Integrated Sound Blaster Audigy ADVANCED HD Audio

This is only $25 upgrade on a Dell XPS 1710 but wondering what it is and if its worth it.
Thanks.

 

If you like good sound, I'd go for it. But, I havn't heard what it's like, so it might not be very good.

I wish I had that option, I would of taken it up in seconds.

 

Integrated Audigy? I say go for it man~! If you've ever heard sound blaster sound, you know what you're in for. Great sound~!

Wow only 25 bucks??? I'm gonna take a look at this.

 

Okay I just read the features of this and all I can say is GET IT~!!

Even if it's just for the EAX features that boost your audio quality, go for it. Only 25 bucks, that's a total steal. Plus it says you get 5.1 Cinematic Dolby Digital with DVD player, except some E series notebooks or something. CMSS is also included which is great for positional audio with headphones. If you haven't heard or experienced CMSS then you're in for a treat if you watch a lot of DVDs or play games that can take advantage of directional sound.

If you hear something behind you, you will believe it is behind you.

I hope I'm not overhyping this, but I honestly think this is a great idea.

Cheers,
Mike

 

Please note, though, that the laptop does *not* have surround sound outputs (except for DVD sound pass-through) - so no "real" surround gaming.

It seems this option only adds a software package that emulates an audigy on top of the same onboard chip. Sure, the quality will probably be better, but don't expect miracles. Also, I wonder whether it might affect framerates? I'd like some benchmarks on this part...

 

Seems like a nice upgrade and at that price not a bad move either.

 

I think it's a software package. On the spec sheet for the review unit, it never said that it had it. The sound was perfect as it was - no static/hissing, just clear and undisturbed sound.

If you are spending the kind of money it takes to get an M1710 though, what the heck is $5? Go for it.

 

I absolutely will get it if I can - it's not available on the Swedish configure page. OTOH, nor is Bluetooth (which can be added per telephone). I'm working on finding out if I can get it.

However, it'd still be interesting to know what one gets and neither Dell nor creative have managed to explain very well what it's about...

I also wonder, as the Audigy software is a download from the drivers page, if actually anyone will be able to "upgrade" by a simple download...

 

You can't, unless it identifies the chip. I doubt it's just a software package. If you guys check out the new 939/940 motherboards you will see they have integrated Audigy chips, so I'm thinking it is an audigy chip soldered on.

 

Hi there,

I registered in order to reply to this thread. I had the same question as the poster and stumbled upon this thread through google.

After some more searching, I found this page on dells site:
http://www1.ap.dell.com/content/lea...ard_ap&~line=desktops&~lt=popup&~series=dimen

"If you are planning to play music, games, or movies with your Dell computer, elevate your audio experience with Integrated Sound Blaster® Audigy® software solution, or even better, Sound Blaster X-FiTM XtremeMusic (D) Sound Card1"

"High quality 24-bit/96KHz/95dB SNR clarity.
Turns your integrated audio into an Audigy-class"


Seems to be a software only solution.. Please correct me if I am wrong..

Thanks,
Chris

BTW, nice site!

 

Mach1Chris I think that will answer your question, quoted from your link

 

wait, you can get an integrated sound blaster x-fi in a notebook? thats crazy since you gotta pay 120$ just for pci card for desktop one....

 

boon27, it's not the new sound blaster chip, it's just an Audigy chip.

Even still I believe it would sound leaps and bounds better than integrated sound.

Realtek audio sounds pretty good, but with Sound Blaster's environment effects, etc, sound just comes to life in my opinion.

I say it is totally worth it.

 

It is, indeed a "booster chip". You still get the same ol' Chevy Vega SigmaTel Sound Processor. This is a piggy-back. It's a steal at $25, but it is still poorly clarified by Dell, which is one hell of a thing when you're popping up to 3 Large for a system.

I got Dell to cede a $100 coupon so I could order the actual Audigy PCMCIA card from their store. I told them I fully expected the V8, not merely a turbo-charged V6. This kind of cr*p is getting to bey very typical of Dell. The same thing goes for Corel Paint Shop Pro Standard. It ultimately comes as a trial version. When I pointed out the discrepancy, they tried to tell me that since it had no line-item dollar amount, I wasn't "charged" for it. I asked them if the same principle applied to the keyboard and left touchpad button as well. Their off-shore sweat-support could only parrot, "We have resolved your issue", until I explained to them that I would very quickly educate them about what an "issue" really is, and WHO really had one.... It took several "supervisors'" intervention, but they finally satisfactorily accommodated me.

