Buying a *used* X-Fi Card

[ZaZZo]

So one of my friends is getting a pretty badass laptop, and he wants to get rid of his other computer.

In that other computer he has an X-Fi Xtreme Music soundcard, he's willing to sell. At a pretty epic price actually - 250 Danish kroner, which is roughly 23 GB pounds and 37 Euros.

It has, however, been in use since early February 2008 on a Windows Xp machine.

So my questions are:

1. Will it function in my computer??

2. Does it matter if it's been used on an XP system?

3. What's the difference in Xtreme Music and Xtreme Gaming?

4. Do you think that the 6 months use has done any kind of damage to it?
(It hasn't been used extensively, no gaming really)


Thank you

[NYgurkha]

whats your computer like? As long as your system fits the system specs for the card you should be good.

YOu should also look into getting a good set of speakers if your gonna use the X-Fi.

[Brummy]

Ask if his PC ever got really hot or overheated.

Should be good I think.

[[R-MOD]dunehunter]

If you want to enable the ultra high quality sound in BF2 you're going to need a gaming one, BF2 won't recognise the music one I'm afraid (found that out the hard way, atleast they let me trade it in)

[Begbie]

It will work unless there is some special reason it wouldnt?

If it was the Xtreme Gamer I would buy it but I would advice you to skip on the Xtreme Music unless you and/or your friend are desperate. It might seem cheap but its a bad investment imo.

[[R-COM]strima]

Got the xfi extreme music in my machine and the sound is excellent when playing games. Jut had to tweak the settings a little bit.

[[R-DEV]Undies]

Have a look around m8, that card new in UK is only £27, only 4 quid more than he wants for a 6 month old one. I reckon you will get a new one, probably cheaper than that.
Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio 7.1 Sound Card - OEM (PCI) (30SB079200000))

[[R-CON]MrD]

huh? I have the xtreme music and BF2 uses ultra high settings with it. I think you guys are thinking the Audio card that doesn't have the EAX capabilities!

A second hand card should be fine for you. Sod the speakers, you'll be using headphones if you know what is good for voip!!

ps. get that card and suddenly you will be able to hear so much more it makes your gaming so much better. And will make movies and music have more punch. Far better than onboard solutions or anything PCI below it's capabilities.

[[R-DEV]Spearhead]

Well to be honest the extra voices don't make all that much of a difference from what I read in a really professional review. Since the EAX environment Effects are hardly used in BF2 the X-Fi is probably not a large enrichment over something like my Audigy 2.

I recently considered buying one myself but right now I actually prefer to keep using my Audigy and look for a Drive Bay adapter on Ebay so I can Hook up my Xbox 360 optical out to my speaker system.