Treat your ears to the ultimate audio experience for digital music, DVDs and games by upgrading your desktop with the X-Fi Forte 7.1 sound card from AuzenTech. The card supports Dolby Digital Live and DTS-Connect. Dolby Digital Live converts any audio signal into a Dolby Digital bitstream for playback through a home-theater system via a single cable. DTS-Connect enabled PCs are capable of playing full surround sound from DTS-enabled movies, music and games, as well as providing surround sound from normal stereo sources.
Installation is simple and straightforward. Just seat the card in a vacant PCI Express card slot in your desktop and install the drivers from the included disk and you’re ready to connect your speakers and enjoy high-quality audio.
PCI Express Audio ProcessorThe AuzenTech X-Fi Forte features Creative Labs' native-PCI Express audio processor that can take full advantage of the higher-throughput of the PCI Express bus.
Dolby Digital LiveThe on-board Dolby Digital Live real-time content encoder generates a Dolby Digital bit stream from any PC sound source to unleash the full surround sound potential of your home theater system. Simply connect your PC to a Dolby Digital enabled AV receiver or devices via a single cable connection and start enjoying thrilling surround sound from 3D games, DVDs, music and more.
DTS InteractiveDTS Interactive encodes any digital sound source into DTS Digital Surround for transport and playback through any DTS-enabled system via a signal cable connection, such as powered PC speakers, an A/V receiver or any other DTS- compatible surround decoder sound system, eliminating the hassle of multiple cables and ensuring audio signal integrity.
EAX ADVANCED HD 5.0EAX ADVANCED HD 5.0 delivers incredibly realistic gaming audio. Drench yourself in an exceptionally dynamic and sensational gaming world.
Built-In Headphone AmplifierThe AuzenTech X-Fi Forte boasts an independent headphone amplifier to achieve the best possible listening quality with your stereo headphone.
Low Profile BracketThe AuzenTech X-Fi Forte sound card features a low-profile design, ideal for space constrained systems such as an HTPC case.
Learn more about the Auzentech X-Fi Forte 7.1
Model
Brand
AUZEN
Model
X-Fi Forte 7.1
Audio core
Channels
7.1
Sample Rate
192KHz
Digital Audio
24-bit
Ports
Line In
3.5mm(1/8") stereo mini-phone jack
Line Out
4 x 1/8" Stereo mini phone jack for Line outputs
MIC In
3.5mm(1/8") mini phone jack
Other Ports
1 x 10-pin(5x2) Front audio header with Intel HD Audio Compatible 1 x RCA/TOSLINK Combo jack for S/PDIF transmission 1 x 2-piS/PDIF input connector Creative proprietary AND_EXT, DID_EXE connector for X-Fi I/O driver
Details
Interface
PCI Express x1
Operating Systems Supported
Microsoft Windows XP / Vista
Features
Features
Security: The PCI-Express independent data transfer structure provides secure performance, important because audio requires continuous-secure data processing.
Sound: With a D/A converter of 120dB level, high end audio components, and an analog design tuned for peak performance, the X-Fi Forte is designed to provide the best audio possible for Music, Games and Movies. End-users can further tune the audio via the replaceable OPAMP for the front audio (L/R).
Performance: By using the latest Creative native PCI express chipset, the Auzentech X-Fi Forte provides high performance audio processing on-board while freeing system resources for other tasks. With 64MB X-Ram, it processes complicated 3D sound effects with ease.
Low Profile Audio Card Developed around Creative X-Fi Native PCI Express audio processor Support for Dolby Digital Live for Windows XP and Vista Support for DTS Neo:PC & DTS Interactive for Vista Low-profile and standard-profile brackets included.
The Auzen X-Fi Forte 7.1 is Auzentech's first Low Profile native PCI Express audio card designed especially for gamers and audiophiles. Compared to the X-Fi chipset reference design, the X-Fi Forte improves the circuitry and upgrades the components. Auzentech engineers created the X-Fi Forte for customers who have asked for a "high-end, low profile" sound card that would thrill music-, movie-, and gaming-enthusiasts alike.
Best combination of gaming performance and audio quality3/19/2009 12:14:50 AM
Pros: X-Fi's widespread game support in a better manufactured board than Creative will ever produce. Amped headphone jack with upgradable op-amps. Actually supports the impressive list of features on the box... unlike Xonar. Auzentech has a tweaked version of Creative's drivers that address most, if not all, Vista compatability issues (I use Vista 64 and have not had a problem in any game whatsoever).
Cons: Form factor will decive people into thinking this is another Creative board with no audio processor of it own (like the X-Fi Exteme Gamer).
Overall Review: This board measures up favorably to the Xonar Essence and has the benefit of much better game compatablity and better driver support as well.
Anonymous
Ownership: 1 week to 1 month
Verified Owner
Best Gaming Soundcard6/10/2009 1:05:30 PM
Pros: Everything about this card is a pro. Though based on the latest revision of X-FI native PCI-E chipset, every single component on the card has been replaced from stock creative to a much better quality aftermarket part. This card is small, but that same size it packs some of the best features. Headphones/mic amps, 7.1 24bit/192khz, DDL and DTS hardware encoding, ASIO 2.0, etc etc. The drivers and he software on these cards are the same as creative x-fi so you get tons of configuration options to make any home/theater audio setup sound superb.
Cons: If you're using headphones only through analog out, the Asus Xonar STX sounds slightly better if you're a hardcore music enthusiast. But it costs a lot more too.
