Creative Expands X-Fi Titanium Lineup

[btarunr]

Creative has expanded its Sound Blaster (SB) X-Fi Lineup with two new entries. The Titanium series marked Creative's entry into true PCI-Express hardware-accelerated audio. The Titanium series cards are said to have a tweaked CA-20K audio processing core that has native PCI-Express interconnects to the rest of the system. It is also said to run a lot cooler than its older variant featured in some of the PCI versions of Sound Blaster X-Fi.

First up, is SB X-Fi Titanium. This vanilla version of the card features the same PCB as the other variants. It is best put as the successor to X-Fi Xtreme Gamer. It has the same audio processor, DAC and OPAMP circuit, just that the X-RAM buffer isn't provided. In its place, a low-capacity memory chip that keeps the CA-20K operational is present. That shouldn't in any way affect its function or quality, except that the X-RAM feature which will be lacking. The card lacks an EMI shield as well. This card has been put on sale for weeks now, on popular etailers such as Newegg. It carries a price tag of around US $100.

Next is the card we are interested in, the card is SB X-Fi Titanium Professional Audio. In many respects, the card is close to being identical to the X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Professional. The card lacks the Fatal1ty branding, perhaps to give it an audiophile card's look. It bundles 3.5mm to RCA converter cables. The software bundle includes Creative Media Toolbox, a content creation software kit that takes advantage of the card's Audio Creation Mode. Other than that, nothing else advertised seems to differentiate it from the Fatal1ty card. It has been published on Creative's Hong Kong website here, and is priced at approximately US $154.



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[ShadowFold]

Might get one of these for my HTPC! Onboard just doesn't cut it some times!

 

[alexp999]

Creative are still chucking out sound cards? IMO they should sort out the driver problems before putting a load more hardware out that wont run properly :shadedshu . The amount of people with problems that get fixed by simply disabling or yanking a Creative X-Fi

 

[Polarman]

You said it.

 

[btarunr]

I'm buying that "Professional" card

 

[imperialreign]

I had seen both of those up for sale on Creative's shop a few weeks back, but thought nothing of it.

I do wonder, though, if they intend to completely replace the "X-Fi" series with the "X-Fi Titanium" series . . . it's sure starting to look that way.

 

[TheGuruStud]

Haha, creative. I just bought a Xonar D2. You can cram these titanium cards right up your loose tail pipe.

 

[WarEagleAU]

They arent bad cards, but I do agree. Sort out the driver issue and stop duct taping it. Its pissing off your consumer base.

 

[INSTG8R]

You know I have had issues with my Fata1ity over the years but TBH overall there were all minor annoyances than major issues.
It's the best sound card I have ever owned. I will continue to use it as long as there is driver support for it.(Tho I have to admit a PCI-E version is rather appealing tho)

 

[FreedomEclipse]

Creative are still chucking out sound cards? IMO they should sort out the driver problems before putting a load more hardware out that wont run properly :shadedshu . The amount of people with problems that get fixed by simply disabling or yanking a Creative X-Fi

I cant agree more.

Due to their slackyness i vow never to buy another creative product again - this also includes their MP3 players & any of their otherwise quality products. I dont think they seem to understand how much they piss existing customers off & put off future customers. I WONT be recommending their products to ANYONE (which might seem pointless as taking away a few potential product sales wont even put a dent in Creative's 'do-i-give-a-shit' O meter - but a soundcard that actually works properly instead of being bugged out straight off the concept design board for most of its user friendly life is actually a pretty good thing....)

 

[buggalugs]

Do it make beepy sounds?

 

[btarunr]

I had seen both of those up for sale on Creative's shop a few weeks back, but thought nothing of it.

I do wonder, though, if they intend to completely replace the "X-Fi" series with the "X-Fi Titanium" series . . . it's sure starting to look that way.

Word is that this was going to be called X-Fi 2. They were about to use "tweaked processor", CMSS2, DD / DTS pass + native PCI-E interface as selling points. But then, each series has to come with a new EAX set, plus the DK driver expose played important role in setting this as Titanium.

 

[TheGuruStud]

Word is that this was going to be called X-Fi 2. They were about to use "tweaked processor", CMSS2, DD / DTS pass + native PCI-E interface as selling points. But then, each series has to come with a new EAX set, plus the DK driver expose played important name in setting this as Titanium.

LOL, damn nvidia.... I mean creative