Which sound card should I buy for gaming?

pkozerski · Oct 28, 2007, 05:24 PM

Hello, I want to buy sound card for games, I want to choose betwen
Razer Barracuda AC-1 and SB X-FI XTREME GAMER-FATALITY

Razer Barracuda AC-1

Code:

http://www.razerzone.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2_16&products_id=41

Code:

Razer Fidelity™ gaming audio engine
S/PDIF receiver/transmitter
 Dolby® Prologic IIx surround processor
 Dolby® Digital Live 5.1 hardware encoder
 Dolby® Headphone technology
 Dolby® Virtual Speaker
 DTS® NeoPC
 DTS® Interactive real-time hardware encoder
 7.1-channel digital audio playback
 Supports EAX™ 2.0, Aureal3D™ 1.0 and DirectSound
Audio Characteristics        Signal-to-noise ratio (output): 117dB
 Frequency response (at 24-bit / 96KHz): 20~20,000Hz
 Dynamic range: 116dB
 Total harmonic distortion + noise: -97dB
 Simultaneous voices: ≤ 128
Hardware Characteristics Razer High Definition-Dedicated Audio Interface™ (HD-DAI™ connector)
S/PDIF in/out Toslink connectors
CD-in
Aux-in

CREATIVE SB X-Fi XTREME GAMER-FATALITY

Code:

http://us.creative.com/products/product.asp?category=209&subcategory=669&product=15854

Code:

Technical Specs
            24-bit Analog-to-Digital conversion of analog inputs at 96kHz sample rate
            24-bit Digital-to-Analog conversion of digital sources at 96kHz to analog 7.1 speaker output
            24-bit Digital-to-Analog conversion of stereo digital sources at 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 at 16-bit/44.1kHz, 16-bit/48kHz, 24-bit/44.1kHz 24-bit/48kHz and 24-bit/96kHz with direct monitoring
            Enhanced SoundFont support at up to 24-bit resolution
            64MB of X-RAM

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 for stereo to 7.1 (Line Out via three 3.5mm mini jacks)
            Line In / Microphone In / Digital Out* / Digital I/O** (shared 3.5mm FlexiJack)
            Auxiliary Line level Input (via 4-pin Molex connector)
            I/O Console connector (for optional upgrade)

Which one will be better for games with headphones? what are the differences beetwen them? Sound quality etc?
I also watch a movies and listen Mp3. Don't look at price, tell mi which one will You take

Rogacz · Oct 28, 2007, 09:03 PM

Auzen's X-Fi Prelude.

ChaosMinionX · Oct 28, 2007, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rogacz

Auzen's X-Fi Prelude.

+1 for Auzen X-Fi

Necrosis · Oct 28, 2007, 09:51 PM

Another vote as well.

Zelig · Oct 28, 2007, 09:55 PM

Of those two, I'd probably take the Razer. Given the choice of any card, I'd go with the Auzentech X-Meridian, same chipset as the Razer card, but higher quality components.

**kris23** · Oct 29, 2007, 12:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zelig

Of those two, I'd probably take the Razer. Given the choice of any card, I'd go with the Auzentech X-Meridian, same chipset as the Razer card, but higher quality components.

he means Auzentech X-Fi Prelude

i vote for Auzen X-Fi prelude too

Zelig · Oct 29, 2007, 01:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kris23

he means Auzentech X-Fi Prelude

i vote for Auzen X-Fi prelude too

No, I mean the X-Meridian, higher quality than the Prelude, minus EAX, which isn't much of a loss, IMHO.

**kris23** · Oct 29, 2007, 01:49 AM

hahahaha yea yea i know, but EAX 5.0 is really good and everyone says the X-Fi chip is better than the C-Media chip

Arklon · Oct 29, 2007, 02:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zelig

No, I mean the X-Meridian, higher quality than the Prelude, minus EAX, which isn't much of a loss, IMHO.

Er, the only thing the X-Meridian has over the Prelude is DDL/DTS encoding, which the Prelude will be getting soon...

kelston · Oct 29, 2007, 04:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kris23

hahahaha yea yea i know, but EAX 5.0 is really good and everyone says the X-Fi chip is better than the C-Media chip

Now if only EAX worked in Vista rather than BSODing with ALchemy the EAX advantage might matter.

