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Built in ALC889a vs. SoundBlaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio


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Hi,

 

I have built in ALC889a audio on my Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3P Rev 2.0 motherboard. Here are the specifications I pulled from the Gigabyte website:

  • High-performance DAC (Digital-Analog Converter) with 106 dB Signal-to-Noise ratio playback quality, designed especially for Windows Vista Premium PCs.
  • The ALC889A enables high quality Full Rate Lossless Audio for content protected media and support for both Blu-ray and HD DVD formats for an exhilarating home theater entertainment experience.
  • The ALC889A provides support for 7.1 sound playback, plus 2 channels of independent stereo output (multiple streaming) through the front panel stereo outputs.

I just want to know if installing this Creative SoundBlaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio 24 bit 7.1 Channel card will improve the audio output. I have all the features like SPDIF and stuff that this card has built in to the motherboard but just wondering whether the audio quality will be better.

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The sound card is a great I hear. I know it takes the load off the cpu and gives great quality. Thats what it says in the computer magazines i read. (Maximum PC and CPU Magazine). I don't think that the card is supported in Mac. Thats what i remember from the HCL.

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The Extreme Audio isn't really an X-Fi card. It's just a rebadge of an old Audigy LE. You want either an X-Fi Xtreme Music (no longer produced) or Xtreme Gamer as the entry-level cards with the 'real' X-Fi chip and all the wizardry that entails.

 

You can't get a decent sound card in PCIe format yet.

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