X-Fi Xtreme Audio
The entry-level model of the X-Fi series, the Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio, does not actually have the EMU20K1 chip but is a re-branded Audigy SE, using the same family of chips (CA0106-WBTLF), and even the same drivers. Thus, not only is all of the X-Fi–related processing performed in software, but it also lacks basic hardware acceleration just like the SB Live! 24-bit, the Audigy SE and other budget Soundblaster models. The X-Fi Xtreme Audio does not use the same drivers as the rest of the X-Fi family (and lacks ASIO), some games do not recognize it as being "X-Fi capable hardware", and the device's hardware profile resembles that of older Live! and Audigy cards.
| Color | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Grey | Discontinued |
| Card | Release | SNR | Interface | Chip | RAM | I/O Console | I/O Drive Box | Remote control | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elite Pro | Aug '05 | 116dB | PCI | EMU20K1 | 64 MB | included | - | included | Additional software included. |
| Fatal1ty | Aug '05 | 109dB | PCI | EMU20K1 | 64 MB | optional | included | included | Also known as "Fatal1ty FPS" and "Fatal1ty Edition". |
| Platinum | Aug '05 | 109dB | PCI | EMU20K1 | 2 MB | optional | included | included | |
| Platinum Fatal1ty Champion | Aug '05 | 109dB | PCI | EMU20K1 | 64 MB | optional | included | included | Rebranded "Fatal1ty" card. |
| XtremeMusic | Aug '05 | 109dB | PCI | EMU20K1 | 2 MB | optional | optional | optional | |
| Digital Audio | Sep '05 | 109dB | PCI | EMU20K1 | 2 MB | optional | optional | optional | Japan-only variant of XtremeMusic with additional jack extension. |
| Xtreme Audio | Oct '06 | 104dB | PCI | CA0106 | - | - | - | optional | Low profile card. Does not use the EMU20K1 chipset used in the rest of the series but an old one used in the Audigy SE, Audigy Value and SB Live! 24-bit. It also has Crystallizer and CMSS-3D. |
| Xtreme Audio PCI Express | Oct '06 | 108dB | PCIe | CA0110 | - | - | - | optional | Same as the Xtreme Audio, however in a PCIe format with a CA0110 chipset, and slightly increased SNR. Note: The CA0110 does not work on Linux with ALSA 1.0.23. |
| XtremeGamer | Oct '06 | 109dB | PCI | EMU20K1 | 2 MB | - | - | optional | Low profile card. Replacement for XtremeMusic. |
| XtremeGamer Fatal1ty Pro | Oct '06 | 109dB | PCI | EMU20K1 | 64 MB | optional | optional | optional | Essentially the Original Fatal1ty/Fatal1ty Edition/Fatal1ty FPS/Platinum Fatal1ty Champion card without the I/O drive box and remote control. |
| Titanium Fatal1ty Champion | Jun '08 | 109dB | PCIe | EMU20K2 | 64 MB | - | included | optional | |
| Titanium Fatal1ty Professional | Jun '08 | 109dB | PCIe | EMU20K2 | 64MB | - | optional | optional | Essentially a Titanium Fatal1ty Champion card without the I/O drive box. |
| Titanium Professional Audio PCI Express | Jun '08 | 109dB | PCIe | EMU20K2 | 16 MB | - | - | optional | Asia-only variant of X-Fi Titanium with minijack-to-2RCA cable and EMI shield |
| Titanium | Sep '08 | 109dB | PCIe | EMU20K2 | 16 MB | - | - | optional | First X-Fi card for which Creative made available a software-based implementation of Dolby Digital Live to allow for real-time encoding to DD 5.1 and subsequent output over the optical out port. DDL is also available for all other Titanium models. |
| Titanium HD | Mar '10 | 122dB | PCIe | CA20K2 | 64 MB | First card with THX TruStudio PC audio technology. Top quality current output Burr-Brown Advanced Segment PCM1794A DAC. First stereo based internal Creative PCI/PCI-E sound card with gold plated RCA out since the ISA AWE64 Gold. Creative claims it is the highest quality ever from a Creative sound card. Only available in certain markets. |
- SNR is 109dB for Multi channel analog outputs and 115dB for Stereo analog outputs.
- All PCI Fatal1ty cards have "Fatal1ty" sign with two red LEDs. PCIe Fatal1ty cards have no illuminated Fatal1ty logo and only features the X-Fi logo illuminated by two white LEDs (however it does have the Fatal1ty branding on the heatsink of the card). Elite Pro card has "X-Fi" sign with two blue LEDs.
- The I/O Console is an external box with analog and digital I/O audio jacks and volume control knobs. It is always bundled with the remote control
- The I/O Drive Box is an internal 51⁄4 drive with analog and digital I/O audio jacks and volume control knobs. Also bundled with the remote control.
- All Creative cards have 3x 1/8 inch jacks for analog headphone/speaker output (2 of them are 4-segment-jacks for a total of 7.1 sound output), some partner's cards such as AUDIOTRAK Prodigy 7.1e and Auzentech BRAVURA and Forte have separated headphone output.
- All Creative cards except XtremeGamer have 1x shared 1/8 inch jack for either: Line In / Microphone / Digital Out / Digital I/O Module. The optional Digital I/O Module is an external box for handling digital IO: 1x Coax In, 1x Coax Out, 1x Optical In, 1x Optical Out. The XtremeGamer card has 1x shared 1/8 inch jack for either: Line In / Microphone / Optical Out (TOSLINK minijack). It does not support the Digital I/O Module. Some partner's cards such as Auzentech Prelude and Forte has separated 'Line In / Microphone' and 'Digital I/O' jack.
- For the PCIe X-Fi cards, remote control support requires a USB receiver and is sold separately.
- The Titanium HD lacks analog surround sound outputs.
- Under Windows 7, Bass Redirection is unsupported on optical connections (e.g. when using Dolby Digital Live). This results in the subwoofer being silent when using DDL, as no sound is directed to the LFE channel.
Read more about this topic: Sound Blaster X-Fi, X-Fi Line-up