Creative x-fi Xtreem audio

[venney]

Hello.
When I did a clean install I downloaded the latest drivers for my sound card from the creative website. The driver I downloaded is nowhere near as good as the one I had previously installed.

I did back up my old C drive before the clean install. I have the files in an old creative folder.
What sort of thing can I look for to see what version to install? I do not remember weather i downloaded a driver or i used the one that came with the card on cd.

The version i had before had a volume panel, the audio console was much more attractive, and on the version i have installed now i can see no where that i can enable digital out (i have the digital module which is sold separately).

Im running xp sp3

Thanks for your help
If i can’t solve this, i will buy a new sound card, I’ve been looking into buying a new one anyway.

[liljim]

i have the same card ven

driver version 1.4.79

creative audio console version 2.40.14

[venney]

Ok it looks like my audio console is well out of date.

I am running the creative software auto update now (which i sware i already ran).
I am updating the driver to the same version you have, hopefully the audio console will be updated as well.

Thanks for your driver info Jim

[venney]

My audio console is still version 1.0.7.0.

I really want to upgrade it, do you have any idea how i can?

[liljim]

it should be bundled with this

[venney]

Hey Jim, sorry for my late reply. I have been away for a few days.

I have tried those drivers several times. Nothing seems to work properly. As far as i can see, i have completely removed everything, tried that install. Says install complete, restart your pc. So i restart and the creative web update tool thing comes up. I do all the updates it shows me, which are just crappy creative media programs.

I don’t really know what to do other than buy a better sound card. The sound card does work, i can listen to music fine. But i bought some coaxial cable so i could carry a digital signal to my decoder (so i could have true surround sound). I already bought the digital module thing which plugs into the flexi jack.

I think the Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium 7.1 card may be my best choice. Unless you have any more ideas? Unless i am being really silly and missing something major in these driver updates. I will keep fiddling in the hope that i can sort something.

[Psymon]

Dude, 's a beast of a sound card.
Hope you got a spare PCI-e slot it can go in. I expect your mobo has one but be careful the GPU isn't in the way, or that slotting in the sound card won't limit the air flow to the GPU too much.

If it is in the way you'll be stuck looking at PCI cards.

Can't say I know much about them, always wanted one but never did. I found my mobo sound to be just fine so didn't bother spending any more on it.

Also, the problems you're describing are one of the other things that put me off. Sound related software has never really had the attention it deserved.

[venney]

I went ahead and bought myself a new sound card, very pleased with myself

I bought

I upgraded to a free amazon prime membership to receive free next day delivery for this, and then i have set the membership to not upgrade after the free trial, so free shipping on this ;)

[liljim]

very nice, ashame the other one wouldnt work right. I love mine but im not fighting with the digital output either.

I have something you may can help me with, i need surround sound on my tv and it only has a spdif output. Im having a hard time finding a receiver or speaker system that takes a spdif input. Just a receiver would be fine as i have plenty of speakers but i would buy a whole setup if necessary.

[Psymon]

The logitech 5.1 systems are usually very good. Mine (Z 5400, discontinued) has 3 stereo inputs, a spdif (aka ), and 2 optical (sometimes also called spdif, i ... :S).

I think the one venney got (z 5500?) is 1 optical shy of mine.

Very good quality, can go very loud and keep the quality, fantastic bass. And they also have a good feature where if you send 5.1 to the amp, then plug in headphones (stereo obviously) it will merge all the channels into left and right so you still get a 5.1 like experience through headphones.

I've got another crappy 5.1 system that only passes the front left and right to headphones when you plug them in, so you lose rear LR and centre. You might find most systems do it the better way now though.

[venney]

The speaker system i have is lovely jim, the Logitech z5500,

It has what Simon said, 1 optical, 1 coax, 3 stereo inputs or a 5.1 system.

I have it set up via my ps3 optical atm and the pc using the 5.1. All sounds brilliant.

[liljim]

wow, impressive guys. 10 inch sub is right up my alley. I found the 5500 for $300 US which is pretty cheap for THX certified. I didnt know logitech made sound systems so thanks for the info and i'll let you know what i wind up with.

[venney]

every review of the 5500 is pretty good too. And yea, the sub is massive lol!! I knew it was going to be big, but it sits under my desk with my feet on it most of the time

[liljim]

i have a creative inspire set on my pc with an 8" sub in the same place