X-Fi wiring to front jacks

[TopChip7]

Hi guys.

Has anyone worked out how to wire up front mic & headphone sockets to an X-Fi Xtreme Music sound card yet? :confused:

You'd think that Creative Labs would provide (or atleast sell) the necessary cable.:mad:

Thanks

[Rick]

I've been looking at sound cards this morning

I found thing about all of them

They are still in the mind set that we bend to meet them

NONE have made a sound card that supports front case sound connectors

The only option I have found is to make the connections yourself

Tracing down each wire from front to connector
Then rigging up a plug with the correct connections on one side and the correct plugs on the other side..

Unless your willing to CUT the connectors off your case wiring harness
Something I am not going to do

[Whyzman]

I believe the "Platinum" series has front connects. My ancient "Live" one does. Here's the latest:

http://www.soundblaster.com/products/product.asp?category=1&subcategory=208&product=16559

[Rick]

Are those connectors for use with their front panel (drive bay panel ) or the front connectors in most new better cases ?
The link shows Their drive bay unit.

They don't match up with my Antec P180 cables for the case front connectors

[Rick]

I just checked the Sound blaster live I have in the box on my spare parts shelf
It does have an edge connector
But no way will it match with the HD sound connector or even the headphones and mike connector or this case ..

FYI
The reason I am looking into this
The new P5K-ws has an on board sound card listed as High Definition Audio
It works perfectly in Vista
BUT It refuses to install in XP
Even using the supplied disk with all the latest drivers

The drivers install.. BUT it fails to activate the sound card every time

[Rick]

TopChip7

Here is what I have found so far

http://www.x-tap.com/manual/

Not tested yet

[TopChip7]

Is this 'harness cable' something creative sell?
I was under impression they never sold the cable and as such the SB card would have to be soldered :eek:

[Rick]

One the SB Live I have it has an edge connector
For use with the drive bay audio control setup they sell with the SB Live deluxe model. ( 28 pin)
The One in the link above from Whyzman

It also has the smaller front case connector on the same edge
Just below it (on mine) and ( Just above it in the linked above)is the 10pin in the diagram in the link above

It's just a matter of making sure it will match pin for pin

Unfortunately NONE of the wires match with my on motherboard audio ( HD audio)
and about half don't match the SB live with the P182B I have

[TopChip7]

Wish I had got about half dozen of these cards to play with - I'd figure it out and then build the cables and sell them on ebay !!!!!! lol

I am tempted to revert back to the SupremeFX card that came with my mobo - apparently its only a hosting hub for the onboard AC97 audio I think. Im really getting annoyed that I have to keep plugging the headphones into the rear though.

[Whyzman]

The cable to the "Live" drive front connects to the card and brings all input connectors plus the headset connectors conveniently to the front. I was interested in a round cable to replace the ribbon cable that is supplied, but I didn't follow-up by even counting the number of wires to see if it was a standard ribbon cable.

The "Live" drive really makes it nice to have everything at your finger tips. Of course, it also has a remote control... :)

[Rick]

Well after looking into this a little more.
The follow is the END of the SB cards in all my systems
1. NONE of the connectors in my case will fit on the SB.
The plug has One blank (Plugged.)
Short of cutting the pin off the card it will never connect
2. Creative has DROPPED ALL SUPPORT For my cards

"Please note that the product you have selected has been classified as "End of Service Life""

Can't even download the OLD windows drivers
#2 is the main reason for Dumping all the SB cards
I don't care that it doesn't work at all in Vista
But not even being able to get drivers for XP

[TopChip7]

Whyzman: If you got the ribbon cable you could twist it up and wrap it in some cable casing or heatshrink wrap.

Rick: Time for a new card mate - recommend one with a I/O panel lol

nb: Have got MCE 2005 and all the X-Fi drivers dont work properly anyway

[Rick]

Rick: Time for a new card mate - recommend one with a I/O panel lol



Thats exactly what I don't want


I want nothing in the drive bays
Just inside and controlled by me in the O/S or program

I was going to go back to using Turtle Beach until I read this
Vista (64 bit operating systems not supported)

They still make some nice cards.
I like this one
http://www.turtlebeach.com/products/mtgoddl/indetail.aspx

[rond36]

Is this what you were looking for?
Creative Labs X-Fi/Audigy Sound Card to Front Case Port Adapter Cable (http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=83&products_id=21700&zenid=ed5ce2e72e2057d1f9d00e02743b3c1e)

[TopChip7]

OMG!!!! Yes!!! Now if I can find a supplier in the UK...... or order a few hundred from the US and wack them on ebay.co.uk LOL

Thanks Rond36.