Sound Blaster X-Fi and Windows 7 64-bit

Anonymous
2009-10-23T03:31:55+00:00

I have a Sound Blaster X-Fi on a Dell XPS 710.  Installed Windows 7 64-bit.  Everything went great.  Downloaded and installed the new drivers from Creative for this sound card and Windows 7/64.  It installs but I get a staticy echo sound to everything.  Is there a fix?  The drivers are dated 6/2009.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Devices and drivers

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Anonymous
2009-10-29T22:07:34+00:00

: WORKAROUND:

I claim NO responsibility if you mess this up but you can use this as a temporary work around until it is resolved by creative labs without removing memory... physically.

First run MSCONFIG

select the boot tab

select advanced options

under max memory select 3990 (or any value under 4 GB is fine IE anything less than 1024 * 4)

This will reduce the amount of memory that the PC uses which will allow you to hear the audio.  There is also BETA testing of newer drivers from Creative (the most recent batch of BETAS did not resolve the issue) that I am a part of.  When there is a working beta I will respond so we can all utilize our 64x machines.

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  1. Anonymous
    2012-04-11T02:43:55+00:00

    I am not certain if reducing the memory available did the trick or maybe a combination of ALL the diagnostics but I have SOUND! :)  THANK you!!  I have a Dell XPS 400 Inspirion.  I ran the Windows Advisor and was given the clear to Windows 7.  I saw the Windows 8 Consumer Preview and thought to try that instead.  What a mess!  I lost the sound card.  Dell's driver website is - No Help.  And, Creative was difficult to navigate but finally, after I reverted back to Windows 7,  I got their diagnostics app to work after reducing the memory, the system began installing Windows 7 updates.

    I think I will wait a while for Windows 8.  What I previewed was exciting.  Up to this moment I had not seen functional software for touch techology.  Win 8 and IE 10 achieves this.  I like the circular feel to the software where you can approach a task from many different ways.  For example, IE 10 can be used as touch or regular windows.  Nice!  Made me want to buy a touch screen :)  I think I will wait a bit.  I do not like spending so much time testing new technology with little to no tech support.  Computer's have become so integrated that maybe next time Microsoft could pay some attention to the other hardware components.  Even though I believe you cannot beat Microsoft or Nvidea customer support :)  I thought the Nvidea Win 8 driver was awesome!

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  2. Anonymous
    2012-02-05T22:41:56+00:00

    I shared many of those problems and except for one case (with one specific game) my sizzling-popping-cracking issues with the X-Fi ExtremeMusic are gone on my Win7 64bit system with the recent (2.18.0015) driver.

    In addition to everything else already here mentioned, I suggest you check out the PAX packages of Soundblaster drivers:

    http://www.realitymod.com/forum/f27-pr-bf2-support/107105-xp-vista-7-soundblaster-x-fi-bluescreen-fix.html

    Changing PCI latency settings isn't possible since SP1 for Windows 7 for me anymore, unfortunately.

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  3. Anonymous
    2012-01-26T14:16:42+00:00

    Updated replacement driver:

    http://forums.creative.com/showthread.php?t=588031

    I tried these.  Sound is 100% good and I can conform that the 4+ GB OpenAL bug is fixed.  Downside is there seems to be an intermittent problem with distortion when recording.

    If recording isn't important to you (and I would ask at that point why in the world you bought an Elite Pro?!? ...but I digress), then this driver is what you've been looking for.

    If recording is important, then you have a choice to make.

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  4. Anonymous
    2012-01-13T09:40:46+00:00

    I got thoose drivers working with a THX console. They really seem more stable. The distortions have gone, now its only that the sound sometimes is low on volume and comes back to normal with a loud bang after while. Still annoying if you are watching a horror movie late at night, that can kick you of your chair.

    Still not a 100% solution. and i dont want to think about what will happen if i upgrade my memory from 4GB to 8.

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