brostenen wrote:That's what I thought as well, when asking this question.
Taking everything in account, I think it is a question wether it shoul […]
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That's what I thought as well, when asking this question.
Taking everything in account, I think it is a question wether it should be the old 32 or the never 64 GOLD edition.
For me, asking about these cards for use in DOS gaming. I was simply thinking of wether the 32 is a better choice.
When used in an older DOS box. Let's say a 80486dx2 using games up until 1994/96.
Most of the really old games, supports OPL, yet not SB16, and I know SB-Pro cards are probably better for this.
I just see the AWE32 as a better card, supporting more games the right way, compared to the AWE64.
The AWE64-Gold is of course a better choice, looking at the sound quality, as compared to the AWE32's compatibility.
For the case issue.... Well.. That is a different question, as I have two of such cases at home. 😀
As I said, I think it comes down to "Do you like the sound of OPL FM-synthesis, or don't you?"
If you don't, then having genuine OPL isn't going to matter. Personally, I never liked it much, and I still don't, despite a slight tingle in my "nostalgia-nerve" when I hear OPL music.
If, on the other hand, you really like the sound of genuine OPL, then I think the answer is simple...
Sound Blaster Pro 2 😜
Naw, I jest. If you DO want the real OPL sound, then an AWE32 is going to be the better choice.
Personally, I think having an AWE64 is just as good, because to me FM sound is a last resort, and for that the EMU8000 emulation is good enough.
That being said, in my 486, I have an SB16 (for compatibility) and a GUS. And that SB16 has real OPL.
In the case of only having a single sound card though, like I do in my K6-III system, then I've gone with an AWE64 Gold.
The RCA's makes it easier to plug into an amplifier and generally have fewer issues than mini-jacks.
WinXP : PIII 1.4GHz, 512MB RAM, 73GB SCSI HDD, Matrox Parhelia, SB Audigy 2.
Win98se : K6-3+ 500MHz, 256MB RAM, 80GB HDD, Matrox Millennium G400 MAX, Voodoo 2, SW1000XG.
DOS6.22 : Intel DX4, 64MB RAM, 1.6GB HDD, Diamond Stealth64 DRAM, GUS 1MB, SB16.