appiah4 wrote:

Go on amazon and do a search for StarTech Serial

Thanks. There is an ISA and PCI version. Perfect.

Intel486dx33 wrote:

They do have connectors for PS/2 mouse and serial ports too. But no I don't have any compatible connectors.

Ah, nice. If they have an onboard PS/2 connector, you can add a simple PS/2 bracket, that won't take a PCI slot (but will still require a slot on the back of the case). They make them in combo with parallel/serial ports as well. Then you can have an optical mouse (serial limits you to ball mice).

dr_st wrote:

No ISA sound card? So you don't plan to use this system for pure DOS gaming, only from within Windows?

On a system like this I would prefer a PS/2 mouse, but I guess the AT board is the limiting factor here. You'd need a PCI to PS/2 card, and a lot of your slots are already populated...

Philscomputerlab.com has DOS drivers for the SB live 5.1.
But I might change it out with a Yamaha YMF-7xx

Intel486dx33 wrote:

Philscomputerlab.com has DOS drivers for the SB live 5.1.

Yes, but even so - PCI cards compatibility with DOS games in pure DOS is not as good as that of ISA cards, and the SB Live is not even among the most compatible ones. Ironically, PCI cards from other vendors often have better compatibility to legacy Sound Blaster than Creative's own solutions (Live/Audigy).

I spot potential mounting issues, if any ISA card, are longer than the slot it self. There are lots of componen behind the slots and there might be a problem with front panel wires. It is the header just behind the lowest positioned ISA slot.

My advise, is to get an Audician32 type of card (YMF-718/719), use a Dreamblaster-S/X MIDI board on it and if you want any PCI soundcard, then go for an YMF-724/744. My advise is based on your needs for late era Dos gaming compatibility and early era Win98 era gaming compatibility.

I have never been a fan of any Creative labs PCI card, for Win98 and or Dos. For pure Win98 gaming (in were you avoid ANY dos games), then fine, a SB-Live is decent. I guess. To some extend and degree... Personally I will rather go for a SB-Pci128 type of card. The SB-Live card are to me, the absolute last resort.

dr_st wrote:

Intel486dx33 wrote:

Philscomputerlab.com has DOS drivers for the SB live 5.1.

Yes, but even so - PCI cards compatibility with DOS games in pure DOS is not as good as that of ISA cards, and the SB Live is not even among the most compatible ones. Ironically, PCI cards from other vendors often have better compatibility to legacy Sound Blaster than Creative's own solutions (Live/Audigy).

Only way to get full MS Dos support with an PCI soundcard, when you are running in MS-Dos-6.22 and down. Is to have a sound card and motherboard, that has PcPci/Sb-Link headers. Using a YMF-724/744 card or similair, will give you close but not 100% compatibility, if you are not using SB-Link. And then again it is not a guarantee that you get it, even if the motherboard has SB-Link header. I was able to get it to work on a VC-820 board, yet I have not been able to get it to work on an Epox MVP-3 board.

brostenen wrote:

I spot potential mounting issues, if any ISA card, are longer than the slot it self. There are lots of componen behind the slots and there might be a problem with front panel wires. It is the header just behind the lowest positioned ISA slot.

My advise, is to get an Audician32 type of card (YMF-718/719), use a Dreamblaster-S/X MIDI board on it and if you want any PCI soundcard, then go for an YMF-724/744. My advise is based on your needs for late era Dos gaming compatibility and early era Win98 era gaming compatibility.

I've determined for myself a while ago that my preferred audio options for a DOS gaming system are either the Audician+Daughterboard, or AWE64. Both have some advantages and disadvantages relative to one another, but are generally very capable, compatible and easy to set up. If going down the AWE64 route, I'd suggest the AWE64 Value CT4520, because of the card length problem you mentioned.

brostenen wrote:

Only way to get full MS Dos support with an PCI soundcard, when you are running in MS-Dos-6.22 and down. Is to have a sound card and motherboard, that has PcPci/Sb-Link headers. Using a YMF-724/744 card or similair, will give you close but not 100% compatibility, if you are not using SB-Link. And then again it is not a guarantee that you get it, even if the motherboard has SB-Link header. I was able to get it to work on a VC-820 board, yet I have not been able to get it to work on an Epox MVP-3 board.

Indeed. That's why I would always suggest the ISA route first, if you have a board that supports it. PCI sound cards for DOS are a compromise to be used where there is no alternative.

I had to order a few PS/2 connectors for use with PS/2 mouse.

Intel486dx33 wrote:

I had to order a few PS/2 connectors for use with PS/2 mouse.

Make sure to confirm the pinout. There appears to be a wide variety of pinouts for PS/2 motherboard connectors.

Uhh, My motherboard just died. Looks like a bad capacitor.
I am going to swap it out for another one and try again.

Nice, I am getting ready for a second SS7 build- with AOpen AX59PRO + 512RAM + K6-III+ 400/550 + Voodoo 5500 + SB Live 5.1

First system is LyckyTech P5MVP3, K6-2-500, 256 RAM, Voodoo 3 2000, SB Live 5.1

May I ask where did you get the case from?