X-Fi XtremeGamer: What "digital out" wire do I need?

dozerking

I just picked up a new X-Fi XtremeGamer 7.1 card and a Logitech Z-5500 sound system, and I want to hook it up using a digital connection. There's a "digital out" port on the back of the sound card, but it doesn't look like a standard optical port. Do I need a converter? Mini tos converter perhaps? It would be nice if the manual hinted to this, but I have no clue.

Edit: On the back of the Z-5500 unit, I can use either Coaxial or Optical Digital connection.

Second, did I make the right choice with the sound card, should I have gotten a better card to go with the speakers? I was told the Z-5500 package is fantastic.

Thanks for the Help!

dozerking

Here is a picture of the jack, it's called a "Flexi Jack"

http://c1.neweggimages.com/NeweggIma...102-006-02.jpg

kris23

you shoulda gotten a better card, check out the X-fi Prelude by Auzentech, newegg has it.

dozerking

How much better is it kris23? Substantially better that it's worth spending the extra $100?

I can easily RMA it right now if I want to return it. I was told by a few that the X-Fi is damn near good enough.

MicahSJ

Hello dozerking,

Newegg has the X-Fi Platinum Fatal1ty Champion Series sound card, which I think would go really well with your speaker system. It also has a $50.00 mail-in rebate. Newegg doesn't carry the Prelude, but I'm sure you could find it somewhere else.

It's either that or you would have to purchase one of those I/O digital modules from the Creative Labs Ebay store.

If I were you and had the money I would get the X-Fi Platinum Fatal1ty Champion Series from Newegg, especially with that rebate.

I'm sure that the Prelude is also very good as well, if you can find it somewhere else.

dozerking

Thanks for the reply.

Yeah, I think I'm gonna RMA the X-fi Xtremegamer and get the prelude. I was considering the Fatality card as well, but they both offer EAX 5.0, which for gaming seems to be the key.

Will either of those cards need an I/O digital module too? Or will standard Optical cables or Digital Coax work directly?

dozerking

I found the Prelude on Newegg, is this the same card you were talking about?

Newegg.com - AuzenTech Auzen X-Fi Prelude 7.1 7.1 Channels 24-bit 192KHz PCI Interface Sound Card - Retail

MicahSJ

I do know that the Fatality doesn't need the I/O module. I will do some checking on the Prelude and see what I can find.

MicahSJ

My apologies; that's the one Kris23 was talking about. It uses the C-Media chipset whereas the Fatality is of course the name of the chipset by Creative. I've used C-media before, but have went back to Creative because of EAX issues with some games and applications. For compatibilty I would go ahead and go with the Fatality, but of course it's your decision. I'm just trying to give you my thoughts on both cards.

dozerking

What issues with EAX did you have? Is it a driver issue or a hardware issue with the Prelude?

Thanks!

MicahSJ

I think it was a combination of the two. It just didn't work half the time or at all. I also got some hissing and other effects from using the EAX. I've never had any of these problems with none of the Creative cards I've used...the Live, Audigy, and now the X-Fi card which I have now.

dozerking

Hmm..What is your motherboard? What is the chipset? I've heard certain chipsets can cause issues.

(I have the Asus P5E Mobo which uses the X38 chipset.)

MicahSJ

From my past experiences with both the Intel and C-Media chipset combinations, it has not been that good.

MicahSJ

My apologies again. I was looking at specs for the card on Auzentech's website and it uses the X-Fi chipset from Creative. That's a surprise! So, I would recommend getting either one of the cards, whichever one you can afford. I would myself still get the Fatality it's made by Creative themselves and you have a lot more features than you do with the Prelude.

dj_stick

but you don't get the audio quality of the prelude when you go with CL, but you do get their bloatware "features"