5u3 wrote:This would be the ultimate AWE card, if you don't care about the missing WB connector (this card most likely has the "hanging note bug", so no big loss there). However, this model seems to be rare.
I found two listings for SoundBlaster 32s(they're not called AWE32, just plain SoundBlaster 32) on eBay. Have a look here: http://cgi.ebay.ca/Sound-Blaster-32-VIBRA-OPL … =item5adbf81627
And here: http://cgi.ebay.ca/Sound-Blaster-CT3930-Vibra … =item483c89c897
Might try to snag one of these.
5u3 wrote:What about a normal AWE32 then? Many models have the OPL3 integrated into the CT1747 chip.
Unless they have a chip that says OPL on it(and I think those were abandoned somewhere during the days of the SoundBlaster 16), all AWE32s contain a Yamaha YMF262 clone developed by Creative, and one that's inferior to ESS' ESFM YMF262 clone(the one flaw with this one is some slight differences with the white noise). So in that case, you'll lose authenticity on the FM Synthesis end.
Let me explain: during the days of the SoundBlaster 16, Creative was condensing the hardware more and more as the card got older. At first, it had a discrete YMF262, then Creative went ahead and integrated the YMF262 in the CT1747. Later on, however, the CT1747 got a different implementation of the YMF262, which is that of a clone developed by Creative. If you look at some of the earlier SoundBlaster 16s with CT1747s, you will see OPL written on the chip. Later CT1747s don't have OPL written on them because Creative's YMF262 clone is used instead of the real Yamaha YMF262 in an ASIC-based implementation.
EDIT: Okay, clearly, I've made a mistake. The CT1747 has an actual ASIC-based YMF262, no clone, at least not on the AWE32. No wonder I heard a report of the AWE32 outputting scrambled notes from the YMF262 in certain games when the AWE64, running on the same computer, did not output garbage(Creative's cloned YMF262 will tolerate CPUs with higher clock speeds than the real Yamaha YMF262).
I think I see where the cloned YMF262 came in. I believe SoundBlaster 16s that don't have a discrete YMF262 or a CT1747 chip on the sound card are the ones with Creative's clone, and my guess is that those cards are the cheaper models of the SoundBlaster 16 line. Case and point, my SoundBlaster 16 WavEffects. It has a single Vibra16XV chip on the sound card, nothing more. Even the AWE64 doesn't have the CT1747. Can someone confirm whether the cheaper models of the SoundBlaster 16 truly contain nothing but Creative's cloned YMF262?