Modified drivers for X-Fi sound cards.

[ukus]

In the game's audio options, X-Fi is selected, but as soon as initializing the game modules, it "knocks out" the driver, so it's useless. Selecting Realtek works without any problems but even if it is selected before opening the game, the x-fi stops working... I also tried disabling exclusive mode in Windows but that didn't work either.
As a Creative card user, I know that when the card stopped working due to some kind of conflict, Windows detected that the audio service had been cut off and worked erratically. Here it's different; Windows continues to function normally, along with YouTube and Foobar, but you can't hear anything from the X-Fi card.

Tonight, I tested extensively to see if there was a way to recover the audio without restarting the PC, but it wasn't possible, not even restarting the Windows Audio Services... Perhaps, as mentioned before, the anti-cheat system does something that overrides the driver. Cheers!

I tested it in all ways too, I tried with different drivers, the onboard works normally, the only way I managed to make it work was with a generic driver that Microsoft installs... but you can't use the microphone on it , it doesn't let you change the input

 

[Antes533]

In the game's audio options, X-Fi is selected, but as soon as initializing the game modules, it "knocks out" the driver

This is interesting, of course, but why do I have no problems with sound in this game? Perhaps the anti-cheat breaks some creative application. I only have the creative control panel installed. Not the creative launcher.

 

[RetroPC]

This is interesting, of course, but why do I have no problems with sound in this game? Perhaps the anti-cheat breaks some creative application. I only have the creative control panel installed. Not the creative launcher.

You say this doesn't happen to you? I know Fortnite has recently made changes to its audio engine. I downloaded the latest version yesterday from the Epic Games Store. Btw, I have the Creative console installed... what's your card and what version of drivers are you using?

 

[Antes533]

You say this doesn't happen to you? I know Fortnite has recently made changes to its audio engine. I downloaded the latest version yesterday from the Epic Games Store. Btw, I have the Creative console installed... what's your card and what version of drivers are you using?

Also the latest version from Epic Store. X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Champion, driver version 2.40.0019, Win11\24H2, only creative audio control panel is installed. Sound does not disappear. https://www.mediafire.com/file/8rnrz7vm3znv3qg/Запись+2025-05-12+145404.mp4/file
UPD...I installed the creative console...the sound doesn't disappear.

 

[RetroPC]

Also the latest version from Epic Store. X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Champion, driver version 2.40.0019, Win11\24H2, only creative audio control panel is installed. Sound does not disappear. https://www.mediafire.com/file/8rnrz7vm3znv3qg/Запись+2025-05-12+145404.mp4/file
UPD...I installed the creative console...the sound doesn't disappear.

How strange, apparently the problem is a combination of hardware and software... At the moment I'm using a 4770K with a Z97 Chipset, I'll change PCs soon and try again. btw, what PC do you have that card in?

 

[ukus]

How strange, apparently the problem is a combination of hardware and software... At the moment I'm using a 4770K with a Z97 Chipset, I'll change PCs soon and try again. btw, what PC do you have that card in?

i dont think is the combination, i have ryzen 5700x and x470 chipset, have more people in reddit with problem, i came from there

Antes533​

Until the recent update on May 4th, if I'm not mistaken, I was able to play for 10 minutes with sound, then everything disappeared, try leaving the game open for 15-20 minutes during the match to see if there is any problem

 

[Antes533]

Until the recent update on May 4th, if I'm not mistaken, I was able to play for 10 minutes with sound, then everything disappeared, try leaving the game open for 15-20 minutes during the match to see if there is any problem

I played for an hour, also tried different sound settings and sound card modes, but I still couldn’t get the sound to disappear.

I read on reddit and it turns out that not only creative has this problem, but also asus, as well as my model of sound card. I don't understand why everything is fine with me. The driver is version 2.40.0019 build from May 7, 2025

Can someone record the sound disappearing?

Maybe it makes sense to check the Windows settings? For example, high performance mode, disabling encryption, disabling hibernation mode.

 

[RetroPC]

Here I was able to record a video showing the problem, although the audio was never lost during the recording but it sounds very distorted (from minute 0:55 the audio is no longer heard for me). So it must be an issue related to the audio routing. I tried disabling the built-in audio, leaving only the X-Fi, and it didn't work...

Edit: Reupload Video.
saludos!

 

[Antes533]

Here I was able to record a video showing the problem, although the audio was never lost during the recording but it sounds very distorted (from minute 0:55 the audio is no longer heard for me). So it must be an issue related to the audio routing. I tried disabling the built-in audio, leaving only the X-Fi, and it didn't work...

saludos!

