Fortissimo 2 - time to give up?

burticus · Dec 20, 2004, 05:18 PM

Hercules has given up on drivers it seems, 6.09 is almost 2 years old. All new games are popping clickfests and I have to run in 2d sound with acceleration off to be halfway acceptable.

I have an onboard Realtec ALC655 but everything I have read says don't bother.

But... I LIKE my Fortissimo! The audio breakout cable rocks! The sound quality for audio and movies kicks ass. The dedicated headphone port is awesome. Why doesn't the $100 Audigy 2 ZS come with a headphone port?

My speakers rule but don't have an audio bypass for headphones. I guess I could buy a $50 Audigy 2 Value and use the drivers I see on the forums here, but I still would have to use a splitter to use my headphones.

And now Creative has unleased the Audigy 4 on us.... what the hell is the difference with that thing?

Bottom line is I'm poor and $50 for the crap-o value card buys a LOT of beer. Why can't Crystal or someone just release newer drivers for my Fortissimo?

Wah!

**dj_stick** · Dec 20, 2004, 11:30 PM

from what i have heard, you can assign the digital out port of the a2zs to headphones.

if you like the sound of you card, keep it for music/dvd's etc, and find a cheap sb Live 24 bit, and use an Audio switch between those two cards for the speakers

Judas · Dec 21, 2004, 12:46 AM

What games are producing the "crack pops"?

I've a Digifire 7.1 (similare to that of the Fortissimo 3 7.1 except considered the best out of the entire line of audio cards)

Hercules hasn't been able to update DUE TO THE FACT that Creative bought the chip manufacturer out and has so forth continued to NOT provide any drivers *much fist waving*

IMO though, i haven't ran into a SINGLE problem with these drivers, i'm absalutely stunned and amazed that no matter what game i can throw at it, full EAX Hardware and "Eax HD/4" modes work very well...

ONLY problem i've every come accross is the output errors in 3DMark03's sound tests, but every other sound test is perfect.... go figure

if you can find a Fortissimo 3 7.1, they run EXTREMELY dirt cheap, US price is nearly 20 bucks (i think i've seen one go for 10)... canadian, 30 bucks. And IMO, competes very well with the audigy 2 ZS and probably will continue for quite some time with anything that creative releases.

Can you provide ANY more details, when the problems started, what system specs.... what games.... etc.

BWX · Dec 21, 2004, 01:10 AM

I love my Fort III 7.1 and wouldn't trade it for any Craptative card.

The drivers are the most stable on my PC. They work in all games.. if there is audio problems it is the games fault. HL2 sounds AMAZING... RBR sounds PERFECT... I do have some creative speakers though- but they sound great for the price..

Buy a Fort III and be happy...

http://www.hardwareheaven.com/showpost...4&postcount=12

burticus · Dec 21, 2004, 07:57 AM

I thought the Fortissimo 2 and 3 were almost the same thing, aren't they both based on the same chip, cs4624? I know the 3 is 7.1 but other than that...

Oh let's see. Desert combat and BF vietnam are clickfests. UT2004 was until I turned off acceleration and run in 2d sound. Farcry sound is problematic even in 2d but some of that is probably their fault. Other games sound fine. Pirates, Urbanterror, evil genius, no issues at all. Don't have hl2 yet. Have to play most games with headphones so little glitches are obvious.

If I could get my money back for farcry I'd have enough to save up for new card... Like I say I love the card I'd just like to see some driver refresh occuring.

PS - I did some Googling and don't see anything about Creative buying out Cirrus Logic / Crystal?

**dj_stick** · Dec 21, 2004, 08:11 AM

make sure these cracks and pops aren;t due to CPU slowdowns, as Audio is the most obvious if there is a slight freeze in a game

burticus · Dec 21, 2004, 04:12 PM

P4 3ghz, and only certain games do it. If I enable hardware sound games just sound....really strange. BF Vietnam with 3d sound on for example sounds just wacky, hollow.

Maybe after christmas I can roll my pennies..

**dj_stick** · Dec 21, 2004, 08:31 PM

what's your GPU?

Judas · Dec 22, 2004, 05:38 AM

The PCB and additional components of the Fortissimo 2 vs the 3 will make a difference... They share a similare reference design yes.... but not exact..

Have you tried completely disabling your onboard sound FOLLOWED by a reinstall of windows (fresh format and install)

i can only think that something has suddenly happened to your sound card, as i've yet of any hercules sound card producing that without being a hardware fault which is very rare.

