Creative X-Fi SB0460 VS Creative X-Fi 0790

[JonathanX]

Because of the problem I had with my previous soundcard - the Creative X-Fi Xtreme Fidelity, this means the SB0790 model, I decided to opt for another card, the Creative Xtreme Music, this means the SB0460 model.

I found sellers who have both these cards, so which do you recommend? I want the card first and foremost for music and movies (videoclips, concerts), not necessarily for gaming, although I assume it would be good for games too. But although the Creative Xtreme Music seems more appealing, it was made in 2003, which means it's older than the Xtreme Fidelity, which was made in 2006. Could that be a problem?

Also, since the orange connector of my Xtreme Fidelity card seems to have been the problem which caused it to malfunction, is it recommendable to go for the Creative Xtreme Music, since it has golden connectors? Are golden connectors better?

And will the Creative Xtreme Music sound better than my current card - the Creative SB0570?

 

[Ruru]

The XtremeMusic absolutely. The XtremeAudio isn't a real X-Fi, it's just a rebranded Audigy SE. From wikipedia: "Does not use the EMU20K1 chipset used in the rest of the series but an old one used in the Audigy SE, Audigy Value and SB Live! 24-bit. It also has Crystallizer and CMSS-3D. "

 

[FreedomEclipse]

Xtreme Music was a better card but not by a whole lot. If i remember correctly. SB0790 was more of a budget card in the XFi range similar to that of an Audigy SE compared to the Audigy 2 ZS etc etc so while it did use the XFi branding and flaunt some of the XFi bells and whistles that came with it. It wasnt in fact a fully fledged XFi card in the XFi universe. It might of even had lesser onboard ram. Most cards shipped with 2mb cache where as cheaper cards shipped with 1mb or none at all even if it was a budget card.

::EDIT::

I got ninja'd

 

[Frick]

Be warned that a lot of them (SB0460) seem to have some issues at this point. I think I've had like three of them and they all had some intermittent problems with electrical noise. It could have been something else of course, but my understanding at the time was that they were simply on their way out.

 

[JonathanX]

What about the connectors? Are the golden connectors of the Extreme Music card better than the regular/normal ones which exist in many other cards, like the Xtreme Fidelity, for example?

 

[Athlonite]

What about the connectors? Are the golden connectors of the Extreme Music card better than the regular/normal ones which exist in many other cards, like the Xtreme Fidelity, for example?

nope not unless your cables are more than 5 meters long and if your set on a X-fi card then go for Titanium Fatal1ty Champion for PCIe connection or Titanium Fatal1ty if your still using PCI

 

[JonathanX]

nope not unless your cables are more than 5 meters long and if your set on a X-fi card then go for Titanium Fatal1ty Champion for PCIe connection or Titanium Fatal1ty if your still using PCI

I'm talking about these:

These are the connectors of the Xtreme Fidelity, and you can clearly see how rusty that metal thing over the orange connector is. And that orange connector was the one who was causing my sound system to make those hisses and weird noises whenever I plugged it. So I naturally concluded that the orange connector had malfunctioned, and looking at how rusty it is, it's natural to assume it is finished.

Now have a look at the connectors of the Xtreme Music card:

You clearly see they are golden, and gold is a much better conductor than any other metal, isn't that right? Everyone says so. And besides, I can see no rust on those connectors, which means the card is pretty much intact.

I cannot find Titanium Fatal1ty anywhere here where I live. No point in suggesting any such.... out-of-this-planet type of cards, man.

 

[lexluthermiester]

The XtremeMusic absolutely. The XtremeAudio isn't a real X-Fi, it's just a rebranded Audigy SE. From wikipedia: "Does not use the EMU20K1 chipset used in the rest of the series but an old one used in the Audigy SE, Audigy Value and SB Live! 24-bit. It also has Crystallizer and CMSS-3D. "

Have to agree with this statement. The SB0460 is easily the better card. It is a definitive upgrade from an SB0570 as well.

