Creative coming with PCIe based X-Fi

SINCE ASUS DECIDED to launch its line of PCI and PCIe based soundcards named Xonar (we first wrote about this product here), Creative had no alternative but to kick up plans for a PCI Express based X-Fi sound card.

During our trip to Taiwan, we learned that Creative's riposte is set for introduction during second half of this year. In fact, it should be on the market for the "Back to School" shopping madness. Some samples are already floating around, so do not be surprised when pictures of PCIe cards start being leaked through different forums and news sites.

Besides the PCIe slot, not many changes should happen with the physical layout of the card, but Creative hasn't finalised the whole software package. We can only hope that the drivers, the Singaporeans' Achilles' heel will be sorted out.

It only took three years after introduction of the PCIe standard to finally get something to put in those tiny slots. µ