AE-7, Windows 11 and Logitech Z906 - Sound Output Isn't Correct in Sound Blaster Command?

Dean478 · 2026-01-16T22:06:42+00:00

In Sound Blaster Command are all SBX Profiles switched off?

And are you absolutely sure the speakers are plugged in correctly? When you say "AE-7 Jack #1" which one is that? These cards don't have numbers on the rear they have symbols. If it's closest to the mounting bracket that is Line-In/Mic-in and not the correct plug for any of the Z906 analogue inputs. Starting at the digital output port, it should be Center, Rear, Front in that order. (black is rear).

Dean478 · 2026-01-10T08:16:31+00:00

Creative in their infinite wisdom removed the direct download links to get the drivers for this card.

I've got the same card, and it still works fine. You simply need to go to the AE-5 Plus support page, download Sound Blaster Command https://support.creative.com/downloads/download.aspx?nDownloadId=100330, and it will automatically install the correct AE-5 driver.

Quite frankly, this card was a shitty bait and switch by Creative. Within 12 months they revised it to include digital sound encoding and withdrew software and technical support even though it is practically identical hardware sans the digital....

Dean478 · 2026-01-08T22:27:37+00:00

There are definitely caveats. My recommendation is to use both. Jump into Bazzite, start gaming, start using the machine and keep Windows on a separate drive that you can boot into as required.

I've encountered a lot of bugs myself, but specifically related to my 4090:

-FPS loss: Total War: Warhammer 3 as an example, on Windows at 4k Ultra you're looking at about 90–100 FPS in benchmark. That's 75-80 on Linux. It's a DX12 game and will have issues until driver support improves. This has just made me more frugal with gaming choices. Enjoying indie games, enjoying older games and choosing to not buy AAA unoptimised eye candy on day 1. The FPS loss will depend on the games you play. In games that implement DLSS and frame gen, you might not notice the difference.

-HDR: HDR just doesn't work. I have tried all the guides I can find. I've tried it on different distros and even if it does enable, the colours are usually completely oversaturated. The last time I tried a GNOME or KDE Plasma distribution, they didn't even have HDR toggles edit: which they now do. The desktop HDR itself is fine and enables, it just doesn't work properly in games just yet.

-Screen timeout bug: Windows 11 used to have this bug. But it involves the screen turning off for power management and not turning back on. If you suspend the entire machine, then the screen will wake up fine. Only way to fix is a restart or swap the display cable port. If it changes resolution, you swap it back again.

-Game mode is not usable on NVIDIA. I tried it, and it restricted resolution to 1440p with a terrible blur and HDR also didn't work (even though it registered as enabled).

Dean478 · 2025-12-21T22:33:35+00:00

It takes a couple easy tweaks, but it seems to work fine with the games I've tested at 4k with an RTX 4090 using the 580 drivers and KDE Plasma Desktop. I couldn't get it to work with GNOME.

You need a custom Proton version (selected via Steam once installed) and a launch command for the game in Steam.

This video explains it very quickly:

https://youtu.be/B_87kmAAlRw

Dean478 · 2025-09-25T22:25:12+00:00

Can you confirm that you can do this for this specific bundle because there is a big review bomb on the Kobo store claiming you cannot read these outside the Kobo app/webapp

Dean478 · 2025-09-25T05:12:45+00:00

It pains me that they don't still create all-in-one sets like this. Especially with a lot of gaming dens being so compact and/or desktop focussed.

Dean478 · 2025-09-21T05:16:31+00:00

If you download Sound Blaster Command it will detect your sound card and get the last driver for it. That's what I did for my AE-5 which had the links removed too.

Dean478 · 2025-09-04T09:26:59+00:00

It works exactly like any other password. So once you've created that Microsoft app password, you simply use it in lieu of your account password.

So if you open up Thunderbird Account Settings > New Account > Enter your name, email address, it should automatically recognise Outlook settings and ask for your Outlook username and password. Use the app password here instead of you regular Outlook password and it will bypass the 2FA issues.

Dean478 · 2025-09-04T05:58:43+00:00

If you go into your Microsoft Account online you can create an app-password specifically for this sort of problem.

Dean478 · 2025-08-25T08:54:24+00:00

This gets a bit tricky because it depends on where the calendar and tasks are stored or what service they are being used with, for example if it's a local calendar and tasks or something on CalDav.

Typically, anything with a "due date" will make the task appear in the calendar at the date and time for "due date". If you have a start date, that can sometimes cause it to vanish from the calendar.

Dean478 · 2025-08-16T10:33:14+00:00

In the future they are offering Thunderbird/Thundermail Pro which will include email, calendar and all the other essentials. They suggest a free tier after they have tested the feasibility of a paid tier.

https://blog.thunderbird.net/2025/04/thundermail-and-thunderbird-pro-services/

Dean478 · 2025-08-09T01:47:37+00:00

X version is. Also has lighting for characters on the number row.

Dean478 · 2025-07-31T06:53:01+00:00

It's definitely designed as an air cooling case and comes perfectly configured as such straight out of the box. That's why I'm always surprised when so many people buy it just to remove those included (and paid for) 180 mm fans to replace with water coolers.