I'm talking about these:

View attachment 301643

These are the connectors of the Xtreme Fidelity, and you can clearly see how rusty that metal thing over the orange connector is. And that orange connector was the one who was causing my sound system to make those hisses and weird noises whenever I plugged it. So I naturally concluded that the orange connector had malfunctioned, and looking at how rusty it is, it's natural to assume it is finished.

Now have a look at the connectors of the Xtreme Music card:

View attachment 301644

You clearly see they are golden, and gold is a much better conductor than any other metal, isn't that right? Everyone says so. And besides, I can see no rust on those connectors, which means the card is pretty much intact.

I cannot find Titanium Fatal1ty anywhere here where I live. No point in suggesting any such.... out-of-this-planet type of cards, man.

The connectors are not the key advantage. The Sound Processor is. The SB0460 has the best SPU of the three mentioned in the OP.

 

[JonathanX]

The SB0760 is easily the better card.

I think you meant to say the SB0460. Not the 0760. There is no sound card named SB0760, according to Google search.

I do hope it will be better than the SB0570, and better than Xtreme Fidelity, which is SB0790. I assumed the higher the number, the better the model, but maybe it ain't so.

Yes, naturally, the Sound Processor is essential, but as I stated in my post and in my other thread, I was trying to understand why my Xtreme Fidelity malfunctioned, and I concluded that the orange connector was damaged because of too much rust, or something like that. So naturally, now I am looking for a card with connectors which would last much longer, for the "rust problem" not to occur again, you understand?

 

[lexluthermiester]

I think you meant to say the SB0460. Not the 0760.

Yes, corrected.

I assumed the higher the number, the better the model, but maybe it ain't so.

Not with Creative cards. The model numbering system they use is all over the place.

 

[JonathanX]

Yes, corrected.


Not with Creative cards. The model numbering system they use is all over the place.

OK, thanks for mentioning this. I didn't know that.

But please clarify for me once and for all the thing about the rusty connector. And the thing about the golden ones. I really wanna know!

You can have a look here, if it helps:

Sound Card problem

I have a soundcard Creative Xtreme Fidelity SB0790, namely this one: and recently, while I was just listening to a YouTube song, the sound kinda crashed, the volume got very low and it also made weird sounds, like a wind blowing, or something like that, I don't know how to explain it...

www.techpowerup.com

 

[lexluthermiester]

But please clarify for me once and for all the thing about the rusty connector.

You mean the tarnished ones in the photo above? Nothing to really worry about. Just needs some cleaning.

And the thing about the golden ones. I really wanna know!

The gold plating was more about appearances than actual connection/signal integrity. They were selling to everyone who bought into the myth that "gold makes everything better" thing that was floating around years ago. The only thing it does better is prevent tarnish, that's it. It looks nice but is otherwise no better than nickle or brass plating.

You can have a look here, if it helps:

Sound Card problem

I have a soundcard Creative Xtreme Fidelity SB0790, namely this one: and recently, while I was just listening to a YouTube song, the sound kinda crashed, the volume got very low and it also made weird sounds, like a wind blowing, or something like that, I don't know how to explain it...

www.techpowerup.com

See post over there..

 

[Athlonite]

I'm talking about these:

View attachment 301643

These are the connectors of the Xtreme Fidelity, and you can clearly see how rusty that metal thing over the orange connector is. And that orange connector was the one who was causing my sound system to make those hisses and weird noises whenever I plugged it. So I naturally concluded that the orange connector had malfunctioned, and looking at how rusty it is, it's natural to assume it is finished.

Now have a look at the connectors of the Xtreme Music card:

View attachment 301644

You clearly see they are golden, and gold is a much better conductor than any other metal, isn't that right? Everyone says so. And besides, I can see no rust on those connectors, which means the card is pretty much intact.

I cannot find Titanium Fatal1ty anywhere here where I live. No point in suggesting any such.... out-of-this-planet type of cards, man.

Yeah I knew what you were talking about if that little bit of tarnish/corrosion is giving you a problem just buy a can of electrical cleaner and give it a spray and maybe a light scrub with a soft bristle brush if needed, Lex put it correctly the gold is more or less for show than usefulness just another audiophile snake oil sales point