Creative Xi-Fi XtremeGamer soundcard - can it really be used for music creation?

Hi all,
 
Short Version:
Basically, I'm contemplating merging my music pc with my spare gaming pc components (s/card and GPU) to make a slightly comprimised gaming and music system, and I'm wondering if the Xi-Fi XtremeGamer s/card is any good within Sonar?
 
 
Long version:
My music pc has the Creative EMU 1616 audio interface which suits my music needs perfectly, but is totally useless for gaming. The Xi-Fi card has "Dolby Digital Live" which I want / need for occasional gaming sessions, but I'm concerned it generally won't be up to the job, regardless of the fact that the Xi-Fi has a music creation mode (along with gaming and entertainment modes).
 
My musical projects are all totally VSTi based (so I don't need /use the EMU 1616's connectivity on breakout box) and use a large amount of East West PLAY "synths". I mainly use a full orchestral and SATB choir project as a base setup, with every orchestral instrument / instrument group loaded in keyswitch form resulting in 6-7Gb memory usage.
 
The pc in question will be using an old Q6600 CPU, currently running @ stock speed of 2.4Ghz, but is overclockable to 3.2Ghz if required, and it'll have 8Gb DDR2 800Mhz RAM, standard SATA II HDD, all on a basic but functional Gigabyte mobo (which if I merged systems would then be running a XFX 680i mobo).
 
I have been using good ol' Windows XP (x64) for music, but this will probably also change to Windows 7 (x64).
 
 
I know one answer is to just try it, but I thought I'd ask here first before I start pulling computers apart. I also know that it's no-way ideal having one system for both games and music, but I currently can't afford 2 "proper" computers and I'm only a musical hobbyist, nothing too serious going on.
 
 
Any thoughts or comments would be most appreciated.

Any thoughts or comments would be most appreciated.

 
I wouldn't bother with the SB for proper audio recording/mixing.
Like Beagle mentioned, install use both (Emu for audio, SB for games).
 
I'd OC the Q6600 to 3.2GHz

you just have to tell windows and sonar which soundcards to use is all.  it's not difficult to configure.

do you have 5 monitors???  ;-)

do you have 5 monitors???  ;-)

Yes, well I did until this afternoon - I've just pulled apart everything you see in my profile picture, including the desk which I'm now half way through cutting up to make a smaller version of the same desk (is going into another room in the house, with smaller space available). Part of the relocation, resizing, and different pc build will mean that I'll have to go back down to 2 monitors - which when you're used to using 5 will result in a tight squeeze of Sonar space! I'll hopefully adjust and learn to live with it somehow (:
 
@ fireberd:
Thanks for your input also. The problem you've described is pretty much what I was assuming might happen, even if it may be a SB card specific issue. I'm going to have to wait quite a few days until my setup is up and running again, but I'll give running my Xi-Fi and EMU together (in same pc) a go and hope I don't run into the same / any conflicts.
 
 
Thanks again chaps!

I've had two monitors before, but I think three would be great (no bar in the middle).  Then, naturally, the next big jump would be to six and THAT would be completely, ridiculousy, and absolutely unnecessarily wonderful.

Hey Dave,

Once you have your rig setup with the ATI Eyefinity, slap 4 Matrox TripleHead2Go units in the mix and have 12 monitors running. You shouldn't run out of space with that, but you may lose where the hell the mouse cursor is like all the time  (: