Sound Blaster X-Fi express card + Inspiron 1420 problem

I just got the soundblaster x-fi notebook expresscard and it sticks out the side of my Inspiron 1420 like 1/3". I'm not talking about the part that is supposed to stick out, it sticks out further than normal, but still works perfectly fine. Is my soundcard wack (a foreign model) or does the 1420 have a shallower expresscard slot then your typical notebook? Anyone have this card and a vostros 1400 or inspiron 1420, does it stick out? It looks retarded.

Did anyone order this card as a feature with your Dell notebook (preferably a 1420 or 1400) because I wonder if the ones that ship with the notebooks stick out like mine, if so, Dell is a real hack of a company.

 

Do you like it? Does it make a huge difference?

 

Well, it sounds pretty nice, like my Audigy2 in my desktop. I just hate that it sticks out the side further than necessary.

 

Do you think maybe it's just your card and/or system, or all of them are like that?

 

Thats what I'm trying to figure out, I'm sure it's not a problem only my 1420. It maybe that the 1420 has a shallow expresscard slot because it's a compact laptop. I'd like to know if anyone else is using this card with a new 14.1" dell notebook and has the same issue or if their card is flush with the side of the notebook.

 

take a picture of it?

 

Whoa that definitely looks like it sticks out too much. Are you positive the card is all the way in?

 

I dont think it is unsual. compare the remote or the thing they stuff in there with the x-fi. you will get the difference in length cleared up.

I wanted to buy this too, but my internal sound is really good, much better than ipod and my desktop. I was surprised.

 

yeah, I pushed it pretty hard. As you can see in the pic, the light is on and it works fine.

 

Before I saw your pic, I thought the thing would go in flush with the edge of the laptop. Apparently not..

 

I did that, the x-fi card is longer by the amount it is sticking out. I'm thinking maybe Dell sent me some other version of the card, I read a review on buy.com where someone camplained that they got the asian version of the card and it stuck out like mine, that's why I'd like to know if other inspiron 1420 or vostro 1400 owners have installed this card in their notebooks and how it worked out for them.

 

Ah, I think thats it then.

 

hey man,

interesting thread. just curious, how is the sound? big improvement? and does it add any ports? cause i do some music editing sometimes. could be useful buy.

maybe they have a version that doesnt stick out. have to look into that.

 

this soundcard is not worth the money IMO. there is no x-ram in this card. there is no x-fi chip. there is no native asio support. lol...so why are people buying this "upgrade" ?? just get the software edition if you want fancy effects.

edit: forgot that the card can maybe bypass dell's static headphone jack.

 

My X-Fi sticks out just like that on my 1520. I was disappointed as well and was wondering the same thing.

 

Where did you get your card from?

Because it sounds better than the onboard sound and it moved my audio output jack from the front of the notebook to the side.

 

You know in a few months time Creative will release a USB version of X-Fi that comes with all the software, dedicated X-Fi chip and ports galore. It will alleviate any noise interference you're getting from your built-in headphone jack and maybe even help with that skipping/popping some people hear at the end of MP3 playback, although I still believe this is a Vista software issue.

In the meantime I would NOT buy the express card version. As mentioned it is not a true X-Fi card. Leave that slot for your remote and hold out for the real deal.

My 2¢

 

Dude anything made by creative and vista do not mix. My audigy 2 zs notebook ((when it worked)) sounded so much better than onboard sound in XP. But in Vista the onboard sound sounded exactly the same as the audigy 2 zs.

They call this an x-Fi card even though it doesn't have an x-Fi chip...its not worth the money at all.

 

Totally agree about Creative and Vista. But Creative has been dragging its feet all year long on this, and you have to think - knowing their relationship with anything Windows is their bread and butter - that they will get their act together. Everything that has come out since the beginning of the year has been garbage, the express card included. But when new products pop up I feel Creative will have resolved whatever driver or compatibility issues they have been experiencing with Vista.

On a side note, I just ordered a Vostro and went with the SB Audigy software. I knew it was only software and not hardware, and I know it's just a bunch of progs that I could download piecemeal for free. But it was only $23 and does have a few features I use on my current system. Otherwise, I'm holding out for a USB soundcard.