Laptop X-Fi soundcard

Does anyone know when this card will be released for the laptop market?

Many of these uber new gaming laptops boast great graphics and processing, but sound is often overlooked (even though the sound blaster 3D audio is OK). When I play games its not only a visual experience I'm looking for, I also appreciate good music and sound effects.

Also does anyone know how the X-Fi laptop card will fit into the laptops? Will it be external USB or the quick-slide slot or PCMAIC (whatever that is) ? And to get any benefit from the upgraded sound card one will have to invest in a new set of external speakers, correct, preferably 7.1 speakers because that's supposedly what the X-Fi will go up to?

 

I agree that sound cards are usally bad compared to other parts like CPU and GPU. The X-FI express card sound card was presented in CeBIT for the first time.

A few members have already spotted it in a few webshops. I think it will be avaible in a few weeks.
The X-FI goes into the Express Card slot, which is the newer and faster version of the PCMCIA.

About your last question: I wouldn't know. I would personally get a good Sennheiser headset and that is more then enough for me.

 

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=112643

The only laptop X-Fi would be the Creative Soundblaster X-Fi Xtreme Notebook card.

It fits in a 54mm Expresscard slot and can connect to a separate adapter (sold separately) for surround sound speakers. The cost of the card itself ranges from ~$80-$120.

As for whether it'll make your gaming experience better, Creative is advertising it as a "music" enhancer.

 

thanks for the replies guys. gah its not like my wallet isn't empty enough already... $80 - 120 +surroundsound / headset is going to cost me a lot of hard work lol -_-;

 

I currently have a 7.1 stereo system, and was going to ask about an external sound card for under 100$. good thing I read this post first . Any other suggestions on external cards that will be great for my new stereo system? UNDER 100$ of course

Was checking out that link Taelrak. There is quite a few options. If you don't mind me asking, which one is the one under 100?

 

Quick search on google:

Creative Labs 70SB071000000 - Expresscard Sound Blaster ... - $76.97 - KEENZO ELECTRONICS
Creative Labs - Expresscard Sound Blaster X-fi Xtreme ... - $91.68 - SHOP.COM
Creative Labs 70SB071000000 Expresscard Sound Blaster X ... - $69.75 - Monstronix
Expresscard Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio Notebook - $72.93 - Best Buy For Business

Not all of those may be in stock though.

Also in that thread, some people actually already bought it, and they paid under $100 I believe.

 

a 300 sennheiser and a 5 dollar headset will only do the same if you have a bad integ sound card in your laptop

 

just saw on Sound Blaster's Site.
It's Available for purchase in Europe! as well as Asia, so should be coming to the US soon! woot!!
I hear it actually gives EAX support for Vista users throught the ALchemy software! Can't wait to hear BF2142/FEAR with it on!!!

 

Which is better?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829102185

http://www.thenerds.net/CREATIVE_LA...ode=cii_9324560&cpncode=08-27560846-2&affid=3

 

x-fi if you have the expresscard slot, if all you have is the PCMCIA slot then you can only get the Audigy 2 ZS

 

Ok, so X-Fi is better, I do have an xpress card slot, but maybe I don't want to use it for that

 

then if you have pcmcia then the Audigy 2 ZS will be better than your integrated audio, but it won't give you EAX if you're using Vista since Creative doesn't let the ALchemy software give you EAX support with non-X-Fi audio cards....

 

I'll put hte X-fi in the express and buy a http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/mouseandkeyboard/ProductDetails.aspx?pid=065&active_tab=overview


Otherwise i was going to go with the 2 zs and put the \/--- in the express
http://www.mobilewhack.com/reviews/...ia_remote_control_for_notebook_computers.html

But i think the option of a better video card for 10$ more is better than the 15$ more remote.

 

Its not a real x-fi card, it doesnt even have the xfi auido processor, its just got the name on it...

 

well it's not the gamer's x-fi it's more for audio-editing oriented use but I've read some reviews on SB site where someone was able to get EAX Advanced HD to work in F.E.A.R., BF2142 and games like that.

