Windows 10: creative sound card issues

There has been a known issue with creative sound cards not working after upgrading to Windows 10 version 1903. I finally had to remove the sound card and rely on the onboard sound for the time being. When can we expect this problem to be resolved as I would like to use my sound card as it has significantly better sound quality.

:)

 

No sound

I have carried out the steps listed in the above and have had limited success.

The external speakers are connected to a Creative Labs Soundblaster X-Fi sound card (circa 2008).

I have uninstalled / reinstalled the drivers for this card, and though the card registers the sound output through various tools and applications, the sound fails to come out on the speakers themselves. When i use the onboard sound output for the speakers
i do get sound, albeit obviously worse quality.

is there a compatability issue with this creative labs sound card?

 

Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Fatal1ty Champion Card Not Working - No Sound

Ther are new drivers for your card listed on the Creatve
Windows 10 Software Availability Chart website.

Sound Blaster X-Fi Platinum Fatal1ty Champion Series

Creative have updated the drivers for many of their old audio cards for use in Windows 10. If you do have one, you can grab the latest Windows 10 drivers for old cards

here, though they are still working on rolling some of the updates out. I’ve just updated my own Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Extreme Audio card driver. I bought the card when Vista came out in 2007. It was working fine in 10, it’s always nice to have
the proper drivers for Windows 10 though. A nice move from Creative to support legacy cards.

Link to Creative Windows 10 Software Availability Chart Creative Weltweite Unterstützung

After installing, you may have to check the computer Sound settings to ensure your card is set as the default sound device. (Go to Search in taskbar > type "Sound" > select the Sound Control Panel and check/ change the settings if required). Then also check
the configuration for your speakers. The default install setting seems to be 7.1, which can make 2.0/ 2.1 speakers sound distorted. Just change the speaker config setting to 2.0/ 2.1 if that's the case.



Creative Audio cards: list of new drivers for Windows 10, including Sound Blaster legacy cards

 

Which sound card?

It's time, I think, to replace my 7 year old Creative Sound Audigy 2 ZS with something better and more current.

I'm not sure if I want to stick with Creative but then again am open to suggestions.
Budget for a good decent sound card is between 50£ and 75£ (or up to 100$).

Which is popular amongst gamers?

I've got a 5.1 Creative speakers which is also old but that's another issue. Any help on suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks!