Audigy SB0350 (What is the best driver version)?

Roger_D25

Hey Guys,
I just got my first sound card this evning from a very generous guru3d.com member (Thanks). It is the Sound Blaster Audigy 2ZS SB0350 which came with the Installation adn Application CD included. Before I install it I want to know what driver I should use with my new card? I have pretty much only ever used the on-board AC'97 sound before so I am not very knowledgable about this stuff.

Should I just use the driver that comes on the CD or should I install the newest or newer driver downloaded from the interent? Maybe there is a driver version that had worked out great for users or just one that had been better than others. I want to install it as soon as possible so any help woudl be greatly appreciated! Thanks guys.

Roger_D25 · *Last edited by Roger_D25; 11-10-2005 at 17:30.*

I just went onto Creative's website to look for the newest drivers. The three following drivers all seem to be different, not just newer versions of the other. Which driver should I use or do I need to use all three?

1. Creative Sound Blaster Audigy unified series Beta driver with OpenAL support 2.08.0002 (24.99 MB)

2. Creative Sound Blaster Audigy2 and Audigy2 ZS Driver Update 1.84.55 (16.34 MB)

3. EAX 4.0 ADVANCED HD Driver Update for Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2/Audigy 2 ZS (13.57 MB)

scipio · 11-10-2005, 19:43 | posts: 3,514 | Location: NorCal | User is Offline

they like to confuse you on their website

TheGamer · 11-11-2005, 06:45 | posts: 1,498 | Location: India | User is Offline

install the drivers and apps from the provided cd...then go the creative website and download all three files you mentioned...those are web updates for the driver....apply them ..... without those updates you won't have EAX4 support..

P.S you can also use Kx drivers as an alternative ... they'll make any speaker sound lik gigaworks 5.1

.....but they are a bit difficult to use at first and has a rather steep learning curve.....

Roger_D25 · 11-11-2005, 09:08 | posts: 4,201 | Location: New Hampshire | User is Offline

Hey Gamer,
Thanks for replying, much appreciated! So your saying that I should install all three available downloads from Creative's website? Last night before I got any replys about this I installed the card, installed the drivers/applications from CD and then after reading through the creative drivers updates I decided to install the second update (That is the second one in the list I posted above). That one seemed the best choice from the three available. Although the first one looks great I am hesitant because it is a Beta version with limited compatibility.

Which driver (s) do you currently have with you creative audigy card? Last but not least how do I know if a game has openAL or not? I ask this because of the description of the first driver above. It says it is the only driver that supports openAL fully. Thanks again guys for all your help and time.

PS, I must say that the difference between my old AC'97 and my new Audigy card is literally like night and day! The increase in sound quality and available sounds is huge not to mention the increase in gaming performance because of the added sound processing power.

The Kyle · 11-11-2005, 15:02 | posts: 4,113 | User is Offline

Just use the latest on the site. They will give you the best performance for most games/music/movies.

Roger_D25 · 11-11-2005, 15:11 | posts: 4,201 | Location: New Hampshire | User is Offline

After was all said and done I ended up installing both of the available updates on Creative's website, the only one I didn't install was the stand alone Beta version. I havn't done any gaming since I installed the second update but hopefully it will add more performace and compatibility with OpenAL.

I did have the X-Fi installed for about two days last month but had to return it. The only thing I liked much more about the X-Fi card was the audio console. It was much better and easier to use with the X-Fi than it is with the Audigy to set up and optimize, but the sound quality is close.

stormy · 11-11-2005, 16:39 | posts: 2,268 | Location: Toronto, Ontario | User is Offline

if you want the best OpenAL with games, uninstall everything that you just installed, and download/install the beta (which is actually WHQL). Then go here,

http://developer.creative.com/articl...&top=38&aid=46

to get the latest OpenAL.

Roger_D25 · 11-11-2005, 16:43 | posts: 4,201 | Location: New Hampshire | User is Offline

That is exactly the info I have been looking for stormy, thanks. Now with that said, what exactly is openAL. I realize it has something to do with gaming but not sure. I will do exacly what you said but I would like to know a little more. Also, once I do install the beta drivers, how do I get app back (EAX console, graphic EQ, CMSS, etc..)? Those are the only ones I am intersted in at the moment because I pretty much only have been gaming lately. The only reason I want those apps is so I can adjust my EAX, EQ, CMSS controls. Thanks again, your a life saver!!!

