Sound Cards for Vista?

warcriminal2 · 08-21-2007, 06:48 AM

Im currently running windows vista ultimate 32 bit and would like to add a sound card to one of my open pci slots but I can’t seem to find any cards that are listed as “Vista compatible”.....has anyone had any luck using vista with a sound card? Any recommendations?

**Twisted_Firestarter** · 08-21-2007, 12:13 PM

Wish I could say differently but sound card support for Vista is crap. I have an Creative X-Fi sound card sitting here not being used because I got fed up with all the problems I was having. I'm using the onboard sound now.

Taking a quick glance at Creative's site I see that they have an unofficial Vista driver for the X-Fi, but it was released back in May and has these known issues:

This driver does not support the following:

Decoding of Dolby® Digital and DTS™ signals
DVD-Audio
DirectSound®-based EAX games
6.1 speaker mode
Applications from the original Sound Blaster X-Fi CD will not work with this download.

=Sarc= · 08-21-2007, 12:24 PM

I'm using the platinum X-Fi with YouPax drivers (search the official Creative forums for a link). It supports all the original software that should work like the audio console and entertainment center. Even the remote works now. I haven't tested the other features like DVD-Audio and digital signal decoding since I don't have the need for those features.

EAX has worked reliably for me. The ALchemy is free for X-Fi users and does a good job of getting EAX to work in older games. I tried it out in Raven Shield and got the desired effects. Although, I find most newer games don't need it since they use OpenAL instead of DirectSound.

I'm moderately satisfied with Creative sound cards. It sucks because I only got it for EAX. It was just that time when a sound card only supporting EAX2 wasn't good enough. If you like the EAX effects, you only have one choice.

**P8riot** · 08-21-2007, 12:25 PM

Yeah - what Twisted said.

But right now I am not having any issues with Vista 64 Home Premium and my X-Fi but it is hindered.

Acreo Aeneas · 08-22-2007, 11:35 AM

Hardware manufacturers are still up to their necks trying to fix compatible drivers for their hardware for Vista. So I wouldn't expect any "Vista compatible" sound cards for a few more months.

With that said, Creative and several other manufacturers have "beta" drivers that work for the most part on Vista.

08-21-2007, 06:48 AM	#1 (permalink)
warcriminal2 Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: norCAL Posts: 181	Sound Cards for Vista? Im currently running windows vista ultimate 32 bit and would like to add a sound card to one of my open pci slots but I can’t seem to find any cards that are listed as “Vista compatible”.....has anyone had any luck using vista with a sound card? Any recommendations? __________________ Warcriminal chillin n' killin wit authoritaaaaa!!

08-21-2007, 12:13 PM	#2 (permalink)
Twisted_Firestarter Join Date: May 2003 Location: 90064 Posts: 933	Re: Sound Cards for Vista? Wish I could say differently but sound card support for Vista is crap. I have an Creative X-Fi sound card sitting here not being used because I got fed up with all the problems I was having. I'm using the onboard sound now. Taking a quick glance at Creative's site I see that they have an unofficial Vista driver for the X-Fi, but it was released back in May and has these known issues: This driver does not support the following: Decoding of Dolby® Digital and DTS™ signals DVD-Audio DirectSound®-based EAX games 6.1 speaker mode Applications from the original Sound Blaster X-Fi CD will not work with this download. __________________ Twisted Firestarter a.k.a \|TG\| Harkonian

08-21-2007, 12:24 PM	#3 (permalink)
=Sarc= Join Date: May 2003 Location: Ottawa, Canada Posts: 4,600	Re: Sound Cards for Vista? I'm using the platinum X-Fi with YouPax drivers (search the official Creative forums for a link). It supports all the original software that should work like the audio console and entertainment center. Even the remote works now. I haven't tested the other features like DVD-Audio and digital signal decoding since I don't have the need for those features. EAX has worked reliably for me. The ALchemy is free for X-Fi users and does a good job of getting EAX to work in older games. I tried it out in Raven Shield and got the desired effects. Although, I find most newer games don't need it since they use OpenAL instead of DirectSound. I'm moderately satisfied with Creative sound cards. It sucks because I only got it for EAX. It was just that time when a sound card only supporting EAX2 wasn't good enough. If you like the EAX effects, you only have one choice. __________________ JO Guides & Tutorials Team Element - It's who you game with.

08-21-2007, 12:25 PM	#4 (permalink)
P8riot Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Bradenton, FL Age: 38 Posts: 2,820	Re: Sound Cards for Vista? Yeah - what Twisted said. But right now I am not having any issues with Vista 64 Home Premium and my X-Fi but it is hindered. __________________ Age of Conan: Tharashk (Taxiarchos), Thaumiel (alt), guild Ars Tactika - Cimmeria XBox360 GamerTag: P8riotOne (but it might also be my son playing - he can game with TG tho!)

08-22-2007, 11:35 AM	#5 (permalink)
Acreo Aeneas Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: DePaul University (Chicago) Age: 22 Posts: 4,547	Re: Sound Cards for Vista? Hardware manufacturers are still up to their necks trying to fix compatible drivers for their hardware for Vista. So I wouldn't expect any "Vista compatible" sound cards for a few more months. With that said, Creative and several other manufacturers have "beta" drivers that work for the most part on Vista. __________________ Acreo_Aeneas Former 9th MID Member Current Obsessions: Netbooks and other low-cost, small, and portable PCs.

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