Vista - Looking for a Vista compatible soundcard

Hai hai forumworld

I've recently been considering to purchase an actual soundcard instead of the Realtek onboard chip I got. Currently its this 'High Definition Audio'. I used to work on a laptop with a similair soundcard in it, but that was on Windows XP SP2. Where it actually provided some fun things like a graphic equalizer. Nowadays I'm using a computer with Vista and sadly it's lacking that equalizer.

Recently I bought some very nice headphones so I was thinking to get a soundcard with it which would match the headphones in quality. So I've been looking around and noticed a lot of Creative X-Fi cards. I figured it'd be an idea to purchase the 'Xtreme Gamer' edition of it but it also appears many people got issues with the drivers from Creative for Vista? Read a lot of reviews from people who weren't satisfied with it.

I was hoping maybe these forums could help me out in advising before actually spending money. Things I'd like would be:

-Good quality Soundcard
-Compatible and functional drivers for Vista 64bit
-Not toooo pricy
-Additional software for a graphic equalizer or similair, perhaps bass enhancing/boosting options

My apologies if I'm asking for way too much ^^

Hi Igsaa, Welcome to the Forums

I'm running Realtek drivers on Vista x86 and it comes with Realtek Audio manager which gives all sorts of extras including equalisation not sure if this is available with the x64 driver (or codec) you may want to check you have the latest drivers before you buy a new card. also If you right click on the speaker icon in the notification area and click playback devices you may find extra options there. It may well be that x64 is not yet supported as well as x86 but may be worth a try

Thanks Barman : )

I indeed have the latest realtek drivers. It seems to have some 'bass enhance' options in the Realtek HD Audio configuration panel but that seems to mess up the sound more than actually 'enhancing' it for me. As well as the other extra options in sound settings don't seem to make much of a good difference.

I've been trying to use SRS Audio Sandbox but it didn't work properly, and sadly wasn't able to find any other possible equalizers. At least, nothing that the Realtek Equalizer managed to do in Windows XP.

I do think I'd like a new soundcard, surely the quality would be better in any case?

Hi igsaa,

yes the quality will I guess be dependent on how much you want to pay

a quick Google found this Site which shows a range and may be a good place to start at least.

I have found that the realtek On Board quality is dependent on what hardware it's attached to

On my desktop with cheap ASROCK Mobo sound is fine but on the acer laptop it's awful, full of distortion except when you turn all the enhancements off. and that's not with the built in speakers but connected to the same set as the desktop.

Good luck hope you find something suitable

Thanks for your help : )

Apparantly a friend has the Creative X-fi Xtreme Gamer card thingy and seems to have no issues under Vista with it. Lots of fun software to help the sound with as well apparantly so I'm leaning to giving it a try.

As for now, I don't have any issues with music really. Using Foobar2000's equalizer and some other small DSP's to make the sound come out beautifully. It's just games for example that make it appear as if there's no bass whatsoever.

Besides that, I do really value high quality sound a lot so I figure having something else than onboard would've been a necesary step to take in the first place ;D

Again thanks for your help : )

I had the X-Fi Fatality Gamer's Ed. card and tried to use it under x64 Vista (switching from XP x32), but has crackle noises in all sounds: games, music and OS... Trying multiple drivers, installing in different orders, including Physx, with no luck, including Creative's lack of support.
I purchased the ASUS Xonar D2 and I am happy with it's performance under x64 OS.
Clean install, small driver size and lot's of added applications included with card's bundled software, and all the cables you will ever need to connect to almost anything audio.
I highly recommend it, although it is pricy @ just under $200 US, which is in same range as Creative's X-Fi series.

Oh hm, I hadn't seen that card anywhere yet. I was very much in doubt about the Creative x-Fi series considering people's bad experiences. Have looked up a bit about the Xonar and it seems to be valued by its nice support.

Definitely gonna try that I think.. besides, the plugs have shiny lights!! LIGHTS! to see in the dark! .. >_>

Ahem, right.. Thanks a lot for your help : )

I went for PCI version, since GTX260 hogged up PCIe space on Mobo, but same chips in both. NewEgg has them, with mail-in rebates:

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y99...narchoices.jpg

Like I said, I was really dissatisfied with Creative's lack of support, when so many posts around the 'net' about bad drivers and compatibility issues under x64 OS's; Vista and Linux.
I've had it for third day now, without a single issue what-so-ever.
Good Luck.

I used a X-Fi with Vista 64 and it cracks and pops in games and music. I would not recommend this card if you are running Vista.

You might want to consider HT Omega. I just purchased a Claro Plus and it's so much better sounding than the X-Fi it replaced. Newegg has the Claro+ on sale for $154.99 at the moment.

Check out HT Omega - The Next Generation in Audio. for more info. They just released two more cards based on the C-Media Oxygen HD CMI8788 chipset.

Thanks a lot guys,

Wow, I never ran into these cards. Everywhere I went I only heard Creative. But it seems there's definitely more reliable choices. This is exactly the information I've been hoping for : )

It's 'good' to know more Vista users can confirm the X-Fi's aren't recommended. Removes all consideration towards buying one of them . I'll be purchasing a new soundcard in about two weeks, so until then I'm open for more suggestions ;D

Thanks a lot, again!