What was even funnier is when I told them about their misleading sound add, they kept offering to rebuild for me, even after stating that it would come the very same way. Do they actually mentally process anything they utter? Or is it merely an excersice of phoenetically reading the English language script of standard phrases? Had I any idea of this kind of headache, I would have gone Lenovo long ago.

 

Well, if you just bought the Audigy PCMCIA card you might be up for a surprise, depending on what computer you have. The M1710 and e1705 DON'T have a PCMCIA slot...



I should add that

1. The Sigmatel chip is actually an OK chip, for an integrated one. Better than the old AC97 chips we once all had in any case.
2. The Audigy software will do you some good. Maybe $25 good. But it won't be a XiFi, nor an Audigy 2.

 

I would like to point out this 90% bollock IMO. Sotware solution? Djeezz...

* That means no HW difference, if you had hiss and lawsy quality before, you will have it after it.
* This will not take any load off your CPU as a dedicated Audigy does. Actually, the emulatin will probably add overhead.
* The only thing it brings is EAX emulation. And it will cost you CPU cycles.

Sorry,

Ice-Tea

 

Well, software processing *can* add to audio quality. It *does* add EAX emulation. It *will* cost CPU cycles. It *will* add virtual headphone surround.

The question is: will any of those be noticable? We don't know, therefore we need benchmarks!

 

So if it's just software then how do you replace it if you do a reformat/reinstall?

 

Download the driver again from support.dell.com?

Plus, you'll probably need some kind of key to unlock the thing, but that should come with your laptop.

 

Guys, sometimes software emulation can be fantastic.

Have any of you guys heard of SRS WOW? If not give it a try as a plugin for winamp. On the site it is called SRS WOW THINGY, I believe. You will be in for a treat.

EAX emulation is GREAT, I don't know what you guys are fussing about. Having it ON is a big difference and I'm sure it won't cost many cpu cycles, so you won't notice a thing.

With the EAX emulation you should get the new CMSS thingy too, as it is listed on the features list of this integrated Audigy audio solution.

Very worth it man, very~!

 

no doubt it might be worth it, especially when you having sound trouble in TOCA2 with uknown Sigmatel HD audio. I wonder how turn it up to Audigy, cause on dell website no such drivers, only Sigma..

 

n0k3p, this is a long shot, but you might try doing an autoupdate on the www.soundblaster.com website under support/drivers.

It scans your computer to see if any creative products exist. Try it out and if it does detect an audigy card then we know for sure that this is not just software, but an actual chip.

Cheers,
Mike

 

I had a lot of the same question before I purchased my M1710. I said $25 for an upgraded audigy sound card, oh yeah. I didn't do my homework though (only $25 isn't work too much time . It is simply a software solution which comes on a separate CD and is downloadable as a driver from dell. An activation key is required. One issue that I had with it was the fact that you must connect to creative's website and activate the key in order to initiate the installation process.

I haven't paid specific attention to the sound quality, but there hasn't been any fantastic difference in the quality with it or without it. The first thing that I do when I get a new computer is reload it from scratch. I'm currently running it without the addon loaded and the sigmatel drivers work fine. I will try to compare the system with an without it and let you know what I can find.

Incidentally, this is an amazing latptop if your looking for a desktop to go. Huge in size, Heavy in weight, but enormous in power! It is a bit awkward to carry, but once your in place anything that you can do on your desktop you can do on the go. I played Oblivion with all video options max'd (1900x1280 res) and it worked amazingly well. These settings killed my XPS Gen 3 (Geforce 6800). I played it one time unknowingly with my av running in the background and didn't really notice it. I also write programs in Visual Studio 2005 and the performance is better than on my XPS Gen 3 (P4-3400).

Thanks,
Steve

 

The new dell notebook integrated soundblaster option is hardware. See link below for specs.

http://www.dell.com/content/learnmo...ndcard&~mode=popup&~series=dimen&~tab=details

 

It says its software in parenthesis...

 

I have an important question. I am moving from a desktop to a laptop. I just purchased the Dell XPS M1710. I did NOT get the sound upgrade because it seemed to be a softwares solution but mainly because it seemed to have no audio outs which would allow me to use my Klipsh speakers (the 5.1 version).

