Curse

EternalTempest · Mar 08, 2007, 04:27 PM // 16:27

Creative has just released non-beta drivers for there X-Fi cards for 32bit version of Vista.

http://us.creative.com/support/downl...pe=0&x=34&y=11

Will also check if they included the Audigy drivers buried in the the file - they did with the last X-Fi vista beta driver.

SBXF_PCDVT_LB_2_13_0012.exe

Quote:

This download is a driver providing Microsoft® Windows® Vista™ 64-bit and Windows Vista 32-bit support for Creative Sound Blaster® X-Fi™ series of audio devices. For more details, read the rest of this web release note.

This download supports the following audio devices only:

* Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeMusic,
* Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer
* Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Platinum
* Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Fatal1ty
* Creative Sound Blaster Elite Pro

Current release features:

* X-Fi Crystalizer™
* X-Fi CMSS®-3D
* MIDI Playback
* EAX® Effects
* PCM stereo output through optical out
* Line-in connectivity
* Recording capabilities.

Known issues:

* This driver does not support the following:
o Decoding of Dolby® Digital and DTS™ signals
o DVD-Audio
o DirectSound®-based EAX games
o 6.1 speaker mode.
* SPDIF passthrough is supported on Vista 32-bit only.
* Applications from the original Sound Blaster X-Fi CD will not work with this download.

Requirements:

* Windows Vista 64-bit or Windows Vista 32-bit
* Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi audio devices listed above.

Notes:

* Do not install this driver for Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio.
* To install the driver, do the following:
1. Download the SBXF_PCDVT_LB_2_13_0012.exe file into your local hard disk.
2. Double-click the downloaded file.
3. Follow the instructions on the screen.
* To uninstall the driver, do the following:
1. Click Start -> All Programs -> Control Panel.
2. Double-click the Device Manager icon.
3. Double-click the Sound, video and game controllers option.
4. Right-click the Creative SB X-Fi option, and select Uninstall.
The Confirm Device Uninstall dialog box appears.
5. Select the Delete the driver software for this device option.
Note: This check box must be selected to avoid reinstallation issues.
6. Click the OK button.
7. Restart your computer.
* To reinstall the driver, do the following:
1. Double-click the downloaded file.
2. When the message You must restart your computer to apply these changes appears, click the Restart Later button.
3. Follow the instructions on the screen.

easyg · Mar 09, 2007, 04:20 AM // 04:20

Yes, the X-Fi drivers are out. Interestingly, they aren't WHQL certified. No explanation for this from Creative. Supposedly, the reason they were holding up the release of non-beta Vista drivers was just for WHQL certification.

Obviously, Creative isn't telling us the whole story since Microsoft still has not certified as of 3/8/07.

I'd say the Creative user forum is split about 50/50 as to whether the drivers are (1) great or (2) total garbage. Half the users say their cards are working fine, half are saying the new drivers have made performance/sound quality worse. Quite a few are reporting no sound at all.

So interesting. I've never seen a company screw up so tremendously as Creative has done the past few months.