Brazilian Taffer on 26/5/2010 at 08:41
Well, so I 'won' a SB Audigy SE that will probably be arriving tomorrow. I checked up it's features and discovered that it's limired to Software EAX 4.0.
Is there are real difference (to a human, not a bat) between Hardware and Software EAX? (Of course, I know that it will load up from my processor, as it doesn't has a on-board processor, I mean in sound quality.)
And cut me some slack, the last sound card I used was shipped in a 'Multimedia Kit'.:p
Faxfane on 27/5/2010 at 05:14
There is some difference, especially with the Audigy SE, which uses Creative's P17X chip. I'm not an audiophile (obviously), or at least an obsessive one, so most of EAX's sound quality is subjective. I know in TG, EAX sounds fine, whereas in T2, the sound comes off as very echoey. Basso, in Running Interference, sounds like he's speaking to you in a very empty and marble constructed Great Hall instead of just outside a shack.
Whenever possible, enable hardware support...but the EAX setting will be up to you, especially for old titles which may have a different interpretation of that sound format. More recent titles, including TDS, sound very good with EAX enabled. I'd enable regardless, tinker with other settings, and only disable if the directional sound is just too annoying.
Bear in mind that Creative's drivers for the SE are kind of slip-shod. It was the P17helper and similarly named files which kept flaking out on me, even with Creative's driver updates. (
http://forums.creative.com/) Creative's forums are a good place for extra info, especially the Soundblaster forum where one can find the excellent daniel_k support packs. You might also need to adjust your PCI Latency from within BIOS if you get any pops or crackles.
Brazilian Taffer on 27/5/2010 at 10:48
Hm... Got it, thanks. Either way, I'm going to find out for sure in about three hours. :D
Well, I have to say I actually never heard EAX, so I kind of have some hopes.