 

Well i'm on a 7.1 System, So I thought about it, and I will wait a year or so, but I want the best sound i can get, because whats worth buying a sound card if its not even worth it at all. So for now, what's the most effective? If you can give a link to something Sound for movies surround sound 7.1 / gaming. Thanks.

 

I had 7.1 for awhile, seems like nothing really works with it so I downgraded to 5.1 wich was much easier to work with. Most people will say you really cant tell the diffrence from 5.1 and 7.1 anyways, I agree unless you have great ears and actually have the space to set up a proper 7.1 system, most people wont unless you have your own room you can use just for that purpose.

Id honestly just see how any of the onboard "HD audio" chips sound that are comming out now, they are probably on par with this xfi card. I cant speak personally for any good notebook card I just dont know of one.

If you want the best card for a desktop look into the auzentech x-fi prelude. It has all the great SQ chips that auzentech is known for on cards like the meridian or xplosion, but has the xfi audio processor on it aswell for full eax 5.0 support and the 24 bit crystalizer, and all the other features of the xfi.

Its the merge of a audiophile card and a gamer card for the first time ever.

before you had to choose, xfi was a gamer card but the SQ was way below par compared to other cards on the market, then a card like the meridian sounded like pure heaven but you had no eax support and stuff in games.

 

Ok, Well yea, I don't think it will be a room just with it, so the 5.1 Will probably work, I don't know of the good cards, that will do though, I think right now i'm running on a ...SB Live! B800.. How does that compare with something else i can purchase para laptop.

I will definitely see how the sound works on my notebook when I get it and hook it up to my 7.1. But I will also wait for a review on the c90 before I even purchase it. ...Hopefully the integrated works, But I wish I could test the difference between the integrated and a X-FI to actually... HEAR what improvements it may or may not have.

 

intergrated today is definitly on par with xfi in the sq department.

only thing xfi has is the gammer stuff and it has a hardware accelerator so you can take some of the cpu load off your machine offering you slightly better performance.

the laptop version from my research doest have it tho, its just a rebranded audigy 2 so it has no xfi processor wich means your still stuck with software rendering of sound and thus no real benifit from the card at all.

Instead of being upfront and honest with what the card really is they just say "this card is intended for audio use" or somthing along those lines, that way I guess when they get complaints about hardware rendering doesnt work in games or eax ect... that they can say "well we said its for audio use not games"

They already fooled alot of people when they came out with the xfi gamer and xi audio cards for the desktop, both of these cards are not REAL xfi's they are renamed audigy's they lack the xfi processor and fooled many people out of there money.

Here is another fun fact while im at it.... non of the xfi cards not even the real ones with the big price tag can output surround sound via digital out... its just an upsampled sterio signal... so you may hear it in all 5 or 7 speakers but its only 2 channel audio.

 

Well, I guess that gives me a lot of information. But I think I still have a question un answered. I THINK , maybe i'm just a little slow ...

So your suggestion is to keep the integrated sound of the c90? And that you think there is no real benefit --maybe that isnt waht you said and i read it wrong --No obviously noticeable benefit-- I could say. Otherwise, What do you suggest personally? Because... the integrated shouldn't bog down my machine too much.. it's different than a video card.

I guess to me it seems video cards were easier to understand, they had nice guides, but sound cards seem to be not spoken of much. (Or maybe i'm blind)


--My system right now, I guess has good sound... But I believe there isnt really a noticeable enchancement.. maybe.

I recently listened to this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUDTlvagjJA&eurl
little sound thing.. You know, its noticeable to hear where the sound is coming from, pretty neat. HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE SOUND CARD QUESTION I THINK, but still .

I'm amazed how that works so well, you should try it.

 

Im not sure what sound is intergrated into the C90 its probably pretty good, I know all the "HD Audio" ones are getting top marks and I belive thats what the c90 comes with.

My best suggestion is just to feel it out with your own ears when you get it and see if you think you need an upgrade.

From there if you do, we will hunt you out the best thing to upgrade too.