BF2S Forums Err...$130 X-Fi and no "Ultra High' Sound?

i didnt have to change my .con files.  did you install the drivers?  did you change the setting to 'gaming'?  if so, then you should be able to select 'software', 'hardware', or 'x-fi' from the sound settings menu...then after selecting x-fi, you can select ultra high.

i'm not sure, but every once in a while when the game crashes, it defaults back to the 'software' setting.  so i have to change it back to x-fi and then ultra high.  just a heads up if all of a sudden your sound quality seems to be a lot lower than it was before...

No, onboard sound is for retards. And by "retards" I mean people who dont care about good audio with minimal performance loss. However, Im not convinved an X-fi is worth the money yet. If the fatality dropped about $50 itd be more interesting.

i'm actually really happy with it.  i had onboard sound and i decided to upgrade...the difference was very noticeable.

both.

gaming makes a HUGE improvement.  i'm also just getting into sound editing/mixing/other shit...and i can tell a difference, but not quite as much.

A card is always better then onboard.. unless you're cheap

I even used my onboard sound of my Asus P5WD2 but switched to a Creative X-Fi. The difference is very noticeable, like Thomas already said. And due to it's own processor and therefore relief of the CPU i got more FPS ingame. Very nice and definately worth the money.

The only thing that i can critize are the output plugs, if you want to use a headset and have a connection to your Hi-Fi Systems, you have to buy an adapter.

The name "Xtreme Music" is maybe misleading. I got it and it's suited for gaming. On a german website they tested all four versions of the X-Fi Card. The both expensive Elite Pro & Fatal1ty have only a 0,1 % Performanceincrease with their X-Ram. Especially X-Ram isn't supported well by any game right now.

ThomasMorgan wrote:

both.

gaming makes a HUGE improvement.  i'm also just getting into sound editing/mixing/other shit...and i can tell a difference, but not quite as much.

Yes, going from onboad to X-Fi is definitely a huge improvement regards to gaming.  Better spacial awareness allows you to avoid those spawn raping choppers.  Since the upgrade, I've never been knifed from behind.  Room echos are a bit annoying though.

Last edited by Ilocano (2006-05-18 09:21:44)

If you have you settings on ultra-high you can really hear more clearly and other sounds.
You can hear where the sounds are coming from more clearly.
I have the xtrememusic and it works out great for me.

My wife baught me the X-Fi Platinum Edition for Christmas last year and I gotta tell you.. I didn't have a prob with my 8-channel onboard sound (NF4 shipset).  It was good for music and stuff and I thought it was decent for gaming at the time.  But now I know there's a reason why X-Fi has it's own dedicated setting in Bf 2.  After I installed that thing, it's like a whole new game.  You can hear such fine details such as soldiers walking in gravel, grass, crawling up behind you.  You can hear distant sounds much better, such as a heli off in the distance and where it's at so you know which direction to hide.  You can even hear friggin flies flying around your head sometimes.  I got my card paired up with Logitechs' Z5500s and this is a premium audio setup.  I never could get my 5.1 to work perfectly in games for some reason and sometimes I would hear popping in games with onboard sound.  This card has worked flawlessly and is easy to set up out of the box.  I would recommend to anyone with onboard sound.  I dunno if it's worth an upgrade from the Audigy2 series though as I had read that this card is definitely better, but not enough to warrent another $130+ for a new card. 

Simply sublime.

Last edited by T4rd (2006-05-18 19:37:51)

daffytag wrote:

I just placed an order for an X-Fi extreme music

Damn, one less player I can backstab!

Truth, twice recently, players have heard me crawling in within a few feet of them.  Having to go pistol headshot on some occasion where I suspected that I could not sneak up on someone.