BTW, IMO, if you plan on getting a new sound card, it'll be worth sifting through whatever you can to find a Fortissimo 3, as i've pitted an Audigy 2 ZS Platium vs my Digifire and i was alot better off with my digifire for more reason then one.....

burticus · Dec 28, 2004, 05:15 PM

GPU Geforce 5900

XP install with onboard disabled from the start

I just can't see me spending 25-30 bucks on a "dead" but superior sound card which gets me halfway to a A2 (value at least) which at least has driver support (and better support through these forums apparently)...

I've just noticed a "new" product from creative, the Live 24 bit 7.1 for about 30 bucks. I've seen here that people are installing the new audigy 2/4 drivers on these, I guess they support newer EAX? Or maybe they took leftover audigy 1 chips and made new "live" cards out of them?

I'm beating a dead horse I guess. I can always move the F2 to my HTPC where the good sound will be appreciated in music and movies and doesn't get any game action...

My cheapness gets the better of me sometimes. I will keep an eye on ebay and see if a F3 goes for sale on the cheap. New $30 sound cards scare me.

Judas · Dec 28, 2004, 08:23 PM

IMO, the hercules driver support may be dead, but they simply haven't any reason to update them as far as i can hear. And it's somewhat counter productive to buy a new creative card anyways as PCI-EX is rolling out and being produced. It's always best, to hold onto something you know does the job. (And the reason you see more support for the creative cards here, is not only are there ALOT out there, it is generally known that the creative cards with creative drivers that get updated once in a blue moon, have plenty of issues)

Still your disision

El Kapitano · Dec 28, 2004, 09:54 PM

Fortissimo III Here too, no problems experienced at all. Wonderful card, superb sound, great stable drivers.

I too dread the day when I may be forced to go craptative.

BWX · Dec 28, 2004, 11:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by El Kapitano

Fortissimo III Here too, no problems experienced at all. Wonderful card, superb sound, great stable drivers.

I too dread the day when I may be forced to go craptative.

Me too!

Judas · Dec 29, 2004, 05:40 AM

I'm going to head down to my local London Drugs and pick up 2 Fortissimo 3's ASAP. I got a few bucks and i just CAN'T let those suckers go out of my site or i'll never have some excellent cards to shove in some of my machines.

BWX · Dec 29, 2004, 08:22 AM

yeah they would be great for media center PC's in the future- or any PC actually..

I wish I could go down to the local store and get one LOL.

burticus · Dec 29, 2004, 05:07 PM

Lost an auction for a F3 on ebay today, I went to $23 but lost it. Figured that was 30 bucks with shipping..

DOH! Only one they had listed too.

BiGBrOwNPimpsta · Dec 29, 2004, 07:15 PM

i have never had any issues with creative cards, crystal clear sound, no problems in games. its rather the game or program has issues with sound or EAX.

i love EAX and CMSS, environmental audio changed PC sound for me, wouldnt trade my audigy 2 for anything (except higher creative cards)

BWX · Dec 30, 2004, 12:32 AM

Creative drivers = puke for me

Judas · Dec 30, 2004, 07:24 AM

i just picked up 2 fortissimo 3's and another digifire..... you know.... i might just hold onto this fortissimo 3 for something

Dec 20, 2004, 05:18 PM	#1
burticus DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: ASL? Posts: 12 Rep Power: 0	Fortissimo 2 - time to give up? Hercules has given up on drivers it seems, 6.09 is almost 2 years old. All new games are popping clickfests and I have to run in 2d sound with acceleration off to be halfway acceptable. I have an onboard Realtec ALC655 but everything I have read says don't bother. But... I LIKE my Fortissimo! The audio breakout cable rocks! The sound quality for audio and movies kicks ass. The dedicated headphone port is awesome. Why doesn't the $100 Audigy 2 ZS come with a headphone port? My speakers rule but don't have an audio bypass for headphones. I guess I could buy a $50 Audigy 2 Value and use the drivers I see on the forums here, but I still would have to use a splitter to use my headphones. And now Creative has unleased the Audigy 4 on us.... what the hell is the difference with that thing? Bottom line is I'm poor and $50 for the crap-o value card buys a LOT of beer. Why can't Crystal or someone just release newer drivers for my Fortissimo? Wah! __________________ Faster, faster, faster! We Have The Technology.

