Need sound card recommendation

[Sheryl]

I am using W7 Home Premium 64 on a Dell XPS 600. The sound card is a Creative SoundBlaster X-Fi Xtreme Music. The sound is awful (when I even HAVE sound). Crackling and popping and then stopping altogether. Looking on the Creative site, it seems the most recent drivers are 2006 (I know, I don't have the most recent computer!).

If I opt for a new sound card, what should I get?

 

[chev65]

Yep those Creative drivers pretty much suck. My son gave up on his X-fi card also. The problem with Creative drivers is that once they get messed up you need to go in and find all remnants of the old driver and remove them, just uninstalling isn't enough with Creative drivers.

I wouldn't trade my Asus Xonar D2 for anything.

 

[SlackerITGuy]

I am using W7 Home Premium 64 on a Dell XPS 600. The sound card is a Creative SoundBlaster X-Fi Xtreme Music. The sound is awful (when I even HAVE sound). Crackling and popping and then stopping altogether. Looking on the Creative site, it seems the most recent drivers are 2006 (I know, I don't have the most recent computer!).

If I opt for a new sound card, what should I get?

Budget?

 

[Sheryl]

I'm not a gamer (well, I play all sorts of solitaire and word games, but...). All I want is to play music through iTunes and have my computer give me all the proper alerts and so forth. Also hear the video on YouTube. So I don't need much. Under $100 would be good. Maybe up to $150 if it's really necessary.

Would the native sound on my motherboard be sufficient?

 

[chev65]

If you don't have a good set of speakers then the onboard sound would be fine. With good speakers and soundcard you would have much better sound though. You get what you pay for really.

 

[SlackerITGuy]

If you don't have a good set of speakers then the onboard sound would be fine. With good speakers and soundcard you would have much better sound though. You get what you pay for really.

This.

 

[jimbo45]

I'm not a gamer (well, I play all sorts of solitaire and word games, but...). All I want is to play music through iTunes and have my computer give me all the proper alerts and so forth. Also hear the video on YouTube. So I don't need much. Under $100 would be good. Maybe up to $150 if it's really necessary.

Would the native sound on my motherboard be sufficient?

Usually most sound cards on current mobos are OK -- especially if you are only using it for Itunes -- pretty horribly compressed music which will sound AWFUL if passed into a really high quality "Old Fashioned Hi Fi" amplifier in any case.

I'd actually look at a streaming solution as well -- but that's another issue.

For Itunes any built in audio system will be MORE than adequate. Don't even THINK of spending 150 USD on this --save your money.

If your computer speakers are junk - for around 35 USD you'll be able to pick up some speakers which will do the job just fine.

For decent Classical Music/ symphony Orchestras, good DVD sounds and games other issues apply but for your case stick to the native sound card.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[Sheryl]

Thanks. I'll give that a try and see. My computer is not new, so maybe it won't work so well, in which case, I'll ask again!

 

[Joshatdot]

Latest X-Fi XtremeMusic I see at Creative is June 26th 2009:

Driver
Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi series driver 2.18.0013
Filesize : 54.1 MB Download
Release date : 26 Jun 09

Creative Worldwide Support

 

[Sheryl]

Yeah, I have that driver. But I still am having no luck. I currently have no sound at all. Onboard sound didn't even work.

This is just the straw that broke the camel's back. I'm thinking of getting a Mac and the hell with it.