Installation

Installation 

Well, there isn't much to install.  Most of the ease of installation can be attributed to not having to mount anything in a 5 ¼" drive bay.  Just put in the PCI card, and you're done.  You'll still need a screwdriver, however.  The PCI card does need a floppy drive power connector, but the kit comes with a splitter.  There is the joystick/midi connector, but it is pretty redundant.  Very few people use joysticks anymore (Feelancer, anyone?), and the eX has midi-in/midi-out on the box.  There's no way I'm climbing under the desk to plug in anything else ever again.

The next bit of installation business is connecting the AD_LINK cable.  It combines power/data and a SB1394 cable all in one bundle.  The AD_LINK1 cable (power/data) has little clips that are difficult to get them to snap secure.  So watch out for that.  It is more work to intall an eX in your system than any regular sound card, but I found it generally painless as far as installs go.

The software install is another matter, however.  If you're upgrading from an Audigy1, be sure to remove the drivers first or be prepared for blue screens.  It happened to me when we got the Audigy2 in for review.  So watch out for that.  The drivers and associated files are huge, too, weighing in at 305MB, and takes just under forever to install them.  So, um, watch out for that, too.  When in use, the drivers will chew up about 20MB of main memory.  The DMX 6-fire, for comparison, takes up a relatively svelte 6MB of memory while running.

The install software, as a service to you, will also set your default audio output to the Audigy2.

You also get FREE AOL & UNLIMITED INTARNET!!!

Yikes.  Marketing really is the eighth wonder of the world.  There were also AOL links in the IE favorites, and personal toolbar.

I won't go into the control panel applets or the volume controls.  They are exactly the same as with the Audigy2.  You can check out our Audigy2 review here for those details.