VOGONS


First post, by GiSWiG

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I was thinking of upgrading my AWE64 Value to a Gold. Soon, I'll be using an external MIDI synth via USB to SC-55 or MT-32 emulator but eventually the real deal.

Is it worth upgrading from the Value to the Gold?

Steamer/GOG-er: ASUS Crosshair IV Formula | AMD Phenom II X6 1100T 3.7GHz all cores | Mushkin 8GB DDR3 RAM 1333 w/ 6-6-6-18 1T | Dual AMD Radeon HD 6850s in CrossFireX | X-Fi Titanium | Dual-boot Windows XP and Vista

Reply 2 of 10, by GiSWiG

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I think I'll hold off until I don't know what else to buy. I've got DOSBox setup to use the Sound Canvas VA, MUNT and the Yamaha S-YXG50 and I can display them on a second monitor but having the real box, that orange backlit LCD, just seems so cool (yes, the SC-55) but I definitely would love a MT-32 too. Once I got that going on a nice DOS/Win98 PC, then I'll consider the AWE64 Gold.

Steamer/GOG-er: ASUS Crosshair IV Formula | AMD Phenom II X6 1100T 3.7GHz all cores | Mushkin 8GB DDR3 RAM 1333 w/ 6-6-6-18 1T | Dual AMD Radeon HD 6850s in CrossFireX | X-Fi Titanium | Dual-boot Windows XP and Vista

Reply 3 of 10, by firage

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Yeah, the differences aren't huge. The 4MB onboard SoundFont capacity might make a difference, depending on your needs.

The AWE64 Gold (CT4390/CT4540) has RCA line outputs and no amplifier chip. Other AWE64's (CT4380, CT4500, CT4520) have a TDA1517P driving a speaker output, which is also usual on other mid-90's Sound Blasters after the TEA2025B. I don't think there's been any real consensus about one design outperforming the other, quality wise.

The big chips are pretty similar. The Gold had two further mixer revisions (CT1745A-S and -SCP), and the CT4540 has another revision of the main AWE chip. The CT4520 is a lot more integrated than the rest, don't know much about them.

Lastly, you get a coax SPDIF output header (and bracket, unless lost) with the Gold.

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Reply 4 of 10, by appiah4

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Yeah it's a significant upgrade. The 4MB onboard RAM can hold some significant SF2 soundfonts including the 4MB Creative one, the SCCT and the Yamaha XG ones. And that can make a huge difference.

That said, given what a Gold usually costs you may want to grab one of the SIMMCONN adapters currently in production by Dreamblaster instead IMO.

Retronautics: A digital gallery of my retro computers, hardware and projects.

Reply 7 of 10, by CodeFuApprentice

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Many years ago, i wanted to get an AWE64 Gold, though when i discovered the memory upgrades were more difficult to acquire, i went for an AWE 32.
Wait....CT2760? How expensive?....what kind of price do they sell for?
I only ask because after i bought mine in 2000, i ended up buying a second one as it was bundled with the DB50XG daughterboard i have. (Both were second hand when i bought them, and i got them cheap) Basically i only needed 1...though i kept both of them all these years.

AMD K6-3 400 | Gigabyte GA-5AX R4.1 | 256MB PC-100 | 20GB Quantum Fireball LMPlus | Windows 98 SE
*Alternating between: Geforce 2 MX AGP or 3DFX Voodoo 5 5500 AGP. *Sound Blaster AWE-32 CT2760 or Turtle Beach Santa Cruz w/ Yamaha DB50XG.

Reply 8 of 10, by The Serpent Rider

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Finding a good AWE32 (CT2760, CT3980) is more expensive than an AWE64 Gold + new SIMMCONN.

Sound Blaster 32 models got you covered.

I must be some kind of standard: the anonymous gangbanger of the 21st century.

Reply 9 of 10, by MKT_Gundam

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Hi guys
I just got a AWE32 3670 ( use AWE 64 chips) and i have 2 x 1MB 30-pin ram to put. Will be enough to load some basic soundfonts?
I am aware about the lack of true OPL3 and i plan to use it on my p2 450 with win98SE. I want just use for later and non speed sensitive DOS games.

Retro rig 1: Asus CUV4X, VIA c3 800, Voodoo Banshee (Diamond fusion) and SB32 ct3670.
Retro rig 2: Intel DX2 66, SB16 Ct1740 and Cirrus Logic VLB.

Reply 10 of 10, by chinny22

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MKT_Gundam wrote:

Hi guys
I just got a AWE32 3670 ( use AWE 64 chips) and i have 2 x 1MB 30-pin ram to put. Will be enough to load some basic soundfonts?
I am aware about the lack of true OPL3 and i plan to use it on my p2 450 with win98SE. I want just use for later and non speed sensitive DOS games.

Its more then the 512kb onboard so wont hurt to have it.