Windows 7

Pete · Wed 12 Aug, 2009 16.52

The generic graphics driver is not the issue really, its just an irritation that ATI are so stubborn as to refuse to let me even try and install their nice little app on my PC. The driver that windows installs is perfectly suitable.

No the crunch issue is the sound card,

that is what appears on vista. However on 7, i get a nasty control panel app that crashes half the time and won't do the majority of the functions. Without the mixer app I can't have the virtual surround sound added properly nor can I get the nice global equaliser effect or alter the individual speaker levels or bass redirection options. It's very frustrating and would require me to essentialy buy new stuff, which given that I have a socket 939 machine means I might as well be pouring money down the drain as I need to replace the entire thing eventually.

It's a shame as it was really nice being finally able to use a 64 bit operating system. (and before anyone asks, no it wouldn't install on the 32 bit version either)

lukey · Wed 12 Aug, 2009 17.21

Isn't the virtual surround and software EQ all a bit shitty anyway? Like the equivalent of piling on the bass settings on MP3 players in a poor attempt to make them sound less tinny?

Sput · Wed 12 Aug, 2009 17.25

lukey wrote:Isn't the virtual surround and software EQ all a bit shitty anyway? Like the equivalent of piling on the bass settings on MP3 players in a poor attempt to make them sound less tinny?

cdd · Wed 12 Aug, 2009 17.32

My old laptop had Virtual Surround Sound. I think it worked by inverting one of the channels. It sounded ghastly.

Meanwhile the Win7 audio control panel rocks. They've even replaced the XP microphone monitor (Recording-->Microphone-->Listen-->Listen to this device) which is handy among other things for playing an ipod out of a computer's speakers.

Nick Harvey · Wed 12 Aug, 2009 18.02

Surely all you guys are totally missing the point.

If you upgrade to Windows 7, you also need to upgrade all of your hardware and all of your software applications.

Bloody hell, we'll never get out of this recession if you don't.

Pete · Wed 12 Aug, 2009 18.20

lukey wrote:Isn't the virtual surround and software EQ all a bit shitty anyway? Like the equivalent of piling on the bass settings on MP3 players in a poor attempt to make them sound less tinny?

It's not virtual surround as such, not like the god awful thing on my laptop that just makes it sound odd. No this just redirects stereo to the rear as well so I get a nice effect like in the car with normal music whilst proper surround sound things work perfectly.