I've seen these sound cards popping up at QGL Lans over the last few months, evident buy their distinctive external rack connected to the PC via a phat cable.

http://hardware.qgl.org/images/articles/herc_gtxp/pack_s.jpg
They seem to be ideally suited for the headphone policy at most Lans in the AusGamers network. I've managed to acquire one for review and this is the result.

looks sexy.. i wouldnt pay for one though

i think it was worth the money i paid for it

250 bucks well spent

Here here.

They fken rock, can change presets SCHO EASY, thats just one tiny good sweet feature of them.

tung and wARt, wher edo you have yours seated on your desk? mine is on my monit0r

330 bucks well spent.

i'd like one...but the fact that it doesn't fit in a case rack is a bit of a downer

mine is beside my monitor
i have a super setup with uber sony stereo

the only down side is the drivers have one bug left
when i boot up my eq changes

Hmm wARt I don't have the problem.. Mine only sets itself back after a rebbot coz the settings are too gay for my speakers, coz they are too gay.

are you running the 3.02 drivers?

I have the xps510's from hercules running on it, it's awesome, movies, music and p... whops lol sounds awesome, the only problem im having with it is with the usb ports, my mouse works fine on it but my printer and web cam for p... viewing lol won't work.

palms

I have one too, theyre great, gotta love having a volume control on the desk while youre ingame!

the headphone jack on mine is f***ed, and gayed-up umart reckons they are out of gtxp stock, so i cant get it replaced.
it has been 6 months now, and i am about to go postal on them.

i have a corner table, my monitor sits on the corner, to the left is my study area, to the right under the table is my case and on the table above the case is the gtxp, ill have to shift it around once my herc 510speakers actually get into ca :/

don't do it!
don't get herc speakers
from all reports they suck major balls

ooooooo, nice colour change guys :D

aawis

Yeah I have a gtxp.. Pretty mad sound card!
worth the money :)

They look cool, but it is too expensive for me... :) I like the idea of the rack, it makes it easy to use.

if your straped for cash get the Hercules FortiSSmo II gamesurround
its basicly a GTXP without the box
and has lots of juicy features such as optical i/o 2 speaker outputs and a headphone output mic in line in joystick etc etc.
aparently does EAX 1.0/2.0 better and less cpu utilisation than the sb lives. aswell as aureal vortex1/2 and Dsound3d hardware

I got one, damm perdy, after that nasty via chip + sound blaster live = death bug. i decided to stay clear of creative. and yes, headphone socket = best feature, especialy how it mutes the speakers.

i think the box is a bit of a wank.

you guys seem to just use it for volume control and switching between headphones and speakers and my gamevoice does that very nicly.

i would look at getting a FortiSSmo II gamesurround if the sound quality was good, but the box is just too much. (gayness, not money).

ok so now that i know which sound card i want (This one ofcourse!) what speakers do i want? nothing less then 4 speakers and a sub is acceptable.

ideas welcome :)

If it supports EAX and A3D, what happens if u turn both on in a game?

and which is better to have on, A3D or EAX 1/2?

Now now strex you know that goin postal will only provoke harsher ratings on great games. BTW want one so bad does anyone know what its like running $300 speakers off a $80 soundcard Noooo

So its 5.1 isnt it not 6.1 ... oh ...

BTW I got some deal from a guy for brisbane for the Hercules 510 speakers for 165 bux including courier delivery home, I hope their ok computer speakers

Angelus, i have the Gametheter XP, with These and a smaller version satelite set of speakers connected to This. the equiptment is a bit old now, but it be kicken much de arsen. and i dont need a sub, 4x 8" woofers are fine for my small room :D

Im probably going to get one soon, mainly for the optical outs. Mmm...minidiskalicious.

don't do it!
don't get herc speakers
from all reports they suck major balls

Are you nuts? I haven't seen a single review yet that says the Herc speakers are anything less than excellent.
And the gtxp's can be nade to be 6.1 by using the 3.02 driver, and connecting the center rear speaker to the hadphone outlet (apparently).

Mmm...minidiskalicious

I was thinking the same thing :)

We had a party here not so long ago and someone said to me great sound you have up there in your room, I have the xps510's hooked up tp my xp theater, what can i say but smile.

palms.