X-FI xtremegamer review

Overall-8/10

Hardware-9/10
Good
-24bit crystalizer does work(sometimes)
-significant and audible improvement from Audigy series
-could easily differentiate individual instruments/sources,even on lossy audio
-low profile pcb
-heatsink on processor
-Great value
Fugly
-treble too high
-not gold plated!!!

Software-5/10
Good
-at least it works
Fugly
-play the fucking video everytime you run setup(since audigy!!)
-Takes at least 3 mins to reach installation page with tons of stupid dropdown lists
-sluggish performance for installer(and i got the one of the fastest dvd drive in market..)
-online driver installation doesnt have complete package
-features seperated into different confusing modules
-secretly install powerdvd stuff
-always install product registration and auto update upon compeletion of installation
-vista installation still screwy
-feels unpolish and severely user unfriendly
-its creative,so what do you expect?
-do u wanna hire me to fix your fucked up GUI?=D

Since i installed it in a hurry, forget to take a shot of the pcb and decide to grab some from google image search.Lazy to take out my digi cam too, so i took the remaining pictures with my 6120c while waiting for the fucking driver get installed.Got some issues during instllation with vista though.Even with thorough wipe of previous audigy driver, when i boot up with the new soundcard,vista reinstalled back my old sound card driver from my backup harddisk in my driver backup folder.So i got the world infamous BSOD every boot.Have to uninstall the driver from safe mode,clean again,delete my backup for my old soundcard and install the new driver.But still, i must emphasize,at least it WORK!!Pheww...Anyway i have already made mental preparation before the purchase for such crap since is our beloved creative.Software issues aside, its heavenly audio quality at great price.Even a audigy user get such a great improvement,what about those poor sheepies still using motherboard audio?Obviously don't expect your sub 100dollars speakers to pay off with this investment.=D

the pcb


packaging


installed in my system(sucky flash for N6120c-.-)