sparhawk on 28/3/2007 at 18:52
Quote Posted by Jesse
how the heck do you find out what model sound card you have? Its been so long since I put it in i've forgotten...
I usually run Linux and then look at what it tells me. :)
imperialreign on 28/3/2007 at 22:06
For those running WINxp, you can use the DirectX Diagnostic application, IIRC it can be found in the C:\Windows\ directory . . . or maybe windows\system32\ (I moved mine to the desktop, so can't remember . . .)
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Is it so necessary? I have both AC97 and Vortex2 onboard. They work fine together, I can switch between them in Windows Control Panel. I think of buying a third card for Thief3
No, it's not 100% necessary, although it eliminates any possible playback conflicts. Although I can't attest to it, the X-Fi's have had some squirelball issues with various hardware setups . . . so there is always the possibility that certain cards will not cooperate with enabled on-board.
I'd try it with my rig, but I don't feel like re-installing all the RealTek drivers just now . . .
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IOW, if a crappy sound is played, and then an excellent sound is, I thhink we could all tell the difference, coundn't we?
Most of us can, defi - some even moreso than others. But there are the rare few that can't distinguish between audio quality (i.e. my gf can't tell the difference between a .wma recorded at 320kps and 128kps)
Aja on 28/3/2007 at 23:52
A friend of mine bought an XFi (not the super-expensive kind, but it has EAX 5 at least), and an inexpensive set of surround speakers, and I can attest that Thief 3 sounded amazing.
Usually surround sound doesn't impress me much, but when that haunt started chasing me it felt like he was actually behind me. The environmental effects were also impressive; doors in the cathedral closed with great echoing thuds, and footsteps reverberated appropriately. Very cool technology, though Thief is still perfectly playable in regular old stereo (as I've been playing it for years).
Doom 3 was far less impressive, though that may be due to the fact that Creative sued id to include EAX support. It was weak at best.
[NAUC]Chief on 29/3/2007 at 00:00
To load dxdiag just go to Start menu> Run > type in dxdiag and OK it.
Odd that I should join this discussion and then my sound goes weird in thief DS :laff: there's some weird sound (like a high pitched buzzing/scream/keeper assassins/ no idea what) in some areas that gets so loud as to drown out everything else - mysterious to say the least.
DJ Riff on 29/3/2007 at 04:34
damdifynoI'm using Win2000, but AFAIK in XP it's the same. In Control Panel you can see "Sound and Multimedia" shortcut. Here's the window that it opens:
Inline Image:
http://img86.imageshack.us/img86/921/audiopropfu9.pngAs for these cards, I use both of them. I connect Speaker-Out of the one to Line-In of another, and use one as effect-processor, and another — as mixer. Also I can connect the headphones to the second card and pre-listen the next track without turning off the music that goes from loudspeakers.
michaelg on 29/3/2007 at 04:52
I use a pair of surround sound headphones and it makes all the difference in the world with Thief. With the desktop speakers I still get decent stereo, but with the phones you can actually tell how far away someone is or if their coming from behind you or not.
I hadn't played TDP until recently and am amazed at the positional sound you get in a game this old.
Muzman on 29/3/2007 at 05:12
You don't need a surround speaker set-up to get 3d audio (although it doesn't hurt). Many systems support spacial rendering for headphones that can adjust the sound according to whether it is infront or behind "you" in the simulated space. I can't remember if, say, Thief 1 supports this but its common to EAX systems and the like.
And AC 97 is a codec/DAC standard guys, not a soundcard or 3d audio system. Many AC 97 cards have 3d audio renderers and hardware mixing.
daprdan on 29/3/2007 at 05:32
Don't forget the music.I have a turntable,pre-amp and reciever all hooked up with my X-FI card/'puter and I am VERY happy.The creative software does wonders to erase hiss and click and pop.And gaming is purty dern good too.
hexarith on 29/3/2007 at 07:30
Quote Posted by damdifyno
Hmmm.... question: I am considering putting in a sound card. why would you want to switch between them? I guess there are times when you would prefer the AC97 over the other, but what are they? Also, do you have XP? I do. Where do you switch in control panel? (I am still new to XP). Are you referring to the Device Manager?
E.g. if you're running VoIP on your computer. Did you ever get called while playing a game and got the ringtone with full volume on your speakers?
Also VoIP is better done with a headset, but the headphones of those are quite LoFi, and it's quite comfortable to have the high quality speakers connected to the high quality sound card and the cheap headset to the on board sound.
Jesse on 31/3/2007 at 12:28
apparently i have 'Nvidia Nforce Audio'