Roger_D25 · 11-11-2005, 16:48 | posts: 4,201 | Location: New Hampshire | User is Offline

One more thing, so I should uninstall my Creative stuff first, run driver cleaner in safe mode, restart, install the Beta (WHQL) driver, restart, then install the latest openAL download that you linked me to, restart? Are you using this beta driver and the openAL support stuff? Last but not least, do you know what games take advantage of openAL stuff (FEAR, Doom 3, HL2, COD2, etc....). Thanks again stormy.

stormy · 11-11-2005, 17:01 | posts: 2,268 | Location: Toronto, Ontario | User is Offline

I have done it both ways, over the top, and uninstall the old first. the one thing that I have seen a lot of people agree on is to not run Driver Cleaner for Creative drivers (and i agree with it as well. The last time I ran DC, I had a hell of a time re-installing the drivers). As far as the apps go, I am using a modified set from the Audigy 4, which if you're interested you can get from here,

http://www.driverheaven.net/showthread.php?t=75905

the only one that doesn't work for me is the EQ (never use it, so no great loss). If you find any of the apps stop working after installing the betas, AFAIK the updates available from Creative fix it.

As for what OpenAL is, this can explain it better than I can,

http://www.openal.org/

Roger_D25 · 11-11-2005, 17:10 | posts: 4,201 | Location: New Hampshire | User is Offline

Did you notice any difference in sound quality/gaming/sound effects/etc after installing this beta driver along with the newest openAL download you linked mt to? Thanks

stormy · 11-11-2005, 19:42 | posts: 2,268 | Location: Toronto, Ontario | User is Offline

Quote:

Originally posted by Roger_D25
Did you notice any difference in sound quality/gaming/sound effects/etc after installing this beta driver along with the newest openAL download you linked mt to? Thanks

For me, best sound in gamesever.

A couple of tips to take full advantage of it,

1. If the game has the option to use the system driver, check the games readme/manual to see if it referring to the driver that comes with the game, or the sound card driver. America's Army or UT2004 both have this option and in both games it refers to the driver that came with the game. So unchecking the option forces the game to use the drivers that are installed for the card (which are considerably newer).

2. For other games that don't have that option (BF2 for example), you can make a copy of the OpenAL32.dll found in Windows\System32, rename it to the same name as the openal file in the game folder (BF2OpenAL.dll in BF2), then just copy and paste the renamed file to the game folder (making a backup of the original first, just in case).

Also if you use headphones, play around with the CMSS. Me and a lot of others find that you get a fuller sound in games with it enabled.

TheGamer · 11-12-2005, 10:31 | posts: 1,498 | Location: India | User is Offline

hey Roger_D25...
you need not have doubts with the latest drivers only because they are beta.....they are stable and good and i haven't faced any game sound issues with these on.....

Enjoy your audigy....and i'd suggest you play FEAR with these on a 5.1.....

Roger_D25 · 11-12-2005, 14:43 | posts: 4,201 | Location: New Hampshire | User is Offline

Hey Guys,
I just got out of work, thanks for the replys!
stormy,
Those are great suggestions, and your right about removing the creative drivers using "Driver Cleaner". About a month ago I purchased the X-Fi Extreme Music but had to return for money reasons (Unfortunetly). After I uninstalled it I had to return back to the Realtek AC'97 and before I did I used Driver Cleaner to remove the Creative drivers, well everytime I ran driver cleaner it kept removing more and more drivers, unlike removing graphic driver which all get removed the first time. After spending hours trying to get it to work I had just formatted and rebuilt windows.

TheGamer,
I am glad to hear about the beta driver not having any problems! I have what I think is a very nice 5.1 speaker system (Logitech Z-680) but I have only ever used the speakers in a 2.1 setup (Front speakers and subwoofer), with the Realtek drivers I could nto get it working good. So tonight once I am done checking my messges I am going to connect my center and left and right surround sound speakers so I will have 5.1 working! I can't wait.

