Sound Blaster: Live MP3 or X-Gamer, which for DVDs?

[Mistah Magik]

I am interested in updating and buying a new soundcard for my system. I have a Creative Labs PCI128 and want to upgrade to either a SBL: Mp3 or X-Gamer. Which would be better for DVDs and Surround Sound for Cambridge FPS-1000 speakers running Cinemaster 99? From what I understand, the only difference between the two is software. Is this true?

Mistah Magik

[Livius]

Apparently it's true. Anyway, you can find a more complete answer at www.3dsounddurge.com, where they have in-depth reviews of both SBL MP3, XGamer, Player 1024 and many other interesting cards. (I have recently taken back my Live! Value which was a huge hassle for me and bought a Guillemot Maxi Sound Fortissimo, which works very well with 2-speaker 3D, 4-speaker 3D and 4-speaker DVD with down-mixing).

[Livius]

Sorry for the misspelling, it's www.3dsoundsurge.com, or www.3dss.com.

[Kruzin]

Since Matrox does not make sound cards, and this is the Matrox Hardware forum, you can now find this thread in the General Hardware forum...

[Compton]

What you really need to do is get an SBLive platinum, and then get the Aopen board with that Platinum heatsink on the BX chip, and then get some audio cables with platinum connectors and hook it up to your Alpine and your two JL W6 18"s. But you'll need some serious cooling to do this so talk to Jon and he'll help you set up a dual flowmaster that you can plug into the midi ports on that dumb thing that takes up a 5.25 bay. But seriously, welcome to the forums homey. And check your mail sometime.

[This message has been edited by Compton (edited 30 January 2000).]

[Mistah Magik]

Thanks a lot Compton, nothing like a warm welcome from one of my homeys.

Mistah Magik

[Wombat]

The X-Gamer and the MP3+ are the same hardware. However, I'm not likely to play those games, and I have also read (but unable to confirm) that the firmware of the MP3+ has the codecs programmed in, and that's why it can encode/decode on the board.

And I paid about $75 from buycomp

[TnT]

Or you can just get the SB Live Value with the basic software package.

[Wombat]

The Live! Value is NOT the same piece of hardware. It doesn't have a digital out, while this later revision does. That's why I didn't get a Value.

[Maniac]

Actually the new Live values do have the digital out.

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Celeron 300A@464 2.0V, 128meg generic PC-100 RAM (running at CAS2) Abit BH6, G400 16meg DH@150/200, Western Digital Expert 18gig, Ricoh mp7040A(morphed to mp7060A) Pioneer 6X DVD slot load, Motorola Cable Modem w/DEC ethernet card, Soundblaster Live Value Ver. 2, Viewsonic GT 775

[DentyCracker]

Yes they do but one that I bought for a client did not have the CD Digital internal two pin spdif connector that the live platinum has

That's what i was trying to say, I think.

[This message has been edited by DentyCracker (edited 01 February 2000).]

[Mistah Magik]

Thanks to all who has helped me, I think I'm gonna go ahead and get a SBL: X-Gamer, it's hell lot better than a PCI128.

Thanks again,

Mistah Magik

[Genom]

Looking at this SBlive value I just bought yesterday for a client, it's got spdif on it. And I paid 45 bucks cause it's OEM too. Just go and downlaod liveware 3 and yer all set. BTW, same exact hardware too.

[Beezer]

I've got an old SB LiveValue (OEM) that does not have the digital out (bought it in August). I'd really like to have the digital out since I have the Cambridge FPS2000 digital speakers. Is there an add-on/adapter for this board to allow digital, or am I just S.O.L.?

[Mistah Magik]

I got this from
http://www.agnhardware.com/index.cfm....cfm?revid=267

but check it out.


NOTE: It seems like the X-Gamer and MP3+ want an adapter to work with your FPS 2000 digital speakers. Creative will send you the adapter for free, you need to call their Customer Service Number (1-800-998-1000) and tell them you have the FPS 2000 and X-Gamer of MP3+ Sound cards. They will then take down all of your information and send the adapter your way. Future FPS2000 speaker sets that are released next month will include the adapter for hooking up to the X-Gamer and MP3+ inside the box.


MM