Creative releases new X-Fi model

Geoff

Geoff

VIP Member
Creative has released a new X-Fi model, which is between the X-Fi XtremeMusic and X-Fi Fatal1ty. The new model is called "X-Fi XtremeGamer Fatal1ty Professional"

From what I can tell it's basically identical to the X-Fi Fatal1ty, except it doesn't include the front panel.

Do you guys think this is going to be a big hit? It does have 64MB of XRAM, and is only $145.
 
Archangel said:
$145... that aint so bad... The normal Fatal1ty over here costs more already.
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On Newegg, these are the costs of their product lines:

X-Fi XtremeMusic: $122
X-Fi XtremeGamer: $145
X-Fi Platinum: $179
X-Fi Fatal1ty: $260
X-Fi Elite: $373

So before the new model, if you wanted the X-RAM you had to spend $260 for the Fatal1ty.
 
No clue, I havent heard of many games supporting the X-RAM yet. We will have to wait and see :)
 
Please...explain to me what the big deal with the X-fi sound cards is, why the hell they are putting RAM on a sound card, and finally why should I even consider buying anything to replace my Audigy Platinum that I've had for a couple of years now. :)
 
Saurian said:
Please...explain to me what the big deal with the X-fi sound cards is, why the hell they are putting RAM on a sound card, and finally why should I even consider buying anything to replace my Audigy Platinum that I've had for a couple of years now. :)
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The X-Fi's are amazing. I went from an Audigy 2ZS to an XtremeMusic and when I used headphones, I could actually tell where the sound was coming from, even at time I thought I heard someone walk in my room but it was actually the game.

The X-RAM is designed to store the sound data, instead of in system RAM. That way higher quality audio can be stored, it will take less of the system RAM, and theoretically improve performance.
 
Is the X-ram feature supported by today's games (basically, games that would require you to basically have a 6600/x8xx series graphics card too)? Is it backwards-patchable to work with previous games?

Sounds interesting, I kind of like the sound of it. I've always seen onboard acceptable, and I got the audigy platinum free so :). I may have to add this to the "wish list" later on, then.
 
I think it'll be very nice, as i guess most gamers won't need a front panel, and they'll get bragging right of the xram, plus it doesn't cost that much more. That thing has a heatsink on it =O dam, everything's needing heatsinks now.
 
Saurian said:
Is the X-ram feature supported by today's games (basically, games that would require you to basically have a 6600/x8xx series graphics card too)? Is it backwards-patchable to work with previous games?

Sounds interesting, I kind of like the sound of it. I've always seen onboard acceptable, and I got the audigy platinum free so :). I may have to add this to the "wish list" later on, then.
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You can use the X-Fi with any game, it just wouldnt use the X-RAM.
 
Well yeah, of course it'll work, I just meant the x-ram. I see that quake 4 and a few others support it, interesting.

Still don't think that I'll be getting one of those for a while.

Btw, if you've never had the front panel that comes in the upper lines, it's freakin awesome! I've used it way more then I thought I would.
 
Damn there even putting heatsinks on soundcards now!

what a joke.

One day were gonna have network speeds running so fast that were gonna need a heatsink on our nic cards:rolleyes: :P
 
Bootup05 said:
Damn there even putting heatsinks on soundcards now!

what a joke.

One day were gonna have network speeds running so fast that were gonna need a heatsink on our nic cards:rolleyes: :P
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Apparantly you've never seen the Killer NIC? That has a large heatsink as well.

Saurian said:
Well yeah, of course it'll work, I just meant the x-ram. I see that quake 4 and a few others support it, interesting.

Still don't think that I'll be getting one of those for a while.

Btw, if you've never had the front panel that comes in the upper lines, it's freakin awesome! I've used it way more then I thought I would.
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A front panel would be pretty sweet to have. Several times Newegg has a special on the X-Fi lines where it was $100 instant of the Fatal1ty, so it was only around $180 at the time for it.
 
I am like a couple days away form buying an x-fi, and am so glad they came out with this, as i wanted the available xram but it was too expensive, so i was gunna get the cheapest one...bingo the heavens opened up and answered my prayer.
 
donjuan1jr said:
I am like a couple days away form buying an x-fi, and am so glad they came out with this, as i wanted the available xram but it was too expensive, so i was gunna get the cheapest one...bingo the heavens opened up and answered my prayer.
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Tell us how it is once you get it!
 
I saw the "graph" where the X-Fi seems to "enhance" sound for CD audio and .mp3 audio. What a joke. How can this thing put back and "enhance" sound that was taken out during the CD sampling and .mp3 encoding operations? Answer: it can't... unless it means that this card will artificially "enhance" sound by acting like nothing more than a pre-set equalizer or audio image manipulator. Upsampling can't put back what was removed. In any case, it means that the sound output will not be accurate or truly high fidelity. Fine perhaps for gamers, totally unacceptable for those who value accurate sound reproduction.
 
OvenMaster said:
I saw the "graph" where the X-Fi seems to "enhance" sound for CD audio and .mp3 audio. What a joke. How can this thing put back and "enhance" sound that was taken out during the CD sampling and .mp3 encoding operations? Answer: it can't... unless it means that this card will artificially "enhance" sound by acting like nothing more than a pre-set equalizer or audio image manipulator. Upsampling can't put back what was removed. In any case, it means that the sound output will not be accurate or truly high fidelity. Fine perhaps for gamers, totally unacceptable for those who value accurate sound reproduction.
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If you really want accurate sound reproduction, you wouldn't be listening to CD's/MP3's in the first place :P

The X-Fi does have a 24-Bit crystilizer, which does make audio sound much better. It's been a while since I've used it, so I can't say exactly how.
 
donjuan, do you have Quake 4? Find a game that supports the X-fi, and do benchmarks before and after with it installed. I want to know if it does give an honest boost.
 
[-0MEGA-];458689 said:
If you really want accurate sound reproduction, you wouldn't be listening to CD's/MP3's in the first place :P
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Yeah, yeah. I'm one of those stereo nuts who prefer CDs to vinyl, and I do still have a turntable. My ears can't hear anything past 11kHz anyhow. :(
Tom
 
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