Since I now have the beta driver installed should I still download and install the other two available Creative driver updates or is this single driver all I need to use? Thanks again for your help and suggstions guys!!!

stormy · 11-12-2005, 15:19 | posts: 2,268 | Location: Toronto, Ontario | User is Offline

The beta is all you need. And don't forget to run the openal update from the link I posted. The version that comes with the drivers ends .7, and the latest ends .11

Roger_D25 · *Last edited by Roger_D25; 11-12-2005 at 17:35.*

Last night I uninstalled my Crerative Drivers (Just the drivers, not the applications), I then restarted, next I installed the Beta drivers we have been talking about, restarted, and finally I ran the openAL update you linked for me. I am not sure if the openAL download actually worked because as soon as I clicked on the icon I got a message telling the installion was done (It just happened very quickly). Plus it wasn't like installing a program, that is it didn't ask me for a location to install to? Is there a way to check somewhere if the update worked/actually updated my audio files? Thanks

PS What about the X-Fi drivers that are available right here at Guru3d.com, it says that it also works for Audigy 2/4?

TheGamer · 11-13-2005, 01:16 | posts: 1,498 | Location: India | User is Offline

actually the openAL is just an updated dll file which replaces the old one...so its pretty quick ....
you can install the x-fi drivers on your card......just search this section and you'll get a detailed info....it was posted a few weeks back.....

anyway i'd suggest stick with what you have right now and enjoy the sound

i say this because creative drivers develops problems if uninstalled and reinstalled several times.......no matter if you use DCPro or not.......this shouldn't happen but recently i was unable to install any creative drivers 'cause they kept saying "plxcore.plx" file not found.......later i found out it was a common problem with these drivers and occurs often.....
enjoy

stormy · 11-13-2005, 04:33 | posts: 2,268 | Location: Toronto, Ontario | User is Offline

To check that you have the latest openal, go to C:\Windows\System32 and seach for openal32.dll and if the version number is 6.14.357.11, then you have the latest one.

Roger_D25 · 11-13-2005, 12:15 | posts: 4,201 | Location: New Hampshire | User is Offline

Hey Guys,
Your help has been invalueable, so thank you! Before you posted stormy I was reading some of the info about openAL from the link you send and realized that the files are within the Windows Directory. The files were updated with 6.14.357.11.

I got my 5.1 speaker system installed last night but was unable to use becuase my downstairs neighbor went to bed early so I will test it out thisafternoon (Can't Wait)!

Do you know if it is possible to use the X-Fi applications with the Audigy cards? When I had the X-Fi card installed I really liked the audio console (The control panel in windows that controls the audio functions). Not only did it look clean and professional but it was also much easier to use than the one included with the audigy cards?

stormy · 11-13-2005, 13:40 | posts: 2,268 | Location: Toronto, Ontario | User is Offline

Quote:

Originally posted by Roger_D25

Do you know if it is possible to use the X-Fi applications with the Audigy cards? When I had the X-Fi card installed I really liked the audio console (The control panel in windows that controls the audio functions). Not only did it look clean and professional but it was also much easier to use than the one included with the audigy cards?

Everything I have seen about doing that so far points to no. The X-Fi has new hardware on it, and the apps are designed for the hardware.

Roger_D25 · 11-13-2005, 14:06 | posts: 4,201 | Location: New Hampshire | User is Offline

That is too bad...

TheGamer · *Last edited by TheGamer; 11-14-2005 at 12:22.*

If you're so interested in installing X-Fi drivers

:

http://forums.guru3d.com/showthread....hreadid=149976
x-fi apps , however , cannot be installed

stormy · 11-14-2005, 12:20 | posts: 2,268 | Location: Toronto, Ontario | User is Offline

Dirvers yes, apps no. Haven't seen anywhere yet that anyone has successfully managed to install the X-Fi apps on an Audigy 2/4.

The drivers are a different story. If you check the INF that comes with the X-Fi drivers there is just about every SB listed in it (including those bastard child cards the SB 24 bit and Audigy LS).

About the only difference between the X-Fi 1143 0r 1163 (don't remember which) and the Audigy 1162 drivers, is that creative modified the installer for the Audigy betas (to install the X-Fi drivers you have to do it manually through Device Manager)

Roger_D25 · 11-14-2005, 13:02 | posts: 4,201 | Location: New Hampshire | User is Offline

I see, intersting. With that knowledge I suppose there is no reason to install the X-Fi drivers, no benefit? I cleaned out my CD installed drivers and installed the Beta version we have been talking about as well as the updated openAL download and things sound great. \
stormy,
What exactly is the audigy ES, I have not heard of that card? Is it a decent card?