Dec 21, 2004, 01:10 AM	#4
BWX unplugged Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: USNY Posts: 19,669 Rep Power: 110 System Specs	I love my Fort III 7.1 and wouldn't trade it for any Craptative card. The drivers are the most stable on my PC. They work in all games.. if there is audio problems it is the games fault. HL2 sounds AMAZING... RBR sounds PERFECT... I do have some creative speakers though- but they sound great for the price.. Buy a Fort III and be happy... http://www.hardwareheaven.com/showpost...4&postcount=12 __________________ Last edited by BWX; Dec 21, 2004 at 01:15 AM.

Dec 21, 2004, 07:57 AM	Thread Starter #5
burticus DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: ASL? Posts: 12 Rep Power: 0	I thought the Fortissimo 2 and 3 were almost the same thing, aren't they both based on the same chip, cs4624? I know the 3 is 7.1 but other than that... Oh let's see. Desert combat and BF vietnam are clickfests. UT2004 was until I turned off acceleration and run in 2d sound. Farcry sound is problematic even in 2d but some of that is probably their fault. Other games sound fine. Pirates, Urbanterror, evil genius, no issues at all. Don't have hl2 yet. Have to play most games with headphones so little glitches are obvious. If I could get my money back for farcry I'd have enough to save up for new card... Like I say I love the card I'd just like to see some driver refresh occuring. PS - I did some Googling and don't see anything about Creative buying out Cirrus Logic / Crystal? __________________ Faster, faster, faster! We Have The Technology.

Dec 21, 2004, 04:12 PM	Thread Starter #7
burticus DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: ASL? Posts: 12 Rep Power: 0	P4 3ghz, and only certain games do it. If I enable hardware sound games just sound....really strange. BF Vietnam with 3d sound on for example sounds just wacky, hollow. Maybe after christmas I can roll my pennies.. __________________ Faster, faster, faster! We Have The Technology.

Dec 28, 2004, 05:15 PM	Thread Starter #10
burticus DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: ASL? Posts: 12 Rep Power: 0	GPU Geforce 5900 XP install with onboard disabled from the start I just can't see me spending 25-30 bucks on a "dead" but superior sound card which gets me halfway to a A2 (value at least) which at least has driver support (and better support through these forums apparently)... I've just noticed a "new" product from creative, the Live 24 bit 7.1 for about 30 bucks. I've seen here that people are installing the new audigy 2/4 drivers on these, I guess they support newer EAX? Or maybe they took leftover audigy 1 chips and made new "live" cards out of them? I'm beating a dead horse I guess. I can always move the F2 to my HTPC where the good sound will be appreciated in music and movies and doesn't get any game action... My cheapness gets the better of me sometimes. I will keep an eye on ebay and see if a F3 goes for sale on the cheap. New $30 sound cards scare me. __________________ Faster, faster, faster! We Have The Technology.

Dec 28, 2004, 09:54 PM	#12
El Kapitano Most of the 7 dwarfs in 1 Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Rochdale, Lancashire Posts: 947 Rep Power: 0	Fortissimo III Here too, no problems experienced at all. Wonderful card, superb sound, great stable drivers. I too dread the day when I may be forced to go craptative.

Dec 29, 2004, 08:22 AM	#15
BWX unplugged Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: USNY Posts: 19,669 Rep Power: 110 System Specs	yeah they would be great for media center PC's in the future- or any PC actually.. I wish I could go down to the local store and get one LOL. __________________

Dec 29, 2004, 05:07 PM	Thread Starter #16
burticus DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: ASL? Posts: 12 Rep Power: 0	Lost an auction for a F3 on ebay today, I went to $23 but lost it. Figured that was 30 bucks with shipping.. DOH! Only one they had listed too. __________________ Faster, faster, faster! We Have The Technology.

Dec 29, 2004, 07:15 PM	#17
BiGBrOwNPimpsta HH's #1 Hustla and Pimp Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: The Dirty Dot Posts: 7,717 Rep Power: 107 System Specs	i have never had any issues with creative cards, crystal clear sound, no problems in games. its rather the game or program has issues with sound or EAX. i love EAX and CMSS, environmental audio changed PC sound for me, wouldnt trade my audigy 2 for anything (except higher creative cards) __________________ Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Music \| Logitech Z-5500 THX 5.1 Surround Sound Speakers \| 2 Lite-On 20x S-ATA Burners \| Logitech G700 Mouse \| Logitech MX5500 Bluetooth Keyboard

Dec 30, 2004, 12:32 AM	#18
BWX unplugged Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: USNY Posts: 19,669 Rep Power: 110 System Specs	Creative drivers = puke for me __________________