no issues either.

Same with me. Standard drivers, haven't had a single issue. No cracking or popping, etc. That said, if you do install the X-Fi do NOT install the Creative Labs update that Windows Update will provide you. From everything I've read that is one of, if not the major source of issues with the cards.

 

[ViRGE]

I'm using the same card in windows 7 64bit using the creative drivers. It works fine.

Ditto. I only finally switched off of it when my new mobo didn't come with PCI slots, and even then I just replaced it with a Titanium (PCIe). It worked perfectly and even at the most basic level the sound was better than those lousy/noisy on-board RealTek DACs.

 

[WhoBeDaPlaya]

I've never ever gotten any crackling/popping issues over a whole range of Creative cards (Live!, Live!5.1, Audigy, Audigy2, X-Fi XtremeMusic).
Been using a modded XtremeMusic for the longest time.

 

[imaheadcase]

I got that cracking popping with xtrememusic i have. Even replaced it from creative and same issue. That was when it first came out mind you, never tried drivers since.

 

[destrekor]

Just use onboard sound, seriously won't notice a single difference. The only thing is if you need it for a specific sound setup, or are interested in headphone amps built in. But even then its not worth it.

I know, i've went through every Creative soundcard out there, they are all currently sitting in closet.

If you read my post, you'd see I may very well need (not guaranteed, however) something that isn't my onboard audio.
Otherwise I wouldn't even be considering this, thus why I don't have a card in there already. Onboard has improved over the years, and while it still cannot match high-end cards if you have the ears to detect a difference (and quality speakers), it's served well enough for what I do with my PC.


As for drivers, I HAVE heard people say that if you get crackling/popping with the Creative drivers, they are cleared up with the unofficial community driver packs. But some don't get even that with the Creative.
Now that I recall, I got it mildly when I was running it with my last PC build (and with Windows Vista). Can't recall if I got it with Win7.



I'm about to make the switch now, after I determine what driver pack to choose.