Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio VARPAK 7.1 Channels 24-bit 96KHz PCI Express x1 Interface Sound Card - OEM

Pros: Great sounding audio for an affordable price. Easy installation, and works with my front audio jacks.

Cons: Is not made of solid gold. No real documentation; just a pdf manual on the cd(if that kind of thing bugs you).

Overall Review: Kung Fu is definitely the best thing ever.

Pros: As far as sound goes, it is very high quality from the analog and digital (including fibre) channels. Since I'm using Vista, I can't really test this thing like I could in XP. In games, there is no crackle or snapping sounds (Bioshock, Doom 3, Quake Wars demo, Diablo II {I uninstalled this soon after, DX6.1a, bleck}, etc.). OpenAL seems to be getting the job done as the position of the audio is still a nice feature, though there is no hardware audio rendering.

Cons: While it is a nice feature that the card is on a PCI-E 1x slot, this extra bandwidth won't save this card in performance. If a much needed PCI legacy slot is needed and a PCI-E 1x (or 4x, 8x, 16x) is free, then by all means go for it. But if performance is a factor, then dun get it.

Overall Review: this card comes with a driver CD which is necessary to install the "official" drivers for either XP or Vista. The card (if recognized by the mobo) will be installed instantly in Vista, but I would recommend the drivers from Creative for maximum stability. I didn't see any drivers or updates on the Creative website supporting this card, so make sure to backup the drivers on this disk incase you lose it. It is the equivalent to an Audigy 2 SE.

Pros: Was recognizd on my ABIT AN8 motherboard and the driver disk installed no problems. Fixed an issue with optical out not being recognized due to integrated MB sound from my Media Center PC with windows Vista Home Premium.

Cons: None so far

Overall Review: It would be better if they had a true X-Fi setup on this board - but it still beats onboard audio.

Pros: 1. This card provides better audio quality than an integrated ALC882. 2. Windows XP Pro x64 is supported.

Cons: Linux is not supported.

Overall Review: Creative, thank you for providing XP 64 support. Please share more information with the ALSA-project. From ALSA, "Creative actively preventing support due to no datasheets being released to ALSA developers."

Pros: Easy install, drivers work great, manual incase you need, has connector for front panel connection.

Cons: None found yet.

Overall Review: For an upgrade from my Sound Blaster LIVE! 16 bit card, the sound difference is amazing. Clear highs, deep lows, and an over great sound. Plays movies / games like a champion. No need to look anywhere else.

Pros: This soundcard works as described.

Cons: This soundcard does not have the X-Fi processor. It has a lesser processor and uses software emulation to get the X-Fi features. This means there is a CPU hit and less performance. Also, you cannot output surround sound from games through the digital connections. Surround through digital connections must be encoded in Dolby Digital or DTS. This card (and all other Creative Labs cards) do not have a DD or DTS encoder. However, DD or DTS on a DVD will work.

Pros: Optical out capability (Toslink) as well as standard 1/8" jacks. I'd consider this for HTPC's (Home theatre pc's). X-Fi capabilities abound, what a deal!

Cons: None other than the driver I tried didn't work from Creative's site and I think their autodetect didn't work either

Overall Review: PCI-E x1 interface also means legacy PCI slots for other goodies

Pros: I have always needed a soundcard, because the onboard sound was never quite good enoungh and did not have room because of SLI. I was somewhat leary of the PCI-e version of this card (because Creative does not support it and neither does Newegg....which is quite funny beacause they sell it!), but popped it in the A8n32 SLI board ran the driver disk and VIOLA....has worked perfectly. ....SO FAR in XP 32(have not took the Vista plunge yet). Surround sound and EAX is incredible in Bioshock, Fear, Far Cry and MOHA. Music (mp3 Mp4)is much better than onboard and for $49.00 (this is a steal.

Cons: Seems to be a problem on some Motherboards recognizing this card...the Asus A8N32 Sli Dlx 1303 bios has no problems with it. Was point blank told by Creative that they do not support this card. Newegg plays the "we don't provide support" card.

Overall Review: I took a chance and this card worked for me...your mileage may obviously vary. Newegg... as always came through with an RMA(just in case), which I do not need. I don't quite understand why Creative won't support this card. If things change I will report back later.