Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer Sound Card (70SB073A00000)
by Creative
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List Price: Our Price: $87.00 You Save: $12.90 (13%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $34.99 (click here) Category: CE See more product details |
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer Sound Card (70SB073A00000)
Customer Review: Worthwhile Upgrade
Summary: 5 Stars
My original sound blaster audigy had served me well over the years but after a recent upgrade of my computer speakers, I decided to upgrade my sound card. I'm not an audiophile, so I did not expect to hear a big upgrade in sound quality but I was pleasantly surprised. Music, movies, etc, sounded much clearer. I understand this is in part due to my upgraded speaker system ( logitech Z-5500s ) but I tested the card with my original speakers and I could hear a difference rite away. Be sure to avoid the cheaper xtreme audio variant as that does not have the true x-fi hardware. I did have some initial random rebooting with the vista 32 bit drivers but everything is working fine now after I cleared all remnants of the old audigy software. This card is a worthwhile upgrade for those who are using older sound cards or onboard audio. I purchased this OEM ; drivers were available for free download from creative labs.Customer Review: Great Card for the $
Summary: 5 Stars
First and foremost do not follow the installation instructions!
I installed this card into a custom built PC (Asus MB, 512MB Corsair RAM, PNY 7600GS AGP Intel 2.8Ghz), following the instructions to cancel the MS found new hardware installation process. I then loaded the CD with drivers, hit the continue anyway button on the not certified screen, then downloaded the latest drives from Creative.
Everything looked good until the next day, when the PC would just lock up after about 30 seconds. I removed the card, and the PC worked fine. I put the X-Fi in a factory built Dell, and this time let XP finish the find and install process. The Dell ran fine for over a week. So, I put it back in the Asus, and no worries since. I use this in conjunction with a 52 inch Pansonic plasma and the optic audio out to 5.1 surround for games, dvd, and TV rewinds.
Customer Review: Works fine, good buy.
Summary: 5 Stars
I went from the first version of the Audigy2 to this. And it did increase my performace a tiny bit. My old card was going out on me. A lot of pops and clicks and games locking up with sound skipping. Haven't had any of that yet. :)
I also didn't seem to have the MB problems that were stated in first review. I have a ASRock Dual-VSTA(new one made for Windows:Vista).
With a good Stereo setup this card sounds really nice. I have a older but really nice 5.1 with 100watts for each speaker. Only 4 years old, but have seen some really nice ones lately.
A lot of new games coming out have intense sound now. Vanguards sound has crappy options so you can't dumb it down and it can drag a system down, esp one using on board sound.
I would give this a 4 or even 3 star rating if it included Amazons rating too. [...]
Customer Review: Great Hardware - Just use the online drivers to avoid junk
Summary: 5 Stars
After reading the other reviews, I was nervous about installation / driver issues. After I installed my card, however, I went to Creative's website and chose to download only the driver (and not any of the applications). The install went smoothly, and it didn't install any junk programs on my computer.
But as for the sound card itself, the improvement in sound quality was well worth the money. The x-fi processor does really seem to make a difference. I use only a 2.0 speaker system (two JBL bookshelf speakers with a Sony receiver), and the new sound quality is about as good as you can get without getting extra speakers or a subwoofer. Music now sounds "clearer." It also includes an optical output (you need a TOSLINK cable or adapter--it is not the "square-looking" optical connection, it is a narrow plug that looks like a headphone jack).
Customer Review: Easy installation, excellent performance
Summary: 5 Stars
I got this sound card for my new desktop (desktop computers, for some reason, have been shipping without offboard sound cards lately) and it's clear to me that I made the right choice. Physical installation (opening the computer, sticking the card in the slot and then hooking up the right peripherals in the right plugs) was okay, and when I got everything up and running I was surprised by the sound quality.
Although I don't do gaming, I got this card because I read it performs just as well for music -- and it does. Sound is clear, bass is great, software works fine and there are a lot of personalization options to get its sound output just the way you want it. My previous computer came with an older Creative sound card, and I have to say the ExtremeGamer I have now is immeasurably superior.