Quote:
Originally Posted by Zero82z  The only Auzentech cards with EAX support are the X-Fi ones. The only real options for gaming sound cards are those, Creative cards, and Xonar cards. The X-Plosion is great in terms of sound quality, but the lack of EAX support is a big sticking point for serious gamers. |
Thanks, Zero. Good analysis, imho. I am not much of a gamer or at least, not enough to really care so much about EAX. Looks like proprietary crap from Creative.
However, the Asus Xonar cards look really good and give you all that. I think for gamers, especially if you're buying high-grade $200+ video cards, it's a no-brainer. At the very least, a Xonar DX and if you're using digital processing, it can't hurt. The DX probably has good resell value, too. I also use Linux so the EAX doesn't apply to me anyway. I believe I read that it's not supported yet. The Auzentech Explosion, though, for $35+tax looks really appealing. It has the CMedia chipset so it would be just plug & play in Linux. However, I didn't like Auzentech's website and you have to really look to have a good guess that it would work in Windows 7. Does Windows 7 include CMedia chipsets? On the MS Compatibility page, it states it's supported without any downloads needed? Auzentech lists Vista as the latest Windows OS supported. On NCIX forums, people are asking about it. A bit of a turnoff for me even though that issue is probably trivial.
Therefore, I figure, is the EAX and Xonar DX card worth $40 over a decent bargain card that should do just fine for sound quality although missing some features and a bit ambiguous for supporting Windows 7? I don't know if one should go by 'works in Vista so automatically works in 7.' Anyway, for me, it's difficult to choose between the two because of price but for gamers, I'm sure the Xonar DX seems like the 'cheap sound card' to pick with a lot of other choices if you go for a higher quality more expensive card.
Which one should I choose? :) I suspect I won't be satisfied with the onboard sound and if I decide I hear any static or 'sound issues,' I'll want a discrete card anyway. Nothing is in the PCI slots yet and although I like the idea of having a PCI-e card, I would mostly choose based on thinking the Asus card is a better quality card for not much more money!
August 16, 2010, 05:50 AM
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