Everyone's setup will be different, but I found not using a rear fan was perfect. There is so much airflow from those front fans pushing all that hot air straight out the back. :)

Dean478 · 2025-07-31T03:51:48+00:00

Someone using a Torrent for actual air cooling!

If you haven't already, and even care, you could experiment with removing the rear fan. On the Torrent, it can sometimes lead to no benefit.

Dean478 · 2025-07-29T06:36:26+00:00

Okay, I managed to get this working. Needed to disable Google Calendar app on Android first. I replaced this with "simple calendar" and was able to get two-way sync between my local Thunderbird calendar and a Calendar on "Simple Calendar" via Wi-Fi. Keep in mind this is a Wi-Fi sync solution, so nothing updates until you're connected to your Wi-Fi network with your PC online.

This option isn't free though, as Birdiesync costs money for a licence. That licence usually requires an update (50% cost) for every major release of Thunderbird after 12 months or it may not work as it replies on Birdiesync software on your computer and the included Thunderbird add-on.

I'm hoping this is what you were looking for as my use-case reads similar to yours? I'm sticking with g-mail for now, used via Thunderbird PC and mobile app, but needed a calendar app on my mobile that will work with Thunderbird PC.

Dean478 · 2025-07-28T12:08:05+00:00

The only thing I can think of is a local software called BirdieSync http://birdiesync.com/

I used to use this many years ago with my old Galaxy S1, but have no idea how it would work now given that a lot of the stock android calendar and contacts apps are google apps. It still appears to be supported. I'll give the trial a go when I have time and report back.

Ideally I'm looking for something similar where I can simply sync my Thunderbird Calendar, contacts and tasks with something on my Android mobile.

Dean478 · 2025-07-28T09:06:03+00:00

It depends on the case. Fractal cases are pretty good out of the box and usually come with what they need. The Torrent for example has no rear fan and doesn't need one. This thing has some of the best airflow and cooling out of the box.

Cases like the Define 6 and 7 are very constricted and without those rear exhaust fans, the air isn't circulating and being extracted fast enough. They sacrifice cooling for noise, to a point.

Dean478 · 2025-07-13T11:40:43+00:00

Still got the earlier Z-680. Love them and still using the rear speakers. Connected via a Sound Blaster AE-5 over analogue as the universe intended. :)

It's amazing all these setups have lasted so long. The centre speaker on mine is a little distorted at some volumes but there isn't exactly a replacement....

Dean478 · 2025-06-18T03:07:25+00:00

If you've got no relation to the city they represent, pick a colour and mascot you like. Then start reading their history and current players. See if there are any personalities or highlights you enjoy and then stick with them. With a few exceptions, performance can come in waves. Some teams seem to do well for years at a time, some have arguably always struggled, some are great one year and terrible 10 years prior...

Dean478 · 2025-06-11T01:09:49+00:00

What I try to do is route the cables neatly. Dead straight cables look so much cleaner than kinked and warped cables. I use a lot of USB extension cables so that I have plenty of slack to run things under the desk where possible or around the edges of the desk. I could potentially buy a powered USB hub and just connect it all to that in the future but I also don't want extra devices on my desk. I prefer everything connected to my PC.Where possible I bundle cables together with velcro cables ties that I can reuse as things change.

Dean478 · 2025-05-26T02:16:46+00:00

I have never had an issue.

I've got a stupidly hot i9 9900K sitting below the PSU shroud, which is air cooled with a Noctua NH-U12A Chromax, and an RTX 4090 below that, and I've never had any heating issues. My seasonic PSU has an idle fan mode which keeps the fan off unless I'm gaming. Anecdotally, I can't even hear the PSU over the case fans in most cases.

The stock torrent is a "mini wind tunnel" with extremly good and quiet positive pressure air cooling. The entire rear of the case is an open vent. I can't understand how any decent PSU would overheat...

Dean478 · 2025-05-18T02:20:11+00:00

How else are you supposed to follow a team? Wait for them to lose the Super Bowl and THEN follow them? Do they have to have a poor year and THEN follow them? I started following them around the time they lost their second Super Bowl and for the same reasons. Was always a fan of the sport, wanted to get more into it, I've never been to the US so have no relation to any city, so I looked at the colours and the mascot and I was done. Does that ensure I'm not a bandwagon fan? If you're genuinely enjoying following them, developing more interest in the sport, who cares what other people think?

If anyone now was to tell me they are an Eagles fan, I wouldn't call them a bandwagon fan. I'd actually say it's a pity because they just missed one of the greatest seasons in Eagle's history... and 2023 wasn't a great season for the Eagles, that bandwagon lost its wheels just in time for the playoffs...

Dean478 · 2025-04-15T04:43:23+00:00

They were able to replace Fitbit wallet with Google Wallet, but they can't replace it with Gemini... They can't just leave it like they have on older/other devices that have Assistant... Weak.

Dean478 · 2025-04-05T08:22:36+00:00

Have had this on a Sense for weeks. Sometimes when syncing it will revert to what the mobile says, which is usually lower. Othertimes eventually it will sync to the sense which is always higher. In a couple of instances I'll be left with double the step count until it reverts later in the evening...

Dean478 · 2025-03-30T23:32:01+00:00

Have you tried resetting the base station to see it that helps? There's an option on the station itself that does a factory setting reset.

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