[TheWalrus]

Allright, does anyone have this supposedly great card? I am just about to go buy it.. Is there anything I should reconsider before doing so?
The only negative thing I read is something about lack of native Pci-e chip, which I don't quite understand... sound-wise it's supposed to be pretty much the best for the money it cost.

[ripken204]

i have to suggest the auzentech x-fi prelude. it has the x-fi chip meaning it can do EAX5, the Xonar cannot. The auzentech is also very good for music and movies.

[Nerwin]

I agree with Ripken, The auzentech x-fi prelude is a really really nice card.

One of my friends has it, and man it will blow you away (plus, it looks good too!)

[TheWalrus]

Well, I bought it anyway. It cost $100 which is a killer I believe. Auzentech is surely better, but at over twice the price! I only listen to mp3s, watch movies on stereo speakers and play some games. Hundred bucks is pretty much what I would invest anyway.

I got a problem though (lol). The card doesn't work at all! It's PCI express type and needs additional power supply (standard FDD cable). Everything plugged in and nothing. It doesn't even show up in the BIOS pre-boot screen with various devices listing. I don't get it at all - even tried 3 other pci-e slots and different cables. Nothing. Anyone got any idea?

[ripken204]

give it more power then..

[TheWalrus]

Excuse me?

[ripken204]

"It's PCI express type and needs additional power supply (standard FDD cable)."
i guess i esd confused on if you have the FDD cable plugged in or not.
rereading you post sounds like you did plug it in, sorry about the confusion.

This post has been edited by ripken204: 30 November 2008 - 12:16 PM

[TheWalrus]

I sure did. Well, is it possible to buy completely dead card? :-O

[Nerwin]

TheWalrus, on Nov 30 2008, 03:40 PM, said:

I sure did. Well, is it possible to buy completely dead card? :-O

Yup, its called DOA (Dead on Arrival).

[TheWalrus]

And one would think stuff is tested before packing and sending to vendors... jeez

[Zxian]

It's simply not possible to test every device that's sent out from manufacturers. Random samples are often taken to get a statistical analysis of failure rates in manufacturing, and for the most part the tolerances are pretty strict. Some DOA products are expected in just about any market today.

[CoffeeFiend]

Zxian, on Dec 1 2008, 03:43 PM, said:

It's simply not possible to test every device that's sent out from manufacturers.

Depends on the industry I guess. All our products are tested, more than once too (and then a percentage taken as samples, for further testing, like temperature tests, vibration tests, etc)

But yeah, there will always be a small percentage of DOA products no matter what you do.

[Zxian]

True. I was talking about the computer industry where it's simply cheaper to replace a DOA product than to test each item that comes off the assembly line.

[CoffeeFiend]

Zxian, on Dec 2 2008, 03:32 PM, said:

True. I was talking about the computer industry where it's simply cheaper to replace a DOA product than to test each item that comes off the assembly line.

Yeah, I figured as much. Our profit margins are also a lot higher (and our stuff isn't made in China/Korea or such).

Anyways. DOA happens regardless. Packaging problems, all chips have failure rates, soldering problems, problems with the assembly, ...

And then again, I'd say ~3/4 of our returns are perfectly working products (user error mainly), and about 3/4 of the rest is due to something the user did (managed to plug it backwards, dropped it, etc).

There won't ever be a mass-produced product that won't get returns.

[TheWalrus]

Card went to RMA.
But I am thinking about asking my money back and hold onto something better... But Auzen is based on Creative stuff which I will never ever touch again. Soo, I am not sure.

[Zxian]

From what I've read, the Xonar is a far better card in terms of sound quality. The Auzentech might have high reviews in the realm of gaming because of it's Creative heritage, but that's not the be-all and end-all. I'd have a Xonar in my system now to replace my XtremeGamer if it fit amongst my other expansion cards...

[mr_smartepants]

I own the xonar, it's very nice. I still don't understand why Asus felt the need to supply extra power via the floppy adapter.

[Zxian]

On the PCIe version, it was necessary. The PCIe x1 slot simply can't deliver the power needed by the onboard amplifiers.

[ripken204]

Zxian, on Dec 3 2008, 11:58 AM, said:

From what I've read, the Xonar is a far better card in terms of sound quality. The Auzentech might have high reviews in the realm of gaming because of it's Creative heritage, but that's not the be-all and end-all. I'd have a Xonar in my system now to replace my XtremeGamer if it fit amongst my other expansion cards...

it also has good reviews for music and movies..

[TheWalrus]

Auzen is about to release a new card by the way. I am tempted to give the Xonar back to the store I bought it in and wait...