get the x-fi. it is the best sounding compatible card. there are better sounding cards but they aren't compatible with a like of xp stuff like media center and basic sound schemes.
I know that I once argue here that the x-fi sound just as good as the audigy series. I've since learn that
I was wrong about that. the x-fi an m-audio higher end cards sounds way better. So I apologized to 003 and dj chris who tried to hip me to that fact.
the audigy series distorts when the volume is past 3/4. the better cards don't distort at any volume when the eq is flat. I've never put the audigy card at the clipping level so that was of no concern to me, that was part of my argument (I said that they sounded the same if you didn't clip the outputs). but the audigy also has a high end rolloff in the treble that most people won't notice until they hear a better card. the x-fi also put out 2 volts on the outputs (the m-audiophile 192 does 4)