Announcement

**knirfie** · 10 October 2003, 13:34

that's exactly my main problem with getting "another" Creative... are any people here having a lot of issues with the audigy 2?

**Indiana** · 11 October 2003, 06:35

Originally posted by K6-III
A very good reason to go with MAudio for Athlon 64 is that they claim that they'll have AMD64 drivers upon launch of WinXP-64bit

Which they'll sorely need because of the missing Hardware-acceleration...

**Indiana** · 11 October 2003, 06:36

Originally posted by knirfie

3. any soundcard featuring the Envy24HT chip is off, because i dont want unnecesairy CPU utilization.

Then have a look at the 6Fire 24/96 LT. GREAT price/perfromance ratio. (It's soundquality-wise the same as the "big" 6Fire, only lacks the nice front-module.
I've seen the 6Fire24/96 LT for 75€....

**knirfie** · 11 October 2003, 09:59

Does anybody have either a Hercules Gamesurround Fortissimo III or a Digifire 7.1

these are the current choices:

Code:

Creative Audigy II (bulk)      €65  
Creatuve Audigy II ZS (retail) €78   
Hercules Fortissimo            €42 
Hercules Digifire 7.1          €54
Terratec DMX 6fire 24/96LT     €129
Terratec DMX Xfire 1024        €50
Terratec Aureon 5.1 Fun        €44 (including headset ^_^)
Terratec Aureon 7.1 Space      €75

**K6-III** · 11 October 2003, 10:12

Originally posted by Indiana
Which they'll sorely need because of the missing Hardware-acceleration...

Not quite. All drivers for any piece of hardware on WinXP-64bit have to be rewritten for AMD64 drivers. So if you want it to even work...you'll want those drivers!

az · 11 October 2003, 10:25

IF you want to run 64bit native, isn't it? Won't ALL your applications have to be 64 bit also?

AZ

**Topha** · 11 October 2003, 10:31

I would go for the Athlon 64, especially when youre interested in gaming. And you will be able to get 64bit as soon as its available without needing to upgrade again. also you will support 64 development, because the more people buy A64, the faster industry will try to adopt it

DVD RW: either wait for dual layer 8x writers or get the LG Super Multi DVD Drive (

, thats what it says on the manual) GSA 4040B, supports DVD-RAM and has great medium compatibility. Im very happy with it.

Im thinking about that Zalman PS as well, because my next video card will require some extra Wattage.

I wish I could afford a whole new system, as it is i will have to save another month just to get my video card up to date

**knirfie** · 11 October 2003, 12:21

how long till dual-layer goodness is coming to a shop near me?

**William** · 11 October 2003, 13:11

Dual layer nightmare you mean (for various reasons I think dual layer is one of the stupidest things in the DVD format; but that's just me).

An honest answer says about two years, currentley, it's being demonstrated in prototype units. Very expensive prototype units. Then to make it to the store near you, it has to be speeded up to maybe 4x (data density is slightly less on dual layer discs) so consumers will buy it.

I've left the best until last however... We get the next round of the format wars! "My dual layer is more compatible than your dual layer <blows rasberry>". Probably intersperesed with comments about their Blue format as well.

But remember I don't like dual layer DVD; so it might not be that bad.

**Indiana** · 11 October 2003, 13:25

Originally posted by knirfie
Does anybody have either a Hercules Gamesurround Fortissimo III or a Digifire 7.1

these are the current choices:

Code:

Creative Audigy II (bulk) €65 Creatuve Audigy II ZS (retail) €78 Hercules Fortissimo €42 Hercules Digifire 7.1 €54 Terratec DMX 6fire 24/96LT €129 Terratec DMX Xfire 1024 €50 Terratec Aureon 5.1 Fun €44 (including headset ^_^) Terratec Aureon 7.1 Space €75

Damn, the 6FireLT is expensive in the Netherlands!!

At this price-level, I'd take either the AudigyII bulk if you can live with Creatives absolutely crappy drivers or head out for the Terratec Aureon7.1 space - the latter has nearly equivalent hardware components to the M-Audio 7.1 Revolution, that means it should have the same good soundquality, but it also features the ENVY24-HT (which you said, you don't want...)

**X-Caliber** · 11 October 2003, 23:26

As for power supplies and cases, I would go with PC POWER & COOLING (510) and a Lian-LI PC60USB. I know this hasn't been talked about above, but it is important. ALso consider the M-Audio Delta 410, which is supernice for both audio playback (movies with 8 channel sorround sound, and 96kHZ audio playback via DVD audio (2 channel only). I wouldn't bother with a creative sound card; most of their stuff is junk, and they eat their competition instead of trying to build better products (remember Aureal!!!). That company is pure evil, stay away! I would say the same for Microsoft too, but we really can't avoid them. One more point, have you looked at the new widescreen laptops? I saw an HP one in the store, and it has a full size keyboard as well!!! You probably aren't looking for laptops, but this thing is really a portable desktop. I just recently rebuilt my system with Dual Tualatins, but after playing with this HP in the store, I feel that I made a mistake. Since you are building a new system, it's just something to consider.

**K6-III** · 12 October 2003, 06:35

Originally posted by az
IF you want to run 64bit native, isn't it? Won't ALL your applications have to be 64 bit also?

AZ

Nope, it is if you want to use WinXP-64 at all.

az · 12 October 2003, 06:55

Thanks for the info

Still, I'd hold off until the 939 pin A64FXs are there. WinXP 64 still won't be out by then, probably.

AZ

**knirfie** · 12 October 2003, 12:01

Originally posted by az

Oh yes, and I think you can do both cheaper and quieter than a Zalman PSU.

AZ

Which one would you recommend then?

**knirfie** · 12 October 2003, 12:06

Originally posted by X-Caliber
As for power supplies and cases, I would go with PC POWER & COOLING (510) and a Lian-LI PC60USB. I know this hasn't been talked about above, but it is important. ALso consider the M-Audio Delta 410, which is supernice for both audio playback (movies with 8 channel sorround sound, and 96kHZ audio playback via DVD audio (2 channel only). I wouldn't bother with a creative sound card; most of their stuff is junk, and they eat their competition instead of trying to build better products (remember Aureal!!!). That company is pure evil, stay away! I would say the same for Microsoft too, but we really can't avoid them. One more point, have you looked at the new widescreen laptops? I saw an HP one in the store, and it has a full size keyboard as well!!! You probably aren't looking for laptops, but this thing is really a portable desktop. I just recently rebuilt my system with Dual Tualatins, but after playing with this HP in the store, I feel that I made a mistake. Since you are building a new system, it's just something to consider.

I'm still looking for a nice case, Lian-Li's are a little too expensive for my taste, and i need to be able to mount the 120mm fan and radiator somewhere. Haven't been able to find the PSU anywhere.

A laptop sounds nice, but since i dont really need mobility, I'd rather go for a desktop. +too expensive for what i'd want.

Announcement

New system (recommendations)

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment