Creative a bust?

[imported_BikeDude]

Originally posted by: WilsonTarbuckles
Articles suggest this was a move to protect content against (http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/f...x.php?showtopic=50695).

Which articles?

MS own guys say they did this to improve the audio stack and avoid buggy (ie Creative) drivers.

http://blogs.msdn.com/larryost...2005/09/19/471346.aspx

Vista has pushed many drivers (not just audio) to user mode for good reasons: Stability. There are a handful of guys out there that are mentally capable of writing good kernel mode device drivers. Creative have never bothered hiring any of them, and recently it seems nVidia no longer bothers hiring the good guys either...

There's nothing new here. Creative was caught by surprise when Win2000 shipped. They were flabbergasted when people using multiple CPUs complained about frequent crashes... And people with "old" Creative cards can always upgrade to the newest model in case they'd like to play around with a new version of Windows.

My first soundcard was the Soundblaster Pro. I've had AWE32 and the first Audigy, but even though I'd love to have full EAX support (cause it seems to be the hottest gaming audio API around these days), I just can't stand to deal with their lousy no-brain organisation.

 

[Magnulus]

The new X-Fi Gamer with the heatsink on the DPS is a good card. It is perfect for gaming or listening to most music. It's not a home theater card but how many gamers are using their setup in a home theater? Very few I'd guess.

 

[Sigismundo]

Originally posted by: jaqie
HT Omega has been the OEM chip maker for just about all sound cards high end and low end (except creative) for many years, and now they are getting into selling cards directly. Do a bit of homework, and you will see they offer some serious contenders for high perf sound cards. If I had the cash to spend, I would definitely get one for my gaming box.

Originally posted by: Sigismundo
If ANY company made a Vista 64 compatable sound card with decent 3d sound support I'd happily jump ship.

Time to put your bathing suit on.

Where would the 3d support be there? as best as I can research it doesn't support 3d sound on eax titles...aka all games current 3d sound ability since a3d is dead.

 

[jaqie]

3D sound to me is 5.1 channels. it supports those in games juuuust fine (ex:hl2) EAX isn't what most people think it is.