Published: July 6, 2009 | Source: Auzentech | Author: Matthew Kemp

Auzentech X-Fi Forte Low Profile 7.1 PCI-E Sound Card

TestÂ Setup

For the Auzentech X-FiÂ Forte, I used the following PC equipment:

Intel Q6600 @ 3.3GHz
Abit IP35 Pro
8GB OCZÂ ReaperX PC6400 @Â 1000MHz
MSI 8800 GTX
Seagate 7200.10 250GB HDD
Coolermaster Real Power Pro 1000w PSU
Tacima CS929 6 Way Mains Conditioner
Asus Xonar Essence STX
Abit IP35 Pro onboard sound (Realtek ALC888 codec)

To bring out the best in the sound card, I have used the following Audio setup:

Sennheiser HD555 Headphones

Yamaha DSP-AX863SE AV Amplifier
Mordaunt Short 906i Floorstanders (Bi-Amped, silver coated oxygen free copper)
Mordaunt Short 905i Centre Speaker (Bi-wired, silver coated oxygen free copper)
Mordaunt Short 905i Bipole Rears (300 strand oxygen free copper)

Additional Cabling:
Tacima CS929 6 Way Mains Conditioner
IXOS XHD208-300 Toslink Digital Optical Audio Cable
IXOS XHA215-300 2 RCA to 2 RCA Stereo Audio Cable
Well Connected Professional 3.5mm to RCA leads (x3)

I used the fantastic Asus XonarÂ Essence STX to compare the Auzentech X-Fi Forte to in this review. Whilst the Xonar isn’t as versatile as the Forte card, it will provide a benchmark of excellent in stereo sound.

Rightmark

Rightmark is an audio analyser designed for testing the quality of analogue (and digital) paths of audio devices. The results are obtained by playing and recording test signals passed through the tested audio path by means of frequency analysis algorithms. â€“ Rightmark. Note that by using the loop-back tests there may be inconsistencies in the recording and you may get different results when running the tests from home.

The Auzentech X-FiÂ Forte performs well in our tests with a competent set of results. The slight variances again are due to the testing methodology and in fact turn out fairly similar to the Asus XonarÂ Essence STX.

There’s no doubting that the Forte is a technically excellent sound card. Let’s see how the CPU tests fared.

CPU Utilisation

Here we see how much of an impact using the Xonar’s software based emulation has on the CPU. Results are again provided by a Rightmark piece of software, this time Rightmark 3D Sound CPU Utilisation test.

(CPU Utilisation set at 16-bit/44.1KHz â€“ 16 buffers)

(CPU Utilisation set at 16-bit/44.1KHz-128 buffers)

(CPU Utilisation set at 24-bit/96KHz 16-buffers)

(CPU Utilisation set at 24-bit/96KHz-128buffers)

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The Auzentech X-Fi Forte stayed below an impressive 2.5% CPU utilisation in all tests. It seemed to do even better in the more challenging tests in the suite, not rising above 1.5% CPU utilisation even at 24 bit/96kHz. The X-Fi chips really do seem to take the load of your CPU in scenarios when 3D sound and EAX are utilised.

Altogether an excellent set of tests for the Forte. Now let us move on to how the card does in the ‘real world’.