Only thing Prelude has that is really awesome is the swappable opamps, but having that only apply to Front L/R makes it not as fun.

**kris23** · Oct 29, 2007, 05:14 AM

yea i miss EAX.... there any possibility that it will work? does anyone know how the Asus Xonar is vs the Prelude? in terms of music, movie surround, and all that stuff? im thinking the Prelude but the Xonar makes me curious.

Zelig · Oct 29, 2007, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kris23

yea i miss EAX.... there any possibility that it will work? does anyone know how the Asus Xonar is vs the Prelude? in terms of music, movie surround, and all that stuff? im thinking the Prelude but the Xonar makes me curious.

Uses the same c-media chip as the Razer and the X-Meridian, not sure about the rest of the card though.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kelston

Now if only EAX worked in Vista rather than BSODing with ALchemy the EAX advantage might matter.

EAX works fine for me in Vista 64-bit with 4GB of ram and my Audigy 2 ZS.

Rogacz · Oct 29, 2007, 12:59 PM

If you want to buy the best card for gaming then it's really simple - X-Fi Prelude.

Best components + CA20K chipset = Best gaming performance with very high quality sound.

X-Fi Prelude is not X-Fi Fatality or Platinium crap. It uses LM4562 opamp and other hi quality parts. Basically it's X-Meridian + X-Fi chipset. What do you want more? (ok, ok I know - drivers, but nothing is perfect).

GeneralClaymore · Oct 30, 2007, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zelig

Uses the same c-media chip as the Razer and the X-Meridian, not sure about the rest of the card though.

EAX works fine for me in Vista 64-bit with 4GB of ram and my Audigy 2 ZS.

Same with Daniel_K modded drivers. just temp til i get my pre-order predule.

Oct 28, 2007, 09:03 PM	#2
Rogacz Porcupine Floyd Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Poland Posts: 422 Rep Power: 0	Auzen's X-Fi Prelude. __________________

Oct 28, 2007, 09:55 PM	#5
Zelig HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Canada Posts: 3,187 Rep Power: 71 System Specs	Of those two, I'd probably take the Razer. Given the choice of any card, I'd go with the Auzentech X-Meridian, same chipset as the Razer card, but higher quality components. __________________ --

Oct 29, 2007, 01:49 AM	#8
kris23 Going Insane..... Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 6,017 Rep Power: 131 System Specs	hahahaha yea yea i know, but EAX 5.0 is really good and everyone says the X-Fi chip is better than the C-Media chip __________________ Hardwareheaven Super-Moderator Building a new computer system and not sure where to start? Click Here! last updated (5/18/11) Rosewill FUTURE case replaces CM 690 II with its greater interior length. Building a PC: Step by Step Guide Written by Kristopher Pedemonte and Nathan Marks-Forder Edited by Allan Campbell Questions or Comments? feel free to post them in the forums!

Oct 29, 2007, 05:14 AM	#11
kris23 Going Insane..... Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 6,017 Rep Power: 131 System Specs	yea i miss EAX.... there any possibility that it will work? does anyone know how the Asus Xonar is vs the Prelude? in terms of music, movie surround, and all that stuff? im thinking the Prelude but the Xonar makes me curious. __________________ Hardwareheaven Super-Moderator Building a new computer system and not sure where to start? Click Here! last updated (5/18/11) Rosewill FUTURE case replaces CM 690 II with its greater interior length. Building a PC: Step by Step Guide Written by Kristopher Pedemonte and Nathan Marks-Forder Edited by Allan Campbell Questions or Comments? feel free to post them in the forums!

Oct 29, 2007, 12:59 PM	#13
Rogacz Porcupine Floyd Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Poland Posts: 422 Rep Power: 0	If you want to buy the best card for gaming then it's really simple - X-Fi Prelude. Best components + CA20K chipset = Best gaming performance with very high quality sound. X-Fi Prelude is not X-Fi Fatality or Platinium crap. It uses LM4562 opamp and other hi quality parts. Basically it's X-Meridian + X-Fi chipset. What do you want more? (ok, ok I know - drivers, but nothing is perfect). __________________

Oct 28, 2007, 09:51 PM	#4
Necrosis HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Ohio Posts: 8,838 Rep Power: 131 System Specs	Another vote as well.