Creative debuts X-Fi sound card for notebooks
updated 03:05 pm EDT, Wed May 9, 2007
Creative X-Fi Notebook
Creative today revealed the X-Fi Xtreme Audio Notebook, its inaugural sound card for modern notebooks with an ExpressCard 54 slot. First suggested by its quiet CeBIT intro, the adapter not only offloads sound processing from the notebook's main CPU but also uses its Crystalizer technology to restore much of the detail lost in compressing sound to MP3 or other formats. It can also simulate 3D sound through a stereo speaker arrangement.
The card can output standard 2.1-channel audio through its own analog output, as well as single-cable, 7.1-channel surround sound through its SPDIF optical port. Users who need analog surround can attach a breakout box with connectors for all the key satellites.
Creative is shipping the portable X-Fi first in Japan at an equivalent price of $107, but is expected to announce its North American parallel in the near future with a price close to or less than Japanese unit. [via The Reg]
