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Strangely, $1 more than last time when I picked up this deal.
Rebate came through in just about 6 weeks for me to give you an idea

^^was it worth the buy?

It is definitely better than my crappy Asus m2n32-sli deluxe on-board sound. Some people really like this card because the X-Fi functionality is implemented in the hardware unlike the X-Fi Xtreme version in which it is implemented in software (thus further loads you cpu).

IMHO, this card is good but not great. I do not use all the filters and things that are supposed to increase the sound quality of your cd-audio and mp3 files. Theoretically that is not possible because of the fact that you cannot add more data (thus quality) to any source of audio, what you can do is process it in ways that most people will find it sounding better.

I personally could not feel any difference in X-Fi supporting games such as Battlefield II. But it might be my crappy Logitech X-540 5.1 sound system.

Another thing i don't like about creative is their software. It installs everything with a lot of adware and crap you don't actually need. Also the user interfaces look like as if designed by interns.

For a price of $51, this is a good deal. I would still get it if i hadn't bought it last time for $50.

EMU10K1 FTW

"^^was it worth the buy?"

There are few new motherboards sold today which do not have an optical digital output to your home theater Receiver.

If you think the stream of ones and zeros from your hard disk through your on board SPDIF is different from the stream out of your $100 or $200 X-Treme, Auro Fatality Gamer EX Pro, then you are just the type of consumer Creative is looking for.