Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer Fatal1ty Pro 7.1 Channels 24-bit 192KHz PCI Interface Sound Card

Pros: Hello, I’m coming from a Audigy 2 and this card is much better. I’ve tried BF 2142 and I can say that this card definitely helped improve my frames per second. When a lot of explosions and heavy gunfire are going on around me, my system used to stutter and or bog down. Since installing this card, it’s helped to stop this. The sound is much better than my previous sound card. There are so many programs and options with this card that one could spend an entire week dorking through them. I don’t impress easily, but this card’s sound definitely impressed me. The added game performance was nice as well. Technical support hasn’t moved out of the USA yet. I was shocked to speak with a fellow American. That’s a rare commodity now a days. Tech support was good, courteous, and I didn’t have to wait more than five minutes to speak with somebody.

Cons: This card is very fussy. I didn’t do my research before purchasing this card. A fellow computer enthusiast that I respect recommended this card, hence I didn’t do any research. After putting this card in the PCI slot and firing up the computer, I was instantly alarmed at my graphical display upon booting into Windows XP. I could only use 4 bit color at a resolution of 800x600. After an hour of trying different things I called tech support. All that they worried about was if it was sharing an IRQ with another device and I told them that it wasn’t because I’ve already checked it. Since I was asked a lot of questions about all my hardware, software, and what device is on this IRQ etc, I felt as though I was only contributing to their data base. Tech support didn’t help me, but I must admit I didn’t try their online knowledge data base… The problem was in the BIOS. I had to adjust my “Video Card Aperture Size” to 256MB. Once I did that, the problem was solved.

Overall Review: I haven’t had the clipping that other people are reporting. I’ve read about games crashing to desktop once they are launched and I believe I know why. I was listening to some music to test the sound card. This card has three modes that you may use. If you’re not in “game mode,” it will case Battle Field games to crash to desktop, that is if they will launch at all. I wasn’t in “game mode” and this was causing the issue. Once I switched to game mode, problem solved.

Pros: So far it does what it says it will. Games run good with few if any sound glitches. Build wise, this is only an average sound card.

Cons: I was very disappointed to that Creative used Jamicon capacitors, they are junk caps. They are also standing on long legs. A card of this price should have better quality components and better workmanship. I do have the "pause bug" also. Play an AC3 5.1 movie and press the pause button a few times, you'll get it. This board needs to be recapped. They used the same cap type all over the board, not good. Computer and audio should have different type caps. This is amatureish! Creative knows that they have the market in their hands, I'm not impressed.

Overall Review: I think the Bluegears sound card would be a much better buy. Let Creative get the picture and start giving people a better product.

Pros: If you are using onboard sound you won't beleive the difference.

Cons: Creative's documentation is a little irritating since it covers several cards that are physically diffent...this is mostly irrellevent though since you shouldn't need the documentation at all.

Overall Review: This is the best soundcard I have ever had for gaming purposes...there may be better studio type cards, but for games and normal listening you can't beat this.

Pros: I fried my 24-bit Live! sound card by pushing it over the edge and needed an upgrade. I didn't inted to buy this card. I was going for the lower end version with the X-Fi but decided what the heck, spend the extra cash to get a decent product. Wow. I love it. I can never go below this sound card again. I am glad that I shelled out the extra $. Music is more crisp then what I have ever heard. There are a lot of options to play with in the card settings as well. Once you turn on the crystallizer, you will never use the card without it. Make sure you have headphones or speakers with decent quality so that you can enjoy the full potential of this card. Installing it was a snap.

Cons: One small snag when installed. I have a 6800GT (AGP) vid card that got disabled when I put the sound card in. My computer went into 4-bit color mode and I had a "code 12" error in my display device. I found someone on the Creative forums that had the same problem with the same vid card. All I had to do was change the AGP aperture size in my BIOS to 256 and the problem was corrected. I would suggest that if you purchase this card, make sure that you know how to manage your system just in case you come across any issues. This isn't a "card for dummies" it is a higher end sound card for people who want top notch quality in gaming.

Overall Review: This card added an extra dimension to BF2. The 3D effects are incredible. I actually started laughing when i fired up BF2 because I can't believe that I was using such a dumpy card before. When someone is shooting from behind, it isn't just "behind me" it is over my right shoulder or to the left of me. Guns have a crisp POP instead of a dull muffled sound. After firing you can hear the echo through the environment. The sound is addicting because it is so crisp and real. Someone commented about "look at the forums, there are a ton of unhappy people with this card" Any forum for any product will be filled with people having problems. Who goes to a forum to say "man this card is sweet" I am very happy with it and just because people don't know how to work their hardware, don't let them scare you away. You will never be able to get lesser of a sound card after hearing what comes out of this one.

Pros: This card works extremely well with my Asus A8N-SLI Premium mobo and AMD Opteron 165 setup. It installed without a hitch and continues to sound fantastic.

Cons: None that I can find.

Overall Review: Was actually a lot smaller than I was expecting but that is a pleasant surprise.

Pros: Sounds great when it works.

Cons: Crackling & popping locks up machine during game.

Overall Review: I should have researched this card more before I bought it. Literally thousands of complaints online about the same issue with other users. Thanks to NewEgg I have a chance to send it back and I going to.

Pros: Works fine on my rig with both the XP Home 32 bit OS and Vista Ultimate 64 bit OS.

Cons: Too much other software to load if you choose the auto install option. I don't need all of those other programs slowing me down but some people want all of the extras.

Overall Review: Q6600 G0, ASUS P5K, 4 GB (2x2GB) DDR2-1000, 9800GX2, 2x 500 GB WD SATA II HD, 2x DVD RW+/-, Vista Ultimate 64 bit primary OS and XP Home 32 bit alternate OS.

Pros: Looks good...

Cons: There is a HUGE compatibility problem with a lot of motherboards. Asus forums and the Creative forums have hundreds and hundreds of people having the same problem. Works on and off and a high pitched squeal. Tried everything to make it work. Creative forums have over 100 pages on the same topic and never once has anyone from Creative chimed in to help. I sent an email (12 of them) never once got a response. Asus Forums has people who are frustrated that they can't get these to work with their motherboards.

Overall Review: I tried moving the card to a different slot, numerous settings etc.... Wish it would of worked...