True or False: X-Fi extreme gamer cards boost performance 15%? Answer here!

I'd say it boosts performance by a frame or two, but that's not why you buy it. It sounds MILES better than onboard and I wouldn't game, watch movies, listen to music, etc, without it. i have the xtremegamer btw (got it for $50 :D)Staryoshi87

Where?! :D

I saw one online for around $80 and I was going to get a Logitech X-540 to go with it. :D

highly doubt it will if you have a good enough processor...simardbrad

Gotcha. So we can put all these "boost performance" rumors to rest. ;)

It should help as it leaves less things for your cpu to deal with. The real benefit is the sound quality you get with the card and a nice set of speakers.FLAMEINSANE

You're right. I'll most likely buy an X-Fi extreme gamer sound card($80) along with Logitech X-540 ($80-99). I read that the onboard sound card hogs some of the PC usage. I'll just get it anyways, the sounds should be nice. :)

[QUOTE="FLAMEINSANE"]It should help as it leaves less things for your cpu to deal with. The real benefit is the sound quality you get with the card and a nice set of speakers.Elann2008

You're right. I'll most likely buy an X-Fi extreme gamer sound card($80) along with Logitech X-540 ($80-99). I read that the onboard sound card hogs some of the PC usage. I'll just get it anyways, the sounds should be nice. :)

it used to make a fair difference but now the mobs have dedicated sound chips it really makes no difference

[QUOTE="Elann2008"]

[QUOTE="FLAMEINSANE"]It should help as it leaves less things for your cpu to deal with. The real benefit is the sound quality you get with the card and a nice set of speakers.imprezawrx500

You're right. I'll most likely buy an X-Fi extreme gamer sound card($80) along with Logitech X-540 ($80-99). I read that the onboard sound card hogs some of the PC usage. I'll just get it anyways, the sounds should be nice. :)

it used to make a fair difference but now the mobs have dedicated sound chips it really makes no difference

In sound quality you mean? Or performance. Hmmm. Here's the thing. I have to get another set of speakers anyways because I'll be moving my HDTV to a new TV set and I'll need speakers for either my HDTV setup or my PC desktop setup. I only have a set of speakers atm. Do you think I should get the X-FI sound card or ditch it entirely and save $80-90 bucks? Your call buddy, I trust your advice. :)

Manufactures will put anything on the box lol

I've tried both my onboard and XtremeGamer, basically no difference in sound and performance. However on older motherboards I might believe there is a small difference.

Creative drivers are a pain though, I tried the latest beta drivers on vista 64-bit and found out theres an issue with cmss 3D and the 64-bit version of vista. Tried to uninstall them and install the current official drivers and it wouldn't let me, pops up with an error saying it's found newer drivers on the system. All sorts of software like driver cleaner, driver sweeper etc. did nothing, had to reinstall the OS.....love creative.

funny thing is that a few months back you hated creative and now its the N1 choice for Soundcards :roll:

any way i did almost buy one but i didnt and it was an awesome offer 54$ 8)

well, all i got is a 20$ sound blaster audigy SE, (onboard is dead) and it sounds MUCH better than onboard...GTR2addict

What motherboard do you have? As a general rule, the modern onboard sound is better than cheap sound cards.

I actually tried the Sound Blaster Audigy SE on my rig, just for GTA:SA, and I gotta say, I did not notice any difference between the sound. So either my ears are not as good as yours, or you onboard sound was not as good as mine.

But if your sound went out maybe it was sorta bugged from the beginning.

TO THE OP: I would just get the new speakers for now, if you are unsatisfied with how they sound, then I would upgrade to a sound card. It is just amazing how far onboard sound has come over the last few years.

hmmm 1 word....NO !!

but they do increase fps by 1~4 only, not 15% increase

[QUOTE="Elann2008"]

[QUOTE="FLAMEINSANE"]It should help as it leaves less things for your cpu to deal with. The real benefit is the sound quality you get with the card and a nice set of speakers.imprezawrx500

You're right. I'll most likely buy an X-Fi extreme gamer sound card($80) along with Logitech X-540 ($80-99). I read that the onboard sound card hogs some of the PC usage. I'll just get it anyways, the sounds should be nice. :)

it used to make a fair difference but now the mobs have dedicated sound chips it really makes no difference

true,mobo onboard sound has really improved and it can match expensive sound cards

and btw you can never get a 15% increase in you performance out of it, not even 1% ,its just another way of cheap advertisement

[QUOTE="GTR2addict"]well, all i got is a 20$ sound blaster audigy SE, (onboard is dead) and it sounds MUCH better than onboard...opamando

What motherboard do you have? As a general rule, the modern onboard sound is better than cheap sound cards.

I actually tried the Sound Blaster Audigy SE on my rig, just for GTA:SA, and I gotta say, I did not notice any difference between the sound. So either my ears are not as good as yours, or you onboard sound was not as good as mine.

But if your sound went out maybe it was sorta bugged from the beginning.

TO THE OP: I would just get the new speakers for now, if you are unsatisfied with how they sound, then I would upgrade to a sound card. It is just amazing how far onboard sound has come over the last few years.

Sweet. Thanks man. Yeah, I'll save the $80-90 bucks and just get speakers instead. I need another set of speakers anyways. :)

Well if I can get mine working again (Check my thread :) ) I did a stress test and it upped my FPS from 39 to 45 in HL2 and upped it in BF2 by 7 so yeah it's done really well. Though...I can't tell the difference between the Onboard and the SCard.

I have the Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtremegamer (say taht 3 times fast)

[QUOTE="imprezawrx500"][QUOTE="Elann2008"]

[QUOTE="FLAMEINSANE"]It should help as it leaves less things for your cpu to deal with. The real benefit is the sound quality you get with the card and a nice set of speakers.Elann2008

You're right. I'll most likely buy an X-Fi extreme gamer sound card($80) along with Logitech X-540 ($80-99). I read that the onboard sound card hogs some of the PC usage. I'll just get it anyways, the sounds should be nice. :)

it used to make a fair difference but now the mobs have dedicated sound chips it really makes no difference

In sound quality you mean? Or performance. Hmmm. Here's the thing. I have to get another set of speakers anyways because I'll be moving my HDTV to a new TV set and I'll need speakers for either my HDTV setup or my PC desktop setup. I only have a set of speakers atm. Do you think I should get the X-FI sound card or ditch it entirely and save $80-90 bucks? Your call buddy, I trust your advice. :)

in performance sure dedicated sounds better but hardly improves your frame rate in games

It depends on your setup. But yes, offloading processes onto soundcards will help on low end systems. My personal experience is that it's a nice little upgrade and provides great sound and ability to change sound effects on the fly. It's also helpful if you switch your sound equipment...speakers vs. headphones like I do. I have saved profiles for my headphones and speakers so I get the most out of each hardware setup.