IMO more effort than it's worth, I would just add an ESS Solo-1 pci card if thats the experence you wanted to replicate.

Depends. The Solo-1 supported SB-Link. The on-board chip might have the wiring for it.

Jo22 wrote on 2024-12-26, 16:19:

Depends. The Solo-1 supported SB-Link. The on-board chip might have the wiring for it.

There's a SB-link connector on the motherboard.

BinaryDemon wrote on 2024-12-26, 16:17:

IMO more effort than it's worth, I would just add an ESS Solo-1 pci card if thats the experence you wanted to replicate.

One could argue most of the things we do on this forum is more effort than it's worth, if we don't consider the fun of tinkering with old computers that is 😀)

I wonder if it's that simple - just populate the socket, and it works, or if it's pointless.

BinaryDemon wrote on 2024-12-26, 16:17:

IMO more effort than it's worth, I would just add an ESS Solo-1 pci card if thats the experence you wanted to replicate.

Also I have a cheap Chinese card with ESS Solo-1. The game port isn't connected, there's no SB-link, everything is barebones. I wouldn't lose much by taking out the chip from that board.

songoffall wrote on 2024-12-26, 17:20:

I wonder if it's that simple - just populate the socket, and it works, or if it's pointless.

Yes most of the times filling in the missing components will get you a working feature. Keep in mind though that "just" populating the socket includes finding the chip and spotting all the complementary surrounding components and their values.

It might be necessary to install some SMD components around the Solo-1 chip, if the board has room for those.

Personally, I wouldn't bother with putting the Solo-1 there without knowing all the other parts that the chip may need.

konc wrote on 2024-12-26, 17:45:

songoffall wrote on 2024-12-26, 17:20:

I wonder if it's that simple - just populate the socket, and it works, or if it's pointless.

Yes most of the times filling in the missing components will get you a working feature. Keep in mind though that "just" populating the socket includes finding the chip and spotting all the complementary surrounding components and their values.

Solo-1 is quite well documented, and there are data sheets out there for it. Another source might be finding someone who has the same board with the Solo-1 installed.

Joseph_Joestar wrote on 2024-12-26, 17:45:

It might be necessary to install some SMD components around the Solo-1 chip, if the board has room for those.

Personally, I wouldn't bother with putting the Solo-1 there without knowing all the other parts that the chip may need.

Agreed. I would need to follow the traces and compare them to the data sheets, because it is just it - an onboard sound card, and I would expect it to be some version of the reference design.

Now that I think of it, the Solo-1 chip on my cheap Chinese card may have been originally salvaged from an old motherboard.

I Think that even if quite an effort is needed it would be cool to do it. If upgrade is possible what not to do it? Especially of you like that mobo.