View Full Version : sound blaster recommendations


aaron
9-08-02, 03:21 PM
Ok I know Creative Labs makes about 32,467 different types of sound cards, and I don't feel like researching every card. Right now I have a Sound Blaster AWE 64 Gold ISA card. I absolutely love it, BUT, I'm looking at upgrading to a Pentium 4 probably next year, and I cannot find ANY Pentium 4 motherboards that have ISA slots.

Mainly I hate PCI sound cards because several of my DOS games sound like total shit under PCI sound. I bought a first generation SB Live in 99 and it was just total shit. Almost all of my DOS and DOS 32 games made a really loud buzzing sound, yet nothing under Windows did this. Hence, I have an ISA card.

I can deal with getting a PCI card, but heres my dilemma. I found an SB16 PCI WAVE128 Voice 3D card for $20, which I have used and they are alright, but DOS games STILL have problems under those. I can get the SB Live card for around $40, and the Audigy cards for $100 and up.

Well, I don't need anything spectacular. I'm not a heavy gamer, mostly I just listen to music. I know the SB16 will work fine, but when I do play games (rarely), I want it to sound GOOD. My AWE 64 Gold does a great job, but I'm going to have to retire it soon. So now I need to find a good replacement card.

I don't need a $150 sound card, I know that much. Sound isn't THAT important to me, but I am willing to spend some green on it, just to get good sound, including gaming, when I do it.

So what can anybody recommend me? Again, gaming is not a big deal, but when I do play, I want great quality. Most of those high end SB cards are just way overkill for me.

Shakey
9-09-02, 01:52 AM
ISA slots are becoming harder and harder to find. I had an ISA Creative modem that I loved, but when I built the new system, I had to lose it.

I have a SB Live! X-Gamer that I paid about $100 for. It's okay, but I have noticed more and more frequently that it tends to have issues with newer games (causing slowdowns and the like as is the case with "Mafia" currently). I'm really not sure what models are out right now, but I do know this. The next time I decide to upgrade I am seriously going to look at the Santa Cruz and Phillips cards. They seem to be getting betters reviews these days than SB cards.

Maybe someone else here has shoppped for a card more recently and can give you a better perspective.