Customer Reviews

X-fi Xtreme Audio Pci Express 24BIT Soun Blaster-varpak

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Download the correct and current version of the audio drivers from the manufacturer's web site. Important: after you get through the installation process open the control panel for the sound card and configure your sound system setup (i.e. specify a 2 speaker system if that's what you have). It defaults to a 5.1 speaker setup setting which can produce unusual results when you are outputting to a 2.1 speaker system.

I needed an optical output for audio because the sound circuit on the motherboard was very noisy. This card provided the outputs I needed and superb sound quality.

I needed a Digital Optical Audio Output for my 7.1 Onkyo Receiver, this card provided it perfectly. After adjusting the settings on the dashboard to my preference, I was blown away at the clarity. You simply can't beat it for the price.
Keep in mind though that you will have to go into the dash and play with the EQ (I customize mine). ALSO for those of us who use more than just headphones, Under your X-FI CMSS-3D mode, select "Stereo Surround" over the Xpand. It eliminates much of the headache with surround sound systems.
The rest of setting it up doesn't take long, even if youre not that good with computers.

Though this card isn't perfect I give it a 5 Star, because you simply can't beat it for the price. If you have a decent speaker system, you won't be disappointed.

just recived the product and will review in 2 weeks top.
package- very good oem product but recived everything w/cd
product- creative but not X-Fi card, it does encode X-fi software.

will give review in 2 weeks. 10-7-2011(10-21-2011)

Sounds OK. Disappointed that it's not really an X-fi and not really 24 bit. I've already replaced it. Wanna buy mine?

I had to return this board after having issues with it. The board caused a constant humming sound with different speakers, I've installed sound cards before, but this was a joke. Maybe it was just a defective board, but I'll never know because I'm not buying another one.

The only reason I purchased this card is to get treble and bass controls as my motherboard's onboard Realtek doesn't have it. Amazingly enough, this sound card doesn't have it either! I'm surprised that even the onboard card doesn't have it, but this SoundBlaster one doesn't have this simple feature either? Incredible! Also, the sound is muffled. I'm returning this and going back to my better sounding onboard sound.

I recently had to replace my PC, and since my new PC has only PCI Express slots I was not able to use the X-Fi Extreme Gamer from my old computer with PCI slots. I thought the X-fi Xtreme Audio PCI Express 24BIT Sound Blaster-varpak would be close to the quality of the X-Fi Extreme Gamer. What a disappointment. This new sound card is only marginally better than the built-in sound card that came with my new HP 6620f PC. What would be a better replacement?

Before I purchased the card after researching the Creative web site for linux drivers. The X-FI card was specifically mentioned. on the site as being usable with the drivers. When I attempted to compile the linux driver they was an error. (Note the driver should compile even without the hardware being present). When I sent I query to Creative's web site I was told that it was an oem card to contact the Computer manufacturer fro the drivers, and they only supported windows XP and vista. I am returning the card as it is useless without the drivers. In addition I will be very careful about purchasing a CREATIVE product in the future. From my response from creative customer support they neither had the desire nor the knowledge to help me.
I must say that Amazon and the vendor are not at fault here as support should be offered by the manufacturer not the retailer. Also if they are not prepared to support the code don't put it on the website.

The purchase of this sound card was mainly to use TeamSpeak.. The sound section is okay. The use of a microphone is NOT supported, unless you buy an extra component, toshlink to minitoshlink. When I buy a sound card I expect it to support a microphone, without buying extra stuff. No where in there discription of the item does Creative Labs mention it. I went to a computor store and they do not know anything about it. SUPPORT STINKS! After two weeks of conversation with them, Back and forth, do they mention that you need this extra item. The toshlink to minitoslink is also needed for some of there other cards, made by creative labs.
If you want to use a microphone, I suggest that you stay away from creative labs. Amazon, is as guilty as creative labs, they just want to sell an item, no where in there discription of the sound card do they mention that you need extra hardware to make it a microphone conpatable. This card is total junk.