SB Audigy HD vs SB XiFi Xtreme Audio Card in Dell M1330?

I was wondering what the major difference was between the two and if the sound difference is noticeable at all from the built-in M1330 speakers. Thanks in advance!

 

If this is for the options from Dell, then SB Audigy HD is a software solution put ontop of the generic audio hardware / codec, while the XFi is an actual hardware product.

The XFi will have better hardware components, but unfortunately alot of it's benefits will be lost under Vista and OpenAL.

Under XP the difference between the two is night and day with alot more hardware acceleration and beneifits from the Xfi not available on the software enhanced 'HD'.

 

So in short, If I stick with Vista, then there's really no point spending $50 more for XiFi?

 

There's a bit, but it's for more minor improvements, like better SNR, slightly louder headphone output, etc.

Also the software features are a little better on the XFi.

But really the main thing is what exactly you're doing with it. For just normal gaming, unfortunately right now, there won't be very much difference because EAX in Vista is software ported under OpenAL since it has no direct HAL access like it did in XP.

 

okay thanks great g**** ape!!

 

hey, how come i couldn't say "g-r-a-p-e"? it was replaced by asterisks ??

 

Your welcome of course.

Yeah it replace the R-A-P-E in my name.

If you put in Mat-sush-ita in there it will replace the 'offensive' word too, so it's a good thing most of their products are sold as Panasonic, or else it would be TOUGH to talk about.... ToughBooks.

I don't like censorship, but so be it, there's ways around it, just find it funny everyone who replies to me with a quote gets censored. I feel SOoo special.

 

So let me get this stright.
The X-fi express card wouldn't help you in vista.?
I got onboard HD audio would it make difference than? or no?
Got vista home 32bit premunim

 

The difference will be more minor that it would under XP, and as such it might not be worth the money.

From my experiences with the Audigy2ZS it's too crippled under Vista the noticeable benefit gap is less.

 

I would just really get it to boost performance not how it sounds because I like my onboard.

 

No audio card can boost performance unless it was built by God himself.

 

I have used the X-Fi ExtremeMusic on XP and Vista, and its much better on XP, the Vista drivers still aren't nearly as good as the XP drivers, but still a far superior experience to onboard sound...

You wont tell the difference with the built-in Speakers, but if you have a good headset or a good Speaker setup there will be a big difference

 

i got the xfi express card for my m1330. i think if you play music regularly through the laptop speakers its worth it. The laptop speakers are truly crappy but I think whatever tweaks the xfi makes (xfi crystaliser i think its called) makes it more bearable. Plus you get the advantage of vastly better sound when hooked up to external speakers. I think you will only notice this with music though.

The speakers are the real problem in the 1330.