I figured that I could only squeeze a limited amount of sound quality from the on-board laptop speakers and thus upgrading to the EAX software wouldn't make much of a difference on crapy laptop speakers.

Was my assumption wrong? Can I use my Klipsh 5.1 THX speakers with the laptop. I figured I couldn't because the laptop, even with the sound upgrade, wouldn't have the required sound jacks.

Also, is there an option that would allow me to use nice 5.1 or 7.1 speakers with my laptop. I know there is a pcmcia slot sound card but the new XPS laptops do NOT support this.

Thanks...

 

Hey, i'm interested on the dell xps m1710 can you tell me about its heat, screen (does it has any light leak? sparkle effect when viewing white background?) and how is the sound quality?

thanks

 

I'll write up a full review when I get the laptop.

Here is the official notebookreview.com review of the M1710:

http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=2887&review=Dell+XPS+M1710

 

Its software therefore it is pointless.

And to the people who keep saying EAX and stuff makes it sound good have you got a decent set of speakers?

All of that stuff just distorts the sound & makes it untrue. If you have lower quality speakers it can make up for deficiancies in the speakers. But the best sounding audio is just pure. Ive had an Audidy 2 for 3 years and the EAX and other effects were fun for about a week until i worked out if you want stuff to actually sound good. You run the audie pure possibly with a simple upmixer if you want surround sound from a non-surround source such as what the foobar upmixer does. Correct the equalizer if you don't have an acusticaly perfect room (and i really doubt anyone has got perfect acustics in their house). And use a decent set of speakers.

Do that and then see what happens if you turn EAX or any of the other crap on. It will normally make the volume increase a bit which makes it seem better. But to compare try it with EAX off & slightly higher volume.


There may be one advantage to the software & that is the ability to get 5.1 audio from your laptop. Some of the new dell range have dual headphone jacks & a mic jack. Now it is possible to get 5.1 output using these by making them all output. However im not sure if this is possible with the standard drivers or if this Audigy program is required to do it.

 

EAX is pointless for music, I agree. But for games, it's essential in creating environmental effects. You still get stereo only, though.

And regarding 5.1 - if the laptop has three 3.5mm jacks it's because the audio chip is 5.1 (or usually 7.1), and then you won't need the audigy for surround effect. But the EAX environmental effects are still interesting.

 

I paid $19.99 for it and have not been able to install it so if you do buy it and install it please let me know!

 

is this for PC or notebook o.o...

 

it's for a notebook
he made another topic about it here http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=156929

 

it is a notebook

 

did you install the drivers for the PCI card ? and what os are you using =)

 

Have just purchased a dell inspiron 6400 and on the volume control it gives you option to upgrade to the sound blaster audigy advanced hd. I paid $19.99 for this through creative labs and recieved an email giving me the activation key. I recieved no further program or option to upgrade or to use the activation key. I have tried both dell and creative for advice all that dell could tell me was that the sound blaster was integrated on my sound card and that I would have to contact creative I have emailed them but they have not replied anyone got any ideas?

 

i did not install drivers for the pci card and i am on windows xp

 

for the sound it has sigma tel

 

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Found the answer! Emailed Creative Labs yesterday and recieved an email this morning with the following link:

http://files.creative.com/ManualDn/A...MB/MBSetup.exe

Just clicked on the above if you have purchased and recieved an activation code by email but you did not recieve the link.

Good Luck

 

incomplete link

 

http://files.creative.com/ManualDn/Applications/AudigyADVANCEDMB/MBSetup.exe

 

Please be aware that this is not an actual sound card. It's a software solution which improves the normal onboard sound card.

From Creative Labs themselves

 

I've bought two very good sound cards in my time EMU APS and M-Audio firewire.

I know the value of a good sound card and when I bought my 1520 I looked at the sound card upgrades and came to the conclusion I could throw away $25 or more and have more software running on my computer then I need.

Point is if the sound chip is the EMU10K1/EMU10K2 then it would be worth $25 big time, and it would be a real Audigy also it would have a lot of real useful features, but it isn't so use your upgrade money for a real sound upgrade at the hardware level and your CPU will not be the one processing sound data.


Found this to, I'll have to try it out for kicks when ever my laptop arrives.
Info: http://www.dellcommunity.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=insp_audio&message.id=30151
http://luminol.hp.infoseek.co.jp/92XXM2-3.zip