Overall Review: For all you're mp3's, X-FI Stereo surround + 24bit crystallizer is all you're ever gonna need. Listen to one of your mp3 favorites with those 2 settings on, and you won't ever want to get a different sound card again. I dunno about "ram problems" as I am running this on a i7 @ 4.00Gigs, 12gigs of DDR3 and I havent had a single prob with this on Windows 7 RC 64-bit.
Pros: Sounds good. Headphone jack in the back is a definite plus. Low profile and fits under my video cards.
Cons: Auzentech support is very very slow. Took 2 weeks for email response.
Overall Review: First card worked, but had crackling on it. Opened Auzentech ticket, but no response, so RMA'd card. New card didn't have the same problem, and seems to work good. I like the card, but concerned with their support.
Pros: very clear and crisp sound while gaming. analog dongle is a plus for me. automatic sound profile swap per application is pretty useful. sound processing is very impressive. low profile is nice option, if you go that route. 7.1 surround processing for stereo source is pretty cool. it sends appropriate vocals to center, front, etc.
Cons: very faint interference while loading crysis and crysis wars. stops once menu is loaded up. doesn't do this on any other game i have tried. not a big deal, but weird. creative software seems to load a lot slower than it should. i installed latest software pack from auzentech site.
Overall Review: at first, i thought i made a mistake buying this. it was either this or the xonar, and since i game i went with the x-fi. after messing around with the settings, i got my music to sound the way i wanted.
-windows 7 ultimate x64
Pros: I've not had any problems with drivers. Worked out of the box no CD required in Windows 7 x64 Release Candidate! Also was trouble free for me in Windows XP 32-bit and Vista x64. (Used the drivers from the CD for XP).
Cons: Haven't found any so far.
Overall Review: I love it!
Anonymous
Ownership: 1 day to 1 week
Verified Owner
Great sound card5/29/2009 12:34:47 PM
Pros: Sound quality (makes my entry level logitec x-540's sound decent), headphone amp makes my old everglide s-500's roar. EAX 5.0 in vista 64bit. rock solid drivers. Upgradable OPAMPS allow the longevity of the purchase.
Cons: The length of the card gets very close to my memory dimm, also had to remove the dominator airflow fan. Not a big deal overall. Little bit on the pricey side but thats where getting the security deposit is for.
Overall Review: Took no more than 10 seconds listening to "The Great Gig in the Sky" to see how superior this is compared to the stock Supreme FX II that came with my p5e Deluxe. The price may be a deterant for those in the market but but EAX 5.0 with a non cr3ative card is worth every dollar. Still havent perfected the driver setup to have it sound to my liking but slowly workin on it.
Build: p5e Deluxe x48, q9550 @ 3.85 for the summer (4+ in winter), TRUE heatsink, auzen forte, 4870 1gb, corsair dominator pc8500 @1081 cas 5 - CPL 7, corsair 750w, and all of that in a modified antec 900.
Good card, but these Creative drivers = PUKE!!!2/16/2010 10:36:33 PM
Pros: -It's got all the features you'd want in a great sound card, including extremely clear full-surround capability.
-Comes with a Toslink cable included, so that saved a $20 run on The Shack.
Cons: I've found with both this card and also the Creative X-Fi Titanium, if you do not go into the Audio Control Panel and turn Off the Encoder, it will sit at the Shut Down screen indefinitely until you hard shutdown.
Evil, evil drivers.
Speaking of drivers, umm on the Auzentech site there hasn't been any released since July. Purely unacceptable.
A main reason I went with this company was they supposedly had better driver support than Creative.
The sheer length of the card makes it so that anybody with the stock NB heatsink on an EVGA Classified board can not fit this into the x1 slot.
Ultimately went back with the Creative X-Fi Titanium Pro.
Overall Review: BOARD: EVGA X58 Classified 760
NB/SB Block: EK Classified Edition
CPU: i7-920 D0
CPU Cooler: Swiftech Apogee XT
PUMP: Swiftech/Koolance Uber655
RESERVOIR: EK Bay Spin
RAD: Feser X-Change 360mm Xtreme
GPU: 3x XFX 5870 XXX Edition TriFire
SSD: 3x OCZ Vertex Turbos 30GB RAID 0 FW 1.5
STORAGE: 2x WD Caviar Blacks 640GB RAID 0
RAM: 12GB G.Skill Perfect Storm DDR3 2000 8-8-8-21
PSU: Antec TPQ1200W Modular
MONITOR: Samsung 305T 30" 2560x1600
SOUND: Creative X-Fi Titanium Pro
FAN CONTROLLER: NZXT Sentry 2
SPEAKERS: Logitech Z-5500 Digital 5.1 Surround
KEYBOARD: Logitech G19
MOUSE: Razer Diamondback 3G Earth Green
MOUSEPAD: Razer Mantis and eXactRest
BD/DVD: LG Black Blu-Ray/DVD
CASE: Corsair Obsidian 800D
OS: Windows 7 Professional 64
Pros: X-Fi's widespread game support in a better manufactured board than Creative will ever produce. Amped headphone jack with upgradable op-amps. Actually supports the impressive list of features on the box... unlike Xonar. Auzentech has a tweaked version of Creative's drivers that address most, if not all, Vista compatability issues (I use Vista 64 and have not had a problem in any game whatsoever).
Cons: Form factor will decive people into thinking this is another Creative board with no audio processor of it own (like the X-Fi Exteme Gamer).
Overall Review: This board measures up favorably to the Xonar Essence and has the benefit of much better game compatablity and better driver support as well.