Regeneration

It looks like consumers aren't being treated fairly once again. It has come to our attention that a few popular vendors are now offering motherboards with a built-in X-Fi advertised as part of the features. Now you would expect to see an X-Fi audio chip on those motherboards - well, this is not the case. What you are going to get is a regular onboard audio chip (VIA, Realtek, AD) with additional limited Sound Blaster X-Fi software. It seems that Creative Labs is now licensing its X-Fi software to OEMs:

"The Sound Blaster X-Fi MB solution provides premium audio quality, effects and features for PC systems equipped with only basic onboard audio.

For gamers, the EAX ADVANCED HD 4.0, with its state-of-the-art Multi-Environment rendering and reverb modelling, delivers a much more realistic and immersive 3D gaming experience than your motherboard audio ever will.

In addition, X-Fi Crystalizer adds dynamics and punch to every gunshot, explosion and music track while X-Fi CMSS-3D provides an incredibly realistic surround sound experience from just a pair of stereo headphones.

Due to changes in Windows Vista's DirectSound3D implementation, certain legacy DirectSound3D games will have its audio compromised, resulting in only stereo output without any effects.

Creative ALchemy is a powerful tool that restores the EAX effects and full surround sound when running these DirectSound3D games in Windows Vista so that you can enjoy true 3D interactive gaming again.

Native OpenAL support is a cross-platform 3D Audio API used by many games and music applications developers to deliver superb 3D audio simulation. Since the Sound Blaster MB includes native OpenAL support, you can be assured of an incredible 3D audio experience on many PC game titles.

For music lovers, the X-Fi Crystalizer can restore the details and vibrance, (lost during the compression process) back to your mp3/wma. Also, X-Fi CMSS-3D gives a whole new, 3D-surround sound dimension to your existing stereo music. Other audio effects such as EAX reverbs, Smart Volume Management and a 10-band graphic equalizer allows you to enhance your music even more. All essential audio effects and controls are conveniently placed in a central and intuitive console."

  

ProJoker

The article needs to be edited like this: well, this is not the case, What you are going to get is a large penis in your ass. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

Hawk

LOOOOL at first comment

Regeneration

ROFL. I can't write stuff like this - even if its true.

squall_leonhart

its ADI Soundmax actually.

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Regeneration

Not necessarily, its VIA Azalia on ASUS Crosshair IV.

btarunr

There's nothing unfair or wrong about this. Creative sells software called "X-Fi MB" that enables X-Fi features on any motherboard audio codec, companies like ASUS are just bundling them. The SupremeFX X-Fi is an audio riser with Analog Devices Inc (ADI) codec with X-Fi software.

The contention that this is an "unfair treatment" is baseless.

Remember, X-Fi is the name of a technology, not a sound-card.

Regeneration

Using slogans like "X-Fi built-in" is misleading. Software isn't hardware.

lyla

If you look at the picture in the top of the post, you will see it even has an inset of the motherboard with a "Supreme FX X-Fi" looking chip thing....implying hardware. If it was just trying to sell it as a bonus software, why have the hardware picture.

btarunr

Because they're selling a motherboard with an audio that has X-Fi technology, and advertising an audio solution that comes with that technology in the product.

It's not a "bonus software", but a software which comes as a component of the product.