Video is not available due to copyright

 

[RetroPC]

Video is not available due to copyright

I have re-uploaded the video with edited audio.

 

[Antes533]

Conflicts with something.
Check in MSI utility v3 if there is a check box...if there is, you need to remove it

 

[RetroPC]

Check in MSI utility v3 if the

I don't use any utilities or tools supplied by the motherboard or peripherals, I manage everything from Windows :/

 

[Antes533]

I don't use any utilities or tools supplied by the motherboard or peripherals, I manage everything from Windows :/

You don't understand, the motherboard may indicate the wrong port for the card. Just check if there is a checkbox. This utility is not supplied with the motherboard.

 

[RetroPC]

Everything seems OK here, but there's another user who's having the same problem using a completely different setup than mine...

 

[ukus]

My motherboard is from Asus, would there be a place or program to see the log, and observe if any file on the drive or service is changed when opening the game?

 

[Antes533]

My motherboard is from Asus, would there be a place or program to see the log, and observe if any file on the drive or service is changed when opening the game?

You can view the error logs....in the search bar, type *event viewer*
Can you also see what it shows in msi utility v3?

Everything seems OK here

Your video card and sound card are on the same irq....that is, they are on the same line and can influence each other, but the built-in is on another line and does not intersect with the video card, which is already loading its line. My sound card, built-in sound and video card are on different lines.

Try disabling the audio driver of the video card.
Look at the error log in Windows

 

[ukus]

You can view the error logs....in the search bar, type *event viewer*
Can you also see what it shows in msi utility v3?


Your video card and sound card are on the same irq....that is, they are on the same line and can influence each other, but the built-in is on another line and does not intersect with the video card, which is already loading its line. My sound card, built-in sound and video card are on different lines.

Try disabling the audio driver of the video card.
Look at the error log in Windows

 

[Antes533]

Everything is fine in your system. The problem is on the part of the game developers. Because the loss of sound is also observed on other cards, such as Asus and others.

 

[ukus]

Everything is fine in your system. The problem is on the part of the game developers. Because the loss of sound is also observed on other cards, such as Asus and others.

There were people with an Asus sound card that were solved, the strange thing is that theirs didn't work, ours didn't, I don't know why

 

[Antes533]

There were people with an Asus sound card that were solved, the strange thing is that theirs didn't work, ours didn't, I don't know why

I will say that what is even stranger is that I have no problems with the sound in this game.

 

[SPDIF]

While you can use any driver with Win11 24H2 for old X-Fi card's with Core Isolation off, it's a big headache if you ever buy a new card or just want to use Core Isolation again!! Let me tell you, i needed some Aspirin for this, even the program here that's free for one time could not remove them completely. Almost had to reinstall windows, finally i had to use Power Shell command's to get that driver's out my system, oh my god. I don't want to think about it anymore...

But other then that, yes true they work good for your older card but with less security in Windows 11, remember that you did choose this option. But yeah if Creative would still make new drivers for this card, then can close their door's because they don't make money anymore, that is how the world works now. The people that work at Creative still have to get food on the table for their family too. You yourself would not like your company where you work closed their doors and you have no job anymore... Sigghh,

Now i use this card on an older rig but not connected to internet just for fun and games, and online streaming music only or read forums, that's safe. I even have older card's from Creative, i still use like the Audigy 4 on a system with Windows 7. I don't like to trash old stuff too if it still works. Thank god there are still drivers available if you want some adventure with old card's.

 

[ukus]

I didn't quite understand, old sound cards can't activate core isolation?

 

[Antes533]

I didn't quite understand, old sound cards can't activate core isolation?

With kernel isolation enabled, the x-fi driver will not work because it was no longer supported by the manufacturer when the kernel isolation feature appeared in Windows. But Audigy cards have a driver that supports this feature.

 

[ukus]

With kernel isolation enabled, the x-fi driver will not work because it was no longer supported by the manufacturer when the kernel isolation feature appeared in Windows. But Audigy cards have a driver that supports this feature.

Ah, I see, but what advantage is there in using kernel isolation? I see videos showing that performance is lost in games with it active

 

[RetroPC]

Ah, I see, but what advantage is there in using kernel isolation? I see videos showing that performance is lost in games with it active

It is a feature that improves system security, but it is not very useful for PC gaming, so it is best to disable it.