Monday, June 16th 2008

Auzentech Preps HDMI 1.3 PCI Express Audio Combo Card

Auzentech revealed today its non-downsampling, HDMI 1.3-native, PCI express audio combo card: Auzen X-Fi HomeTheater 7.1. The Auzen X-Fi HomeTheater 7.1 accepts video from either an internal or external connection, mixes it with digital audio, and outputs the combined video and lossless multichannel audio via a single HDMI 1.3 port. Moreover, the internal connection will exclusively support upcoming NVIDIA products, to create the ultimate in audio and visual entertainment.

The latest in a long line of breakthrough soundcards from Auzentech, the Auzen X-Fi HomeTheater 7.1 outputs a bitstream of high-definition, multichannel audio from Blu-ray or HD movies with no downsampling, to take full advantage of lossless digital audio formats such as Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio.

The Auzen X-Fi HomeTheater 7.1 has been designed around the latest Creative PCI Express X-Fi audio processor. For home theater enthusiasts, the processor includes HDMI 1.3 support and will feature Dolby Digital and DTS encoding for a single-cable connection to home theater systems. For gamers, the card leverages the power of the PCI Express-optimized X-Fi processor to deliver accelerated audio for improved game performance, with ultra-realistic EAX 5.0 effects and 3D positional audio.

"Creative is excited to work with Auzentech to deliver a true high-definition HDMI solution based on our latest PCI Express-based processor," said Steve Erickson, VP and GM of audio for Creative. "We have completely re-architected our X-Fi audio processor, optimizing it for the PCI Express bus. We've also made a significant achievement in customizing our audio technology to enable the highest quality lossless digital audio for HDMI, for a stunning HD digital entertainment experience."

"CyberLink provides the best in audio and video playback quality to deliver the ultimate movie experience on the PC," said Alice H. Chang, CEO of CyberLink. "Featuring HDMI version 1.3-enabed capabilities, PowerDVD will enable users to enjoy high definition cinema on their PCs. We are excited to partner with Auzentech to offer a true, uncompressed HD audio experience by employing our breakthrough technologies."

"At Auzentech we focus on bringing innovative products to market by listening to our end-users requests," said Stephane Bae, President of Auzentech, Inc. "By teaming up with Industry leaders Creative, NVIDIA, CyberLink and Silicon Image, end users and home theater enthusiasts will now be able to enjoy Blu-Ray or HD movies in their full glory."

The Auzen X-Fi HomeTheater 7.1 is made possible through cooperation between Auzentech, NVIDIA, CyberLink PowerDVD software, Silicon Image, and the Creative X-Fi chip development team.

Release of the Auzen X-Fi HomeTheater 7.1 is planned for Sept. of 2008.
Source: Auzentech
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30 Comments on Auzentech Preps HDMI 1.3 PCI Express Audio Combo Card

#26
btarunr
Editor & Senior Moderator
FatForesterMy desktop is at home so I can't check, but I got it in November 2005 so I'd assume a first revision. The only cards and news I've seen regarding the XtremeMusic have talked about 2mb of cache. Of course, most of that was around its initial release so it probably changed once it was transitioned over to OEMs.

After some googling I couldn't find anything.. the only info I found was talking about the 64mb vs. 2mb on the various models. Did you find anything?
I'd written a detailed atricle about that in my blog sometime back. In short, cards with the 2MB memory differ from the ones with 64MB in the only feature being AL_eaxram, an AL extension for X-RAM. The X-Fi Processor (CA20K1) is driven by a microcode that's stored in the memory, the microcode weighs about 1~1.5 MB, each time the OS loads the driver, the processor's (APU's) microcode (that's part of the driver) is transferred to this 2MB SDRAM bank. In Game Mode, the processor is activated, audio stack is diverted to the processor (which functions on the microcode stored on the bank). In cards with 64MB bank(s), apart from the microcode, the bank stores raw samples when an app calls AL_eaxram functions. The CA20K1 requires at least 2MB of onboard storage for this microcode. In Entertainment mode however, the OS does the usual route for processing audio, the system CPU processes audio, the CA20K1 acts as a audio controller for the DAC/ADC. The way the southbridge of your motherboard acts for the onboard CODEC. That explains how the OSS module sbxfi.so runs the card in Linux. The card is treated as just another HSP audio card.
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#27
Mussels
Freshwater Moderator
MilkyWayjust had to ask but why would a sound card need hdmi? i thought HDMI was for displays?
either way it looks like a good sound card but ive always had the impression that without good speakers a good soundcard is useless.
HDMI is for displays. displays with speakers :D

It gets audio and video over the one cable, a noble goal.
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#28
WarEagleAU
Bird of Prey
Here it is for the person asking on the other thread about the combo card :D
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#29
Steevo
Or you could just use a ATI card with built in 7.1, save a PCI slot and money.
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#30
Mussels
Freshwater Moderator
SteevoOr you could just use a ATI card with built in 7.1, save a PCI slot and money.
the difference is that these cards can encode analogue into 5.1/7.1, i think the AMD's only pass through digital audio (EG, a 5.1 game is 2.0 only, until its encoded) i am NOT sure on this, but its how digital audio works.
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