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ASUS Announces the Essence STX II and Essence STX II 7.1 Sound Cards

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So the bottom line is:

1. New muses opamps - you can buy them now separately for your "old" Xonar, so not big deal aka reason to prefer new one.
2. New oscilator - Let's say it's as good as ST's version.
3. New WIMA capacitors which are also "changeable".
 

Aquinus

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I do not think in most cases 4 GPU layout covers all free links on the processor and only in rare cases would have been possible! 40 PCE lines is assured 16x8x8x8. by PLX 8x8x8x8. Onle one board has support 7 slot € 500 + asrok 2011. 11 model thus leaving the 2 x xsenon option with 80 lines or Opteron but for him I do not know exactly, and I do woult not had. Only in the case of 2gpu on one card is enough space as I have.

On skt2011, the PCH tends to offer 8 PCI-E 2.0 lanes. It's pretty unlikely that you'll use those for GPUs on top of SB-E/IVB-E's 40 lanes off the CPU between that and relocating the cards using extenders, you could do it. Most people don't run 4 GPUs though, or even 3 for that matter.
 
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On skt2011, the PCH tends to offer 8 PCI-E 2.0 lanes. It's pretty unlikely that you'll use those for GPUs on top of SB-E/IVB-E's 40 lanes off the CPU between that and relocating the cards using extenders, you could do it. Most people don't run 4 GPUs though, or even 3 for that matter.
In extreme cases it is possible but I'm talking to normal people who have cases. shall have no intention to argue where anything is possible. Restrictions are ,and many do not know that they are not to benefit from all seven slots after purchase Hardwere. 7 or 8 does not matter too expensive for normal people which will not be given € 10,000 or more on your PC you want to upgrade a good AUDIO. Driver not guilty of ignorance as many write here! Many people wrongly associate Affairs and burn regardless of how many safeguards.
We went of topics ! ASUS has renewed its offer but does not have the best elements embedded. well that they can be changed. but not for headphone and microphone! Many do not even read the instructions and blindly installed with amplifier and electical energy in the device not turn off !(switched off,plug off)
 
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yeah, soundcard driver sometimes makes you spinning when changing OS
and the tiger mark, looks like inca design
 
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Why would I want PCIE sound card at all? USB interface seems like a much better idea (good for both desktop and laptop or for visits at parents house). Anybody care enough to convince me?
 
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Drivers make or break a soundcard. After Xonar mess never again another Asus soundcard.

What we need is a high-end Realtek sound card.

I've had far better experience with all Creative soundcards than with that one Xonar. And like you, i'm wondering why NO ONE just takes the highest end Realtek audio chip, slams it on a piece of PCB and gather around high end components. Say goodbye to rubbish driver support. It might be basic as such, but it would at least always work and i don't think sound would be any worse than this Xonar.
 
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You mean Realtek ALC1150?
 

btarunr

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Nope, it's still the same PCI audio processor. The ASMedia ASM1083 chip is a PCIe to PCI bridge, and has been present in all previous ASUS PCIe sound cards (not to mention most modern motherboards with PCI slots). The only company I know of that makes native PCIe audio processors is Creative.

Azalia is basically physical layer PCIe x1 with a custom link layer. All "HD audio" CODECs today comply with Intel's Azalia specification. Azalia's predecessor, AC'97, was USB 1.1 (12 Mbps) physical layer. In the post Windows Vista world (with DirectSound hardware-acceleration support gone), there are no real audio "processors." The ASUS AV200 is a rebadged C-Media CMI8788, which is a CODEC, that you can strap custom/external DACs over I2S, onto.
 
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I have a case with a headphone connection in the front. Would it be possible to route that connection to the amplifier of a sound card like this Asus?
 
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I have a case with a headphone connection in the front. Would it be possible to route that connection to the amplifier of a sound card like this Asus?

Sadly enough, not all Xonar soundcards have a front panel header (that thingamabob that you use to connect to front audio jacks). That means you need to check for every and each Xonar you may want to buy.

I can you right off the bat that the D2 doesn't have that header, as I have it.
 

btarunr

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I have a case with a headphone connection in the front. Would it be possible to route that connection to the amplifier of a sound card like this Asus?

This card has an HDA front panel header. So, yes.
 
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I really want to try the muses opamps in my ST, but they don't come cheap.

EDIT:
Found a picture with no shield:
those are Muses 8920 not the Muses 01 and 02.

my drivers hehe

 
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