Creative SB1040 Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio PCI-E Sound Card

This is the second--such card I am installing. My Core 2 Duo PC with WIN 7 is using this as a upgrade. Now my latest build--a i5-3550 and WIN 7 requires something more than integrated. I first install the digital sound card--then use Windows[tm]Update Service--to retrieve the latest sound driver.I then use the enclosed CD-for Creative MediaSource applications--Plus..the Auto Updater. Run the Auto-Updater.Creative Labs SB1040 PCI Express Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio Sound Card========================OK--just a update../This digital sound card at times would un-install itself../I fixed that by NOT--using the CD Supplied../I went to the Creative Labs website..and retrieved my updates manually..I also--don't USE the Windows[tm] Update Service--driver../1./ Place the card in its x-1 slot2./ Use the drivers downloaded from Creative Labs3./ When you configure your install--in the WIN 7 Control Panel=Sound/4./ That last part where you choose your Output/type..I use Studio 41000 KHz/and Fiber Optic-cable../5./ Un-Checkbox..those 2-setting about allowing applications to take control../So far--this is keeping my card--installed..no problems for 3-days now.================================OK--again..it un-installed itself after about 4 or 5 days of use../I have now gone into the MIC--configuration (Properties)in the WIN 7 Control Panel=SoundAnd those same 2-CheckBoxes--I unchecked them../So..its been about 1-1/2 days now..all seems well again..//Let me explain something../My ASUS LED Monitor--has its own Sound-output via HDMI../it provides a EarPhone style Jack/That configuration is what remains--when my Fiber Optic output ceases to show in the Sound-category configuration../AND--a restart re-installs everything..(but making me reconfigure all my personal settings)/AND--Creative Labs..Update Service wants to operate...which I decline.===I hope this latest FIX...holds...The card works really great though.=====================Back again..what the issue does seem to be is the ASUS LED Monitor/has a HDMI sound output../IF..I DO NOT--already have my External Surround Sound AMP--Turned-On..The ASUS LED Monitor--takes over the sound card....its also known as hardware recognition..If the External AMP is Turned-On..(PRIOR--to the PC--start up)the Fiber Optic output--is immediately recognized..If..not..the ASUS LED Monitor--takes control--of hardware recognition.=====================Final FIX...Control Panel/SoundUncheckBox--any other configurations--other than the one you will use.Example=The only configuration showing in my HDMI computer--is the Optical Output.I have disabled--everything else--no issues.Its the Intel Motherboard--Port Detection.

Our integrated sound card quit working, disabled it and installed this sound card. Worked right away, and sounds great! Windows (7 64bit) found a driver for it right away, but I installed Creative Labs software anyway, and it did improve the sound quality even more. Only reason for no 5 star is the software install is a LONG process. Their download servers are really slow, and lots of clicking "Yes I agree" to all the different programs it installs, then once again after it all auto-updates. That should be quicker, but the card itself works just fine.

I bought this card to take in digital audio from the TOSLINK port into a sound editing program. Although I could hear audio through the card, the Creative applications provided with the card (and the ones I downloaded from Creative's website) refused to find the card in the system. After hours and hours of frustration I decided to return this card. The replacement card I bought costs half as much and works well. Shame on your Creative Labs!I bought this card and installed it with Windows 7. My motherboard has onboard audio and I disabled it from the BIOS. I continued to get "Can't Find Audio Device" Error when I ran Creative applications. I tried and tried so many things...- installed the entire Creative driver/ application suite from CD- installed just the Creative drivers first and then the application suite from CD- installed from the Creative CD first and then let Windows 7 upgrade the Creative drivers- installed from the Creative CD first and then upgraded drivers and applications from Creative's website- tried the Daniel K package- upgraded the motherboard BIOS and chipset drivers- shut down, removed the sound card, booted up, then shut down, then re-inserted the card, then booted up again- moved the card from one PCI Express slot to anotherNone of the above options could get me to a point where the Creative applications (e.g. Creative Diagnostics) could recognize the card in the system. I needed these applications to work in order to use the digital audio input (Toslink).I could not get phone support. It either does not exist for this product or they keep it a secret.I have been very disappointed with Creative Labs for this experience! I have used their products for 12+ years and I think the quality has gone down a lot recently. I have worked in the IT industry for 20 years; if I'm having so much trouble I wonder what non-technical users have to go through.Shame on your Creative Labs! It's the last time I bought one of your products!

I purchased this sound card primarily to record sound on my new HP desktop loaded with 64 bit Windows 7 professional. I was disappointed to find that the "what u hear" recording option that was available on my former windows XP system was not available with this card and OS combination. I even tried connecting the speaker output jack and the line-in jack on the card, but that resulted in nasty feedback and echo making it impossible to even record that way. Not sure if it is and OS or hardware issue, but it has me very frustrated at the moment.

I have had this card for about 4 months now and overall I would say I am content with my purchase. The card itself works fine for what I use it for (7.1 Razer Tiamat) but the software that runs this thing is trash. Setting it up is a nightmare, the menus are darn near impossible to navigate. I also find that this dumb thing crashes... a lot. Sometimes it will work and other times it simply refuses. I have had this running on three installations of of windows (win 7 and win 8 because I got new drives) every time I run into the same issues. When it feels like working it does its job but when it throws a fit your just sol.