Creative unveils the X-Fi Notebook ExpressCard

I bought this a couple weeks ago. It cost me about $70 shipped from Pro Vantage.

It's basically identical to an Audigy 2 ZS in capability and sound but still far better than on board audio. It's main limitations are a total lack of surround sound output and no digital output like the old version. Even over wireless it is limited to 2 channel output but the onboard "CMSS-3D" virtual 3D does a very good job of simulating surround sound over two channels. It has two 1/8" ports. One for Microphone/line in and the other for headphones/line out. It can be paired with a Creative wireless receiver to interface with an external audio device. It will also send sound to the onboard audio system of most notebooks (this feature works with my Sager 9262 but with limited volume). It is hot swappable and can be plugged in or removed without rebooting the computer allowing you to select the on board audio or the X-Fi Audio.

It doesn't contain the X-Fi chip but will do virtual surround sound over headphones and EAX effects in games work very nicely. Since you're using it on a notebook chances are you don't need actual surround sound output, at least I assume that's Creative's reasoning in removing that capability from the new card. If you plan to plug your notebook into a surround sound receiver using an optical cable or wish to use 5.1 speakers you should buy the USB version instead which has similar sound quality and features but if you plan to game and use normal headphones this is a great product.

Battlefield 2 is a game that specifically takes advantage of X-Fi processors to provide the highest sound quality available. The game doesn't recognize this card as X-Fi and will not allow you to select the "ultra-high" audio quality level or select the X-Fi checkbox in the settings. It still sounds fantastic though and there is no stuttering as typically heard with on board audio systems and no popping or screeching noises that was often heard with the older PCMCIA Cardbus Audigy2 ZS Notebook cards.

Overall I recommend this product to people who game and don't need to interface with a surround system or surround speakers.