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RBMODS REVIEWS |
Date 2007-01-17
Provider: Creative
Author: Niko Lupala
Editor: Amber Lupala
Creative X-fi XtremeGamer soundcard
I don't think I have to introduce the X-fi soundcard series from Creative, most of us know that it's an extremely powerful soundcard in whatever form or shape it comes in. The main problem with the cards have been the price as the cheapest card even has gone for over 120$. Now there might be a solution to this, Creative have launched a Xtremegamer card which belongs to the X-fi family but only costs around 80$USD. So can you get the same features as the expensive cards have? That's what we are here to find out today.
About Creative:
Creative (NASDAQ: CREAF) is the worldwide leader in digital entertainment products for the personal computer and the Internet. Creative was founded in Singapore in 1981 with the vision that multimedia would revolutionize the way people interact with their PCs.
Famous for its Sound Blaster sound cards and for launching the multimedia revolution, Creative is now driving digital entertainment on the PC platform with products like its highly acclaimed Zen and MuVo lines of digital audio players.
The company's innovative hardware, proprietary technology, applications and services leverage the Internet, enabling consumers to experience high-quality digital entertainment - anytime, anywhere.
Check out the Creative website for more info.
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Specifications:
24-bit Analog-to-Digital conversion of analog inputs: 96kHz sample rate
24-bit Digital-to-Analog conversion of digital sources: 96kHz to analog 7.1 speaker output
24-bit Digital-to-Analog conversion of stereo digital sources: 192kHz to stereo output
16-bit to 24-bit recording sampling rates: 8, 11.025, 16, 22.05, 24, 32, 44.1, 48 and 96kHz
ASIO 2.0 support: 16-bit/44.1kHz, 16-bit/48kHz, 24-bit/44.1kHz 24-bit/48kHz and 24-bit/96kHz with direct monitoring
Enhanced SoundFont support: Up to 24-bit resolution
Audio Performance (Rated Output @ 2Vrms, Typical Value)
Signal-to-Noise Ratio (20kHz Low-pass filter, A-Weighted): Stereo Output 109dB
Front and Rear Channels 109dB
Center, Subwoofer and Side Channels 109dB
Total Harmonic Distortion + Noise at 1kHz (20kHz Low-pass filter): 0.004%
Frequency Response (-3dB, 24-bit/96kHz input ): 10Hz to 46kHz
Frequency Response (-3dB, 24-bit/192kHz input): 10Hz to 88kHz (Stereo only)
Connectivity
Speaker and Headphone connections: Stereo to 7.1 (Line Out via three 3.5mm mini jacks)
Flexijack: Line In / Microphone In / Optical Out¹ via shared 3.5mm mini jack
Auxiliary Line level Input: 4-pin Molex connector
Front Panel Header Intel HD Audio Compatible (2x5pin)
The product:
Please click on thumbnails to get bigger pictures
The box looks similar to all Creative boxes, except the colors are a tad darker than normal. On the back of the box you got loads of specifications to go through, I did this and found out that there are no real differences between the Fatal1ty card and this XtremeGamer. The only difference is that the Fatal1ty has the X-ram and the front panel otherwise these cards are the same.
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Please click on thumbnails to get bigger pictures
Inside you will find the card along with some manuals and a cd with drivers and software to operate the card. We will take a look at the software later in the review.
The other X-fi cards I have looked at have gold coated connectors but not this one, instead they have color coded them so you easily know where to connect headphones, speakers etc.
I doubt you or me are able to hear the sound difference with gold coated connectors. I cannot forget to mention the X-fi sticker you can put on your case or wherever.
Please click on thumbnails to get bigger pictures
This picture shows that the ports really are color coded, with white, green, grey, and orange. The main X-fi chipset has a hetsink on it to keep the soundcard stable.
Consult your manual to see how you should connect your speaker setup.
Current Real Time Pricing
Lets get a closer look >>>>> Page 2
Related Articles:
Creative X-fi Fatal1ty
Creative T6060 Speaker system
Creative 7,1 surround and Sounblaster Audigy 2 ZS
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