Onboard Sound Vs. Add in Sound Card

This doesn't mean anything. All it does mean is that none of these listed cards can do an EAX4 HD, thats for sure... Or they simply don't support OpenAL which is required by SB cards lately in order to use hardware features. Besides, ALL Creative soundcards can perform EAX operations on their own APU. Of course on different levels with different performance (X-Fi is logically way faster even in EAX2 than Live! 5.1 because of raw APU power plus it can even handle higher EAX versions).

 

well your wrong there the A4 supports EAX4, and so does the A2 with a softmod(im pretty sure rob can correct me)

and to nabelon, yes you can run X-fi drivers on Audigy, but it requires a bit of knowledge, and tweaking, take a while, and not really worth it. Unless you like X-FI drivers. If you do get a A2 or A4 i can give u a link for good drivers for them cards

 

Not sure if this works but this may help.
http://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?t=192715

 

Yes they do. And I still have them installed since I posted that with zero problems.

What tweaking? And the bit of knowledge is nothing more than knowing how to install drivers manually.

 

Where have i said that it doesn't? There is no Audigy 2 or 4 listed on that list.
Just Audigy 1 (max EAX3 HD) and Live! series (max EAX2).
I'm well aware what specific card can do...

 

stormy can audigy 4 be installed with x-fi drivers too ? its the one with the remote..

 

EAX HD is EAX 4.... I know mine does-Audigy 2. The X-fi supports EAX5.. so card before it naturally would support EAX 4 or EAX HD.. Of course quite a few cards say they support it and they do but in software only..which is not good. SO guys no matter how hard you look you will never find info that says a SB Live 24 bit supports EAX in hardware mode...it just doesn't.

 

now im in deep****..suddenly the card that i wanted is on back order..the audigy 2 zs..well i cant wait coz my ears are itchy for it..do u recommend me getting the audigy 4 instead ?

 

audigy value is nothing than a ONBOARD chip with HD support
rob? is that correct!

 

EAX
EAX2
EAX3 HD
EAX4 HD
EAX5 HD

Audigy 1 cannot do any higher than EAX3 HD. Audigy 2 was introduced as EAX3 HD card but they later upgraded it by software only as it was capable enough for EAX4 requirements. Plus since the SB Live 24bit is an Audigy 1 chip i don't see a reason why would they waste nice slice of a APU die to calculate EAX on CPU and just make things worse? I just don't see any logical reason to do this in any way. Have they ever explicitly say Audigy 2 does that with hardware too? I don't exactly remember but i know they advertised as Audigy 1 also being able to do it in hadware.
They certanly advertise X-Fi as superior hardware acceleration sound solution just because of 10.000 MIPS they used in the APU. Thats the selling point No.1 anyway...

 

1.Oem audigy 2 zs with no cd and nothing nada just anti-static bag n the card -USD $ 79
2. Retail audigy 4 with box and all full set..bundled remote
-USD $70

well which one should i take..and the prices are converted from the shop at my place to USD..

 

sorry double post..

 

Check the technical data. I think A2 ZS has better DAC's than A4 Vanilla, but i'm not 100%.

 

well me too..the specs just doesnt tell the whole story..btw if i get myself an oem audigy 2 zs..would all the prog bundled be available for dload ?

 

Yes!!!

 

btw..im afraid that might get a defect card when buying oem products

 

i got my A2 ZS ina antistatic bag, no software or anything, just downloaded it of the net

 

I was typing out a message for you but you beat me to it. I am not sure if you can download the software from the Creative site. I will look for the ISO for you and get back to you..it's a shame I have a A2ZS ISO here and a A4 ISO...The software you downloaded is just plain drivers...you need the applications like the surround mixer and the EAX panel and the THX setup console and the Graphic EQ!!!
@nabelon, are you still unsure? would you like me to look the cards over for you and give you my opinion? BTW with OEM stuff if it's defective you return it..same as anything else. OEM is just the saem but doesn't include extra software or packaging you don't need...just the hardware..and usually driver CD...can you link me to the places your looking at the cards?
@Rouge, did you get everything or just th drivers?..I will see what I can find..

 

No i downloaded EVERYTHING, i got an ISO with the CD from creative (not FROM creative but ther cd) ill se if i can dig up the link

 

I look at it this way your sound is only as good as your speakers. I mean if you have a nice sound card and a crappy set of speakers not really doing anything but waisting money, and if you have a nice set of speakers and a crappy audio card. It all depends on how much money you are willing to spend right now mine is just fine with my AC'97 integrated audio and my creative speakers for $50.