AWE64 Gold on a 486? \ VOGONS

AWE64 Gold on a 486?

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First post, by boxpressed

Posted on 2014-07-03, 23:16

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I just picked up my first AWE64 Gold card and installed it in my 486 box. Upon running the install program, I got a message saying that wavetable synthesis would not be installed because my computer was not powerful enough (it recommended a Pentium 90 and 8MB RAM). While I do have exactly 8MB of RAM, my CPU is a 486DX2-50.

My question is whether it is worth adding the AWE64 to this box. I can replace it with a SB Pro 2.0, which works great. I also have a GUS Classic (albeit with only 256K RAM). Would I be missing out on anything without the AWE64? I'd not a huge stickler for "period correct," but it seems as though the AWE64 was never really intended for the 486.

Reply 1 of 7, by Mau1wurf1977

Posted on 2014-07-04, 07:08

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Hmmm never seen such a message. Tried the SBBASIC and CTCM setup files from the Creative site?

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Reply 2 of 7, by bjt

Posted on 2014-07-04, 08:42

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I'm guessing you got this error while installing the Windows software? It will refer to the WavEffects software wavetable synth. You can still use the hardware wavetable on the AWE64.

Reply 3 of 7, by boxpressed

Posted on 2014-07-04, 17:55

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Everything was handled through MS-DOS 6.2. I don't have Windows loaded on the hard drive at all. I put in the CD I burned from the ISO from vogonsdrivers.com and typed "install" at the DOS prompt. I believe the install program loaded CTCM first, then proceeded with the rest of the install.

Reply 4 of 7, by bristlehog

Posted on 2014-07-04, 18:04

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AWE64 Gold, despite being released in 1997, suits a 486. Its 'wavetable' synth engine is hardware and doesn't require any computing resources other than some (not much) memory for patch management information if non-default sound set is used.

If it happens so that setup utility swears at you for having a slow PC, ignore it and install needed drivers manually.

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Reply 5 of 7, by boxpressed

Posted on 2014-07-04, 18:14

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Good to know. I also forgot that SMARTDRV was using 2MB of XMS, so I'll try the install again without it.

Reply 6 of 7, by AlphaWing

Posted on 2014-07-04, 19:11

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Get the same message on Non-intel cpu's like my cyrix pr200
Just ignore it, like above posts pointed out it should work fine.

Reply 7 of 7, by ElectricMonk

Posted on 2014-07-05, 15:16

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I had to wait to use my AWE64, until I upgraded to a P2-300 machine. 440BX chipset

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