VOGONS

Search

Common searches

Help me choose a sound card...

Topic actions

First post, by deanodley

Posted on 
User metadata
Rank Newbie
Rank
Newbie

Hi all, so back in the day I used to build PCs for gamers and musicians and now I am revisiting the past to build a late-era Windows 98 machine for gaming.
So far I have a Sempron 3000+ running on an MSI K8T800 board with a 8287+ southbridge, GEForce 6800/512 and 1MB PC3200 RAM.
The system has the "final" DX9.0c from Dec 2006.

Everything is flying using the on-board VIA sound, but I would like to install a dedicated sound card.
Looking though my old parts I have the following PCI cards:
- TB Montego II Vortex AU8820B2
- Diamond MX300 Vortex 2 AU8830A2
- SB Audigy 2 ZS
I don't seem to have any of the S/PDIF breakout brackets etc., just the cards.

Which one is the best choice for late-era W98 games, considering driver compatibility and the target system ?

Thanks in advance for any help.
Dean

Reply 1 of 3, by Shponglefan

Posted on 
User metadata
Rank l33t
Rank
l33t
deanodley wrote on 2024-04-07, 16:49:

- Diamond MX300 Vortex 2 AU8830A2
- SB Audigy 2 ZS

If you have two PCI slots, I would install both the MX300 and the Audigy.

The Diamond MX300 will be ideal for games that support A3D sound (esp. A3D 2.0). While the Audigy will be ideal for games that support EAX.

I've been working on a recent build with both cards and dual Windows 98 SE installs with setups tailored to each card: Pentium 4 Multi-OS Build Log (DOS/3.11/95/NT4/98/2k/Me/XP)

If you only have one PCI slot or only want to install one card, I would look at the games you want to play and whether they support EAX or A3D and make a choice accordingly.

Last edited by Shponglefan on 2024-04-07, 17:30. Edited 1 time in total.

Pentium 4 Multi-OS Build
486 DX4-100 with 6 sound cards
486 DX-33 with 5 sound cards

Reply 2 of 3, by deanodley

Posted on 
User metadata
Rank Newbie
Rank
Newbie
Shponglefan wrote on 2024-04-07, 17:03:
If you have two PCI slots, I would install both the MX300 and the Audigy. […]
Show full quote
deanodley wrote on 2024-04-07, 16:49:

- Diamond MX300 Vortex 2 AU8830A2
- SB Audigy 2 ZS

If you have two PCI slots, I would install both the MX300 and the Audigy.

The Diamond MX300 will be ideal for games that support A3D sound (esp. A3D 2.0). While the Audigy will be ideal for games that support EAX.

I've been working on a recent build with both cards and dual Windows 98 SE installs with setups for tailored to each card: Pentium 4 Multi-OS Build Log (DOS/3.11/95/NT4/98/2k/Me/XP)

If you only have one PCI slot or only want to install one card, I would look at the games you want to play and whether they support EAX or A3D and make a choice accordingly.

That's really interesting, I hadn't thought of using both !!!

Reply 3 of 3, by Shponglefan

Posted on 
User metadata
Rank l33t
Rank
l33t
deanodley wrote on 2024-04-07, 17:28:

That's really interesting, I hadn't thought of using both !!!

It's the more complicated option, but it does result in having the best of both sound cards. 😀

Pentium 4 Multi-OS Build
486 DX4-100 with 6 sound cards
486 DX-33 with 5 sound cards

Go to top of page Go to top of page
Back to Sound
Close window
Close window