AWE64 seems like an obvious choice to fill the gap between AWE32 and SBLive.

AWE32 CT3980

Although P-II is more of a Windows machine. Not sure what DOS only game would need the power of P-II? As it seems you have all the DOS bases already covered.

kolderman wrote on 2023-04-08, 19:43:

AWE64 seems like an obvious choice to fill the gap between AWE32 and SBLive.

I thought about it too, but being a dedicated computer like pc DOS the lack of opl3 is rather annoying

AlessandroB wrote on 2023-04-08, 20:02:

kolderman wrote on 2023-04-08, 19:43:

AWE64 seems like an obvious choice to fill the gap between AWE32 and SBLive.

I thought about it too, but being a dedicated computer like pc DOS the lack of opl3 is rather annoying

Then don't go Creative - get something different like an Aztech board or a crystal/ess board with real OPL on board. Lot's of choices. Or if you want to spend more, what about modern retro creations like AWE64 Legacy or Orpheus?

kixs wrote on 2023-04-08, 19:45:

AWE32 CT3980

Although P-II is more of a Windows machine. Not sure what DOS only game would need the power of P-II? As it seems you have all the DOS bases already covered.

Maybe I didn't explain well, this computer is used as a daily pc so as not to overuse the 486 and pentium which are becoming more and more rare and expensive. I use those when I want to test something period correct but for almost all games (which are not speed sensitive) I use the PII. For that it should have an opl3. I could put the awe32 in the PentiumII, but it seemed perfect for the Pentium200, and besides, what would I put in the pentium200??

AlessandroB wrote on 2023-04-08, 20:02:

I thought about it too, but being a dedicated computer like pc DOS the lack of opl3 is rather annoying

Is a genuine OPL3 really that needed on a Pentium II system though? Which games are you playing that still rely on FM synthesis on a Pentium II?

You can always go with the 'cheap' vibra16 revs. that have the yamaha chip on them ct2260/2890 or some other card that has the opl chip.

Shponglefan wrote on 2023-04-08, 22:00:

AlessandroB wrote on 2023-04-08, 20:02:

I thought about it too, but being a dedicated computer like pc DOS the lack of opl3 is rather annoying

Is a genuine OPL3 really that needed on a Pentium II system though? Which games are you playing that still rely on FM synthesis on a Pentium II?

all the dos games, from dune2 to x-wing to monkey island ecc ecc

bogdanpaulb wrote on 2023-04-08, 23:01:

You can always go with the 'cheap' vibra16 revs. that have the yamaha chip on them ct2260/2890 or some other card that has the opl chip.

Is not so cheap, cost how much as a opl3 sb16 or awe32…

AlessandroB wrote on 2023-04-09, 07:10:

bogdanpaulb wrote on 2023-04-08, 23:01:

You can always go with the 'cheap' vibra16 revs. that have the yamaha chip on them ct2260/2890 or some other card that has the opl chip.

Is not so cheap, cost how much as a opl3 sb16 or awe32…

Here is something you should be able to find cheaper - Crystal, Rockwell, metallic audio jacks and genuine opl3 / fax modem bonus: https://www.ebay.com/itm/314452330626?hash=it … dIAAOSwQU1kCFAg and here is only the sound card with opl3 https://www.ebay.com/itm/255637385698?hash=it … IUAAOSw4EFi1ubj

i like the modem card; it's a 3rd gen azt2316. the other card looks like a 2nd gen azt1605 which has more baggage. unless your bios is pnp avoid the 4th gen azt2320 cards (integrated yamaha opl3), but mine works great in my kt133a system.

opti 82c924/929/930 and als100/100+ cards will have a genuine opl3 or 1:1 clone as will the ess es688 (emulated mpu-401). i think one generation, of many, crystal cards had discrete opl3 chips, but i don't remember and i've certainly never seen one in person.

i'd pick an aztech card first, then es688 over an opti. (i don't have any first hand experiences with als cards). ess cards are really nice, but the lack of wss (despite what the documentation says) is a deal killer for me.

AlessandroB wrote on 2023-04-09, 07:09:

Shponglefan wrote on 2023-04-08, 22:00:

AlessandroB wrote on 2023-04-08, 20:02:

I thought about it too, but being a dedicated computer like pc DOS the lack of opl3 is rather annoying

Is a genuine OPL3 really that needed on a Pentium II system though? Which games are you playing that still rely on FM synthesis on a Pentium II?

all the dos games, from dune2 to x-wing to monkey island ecc ecc

Why play those on a Pentium II though? You listed a whole bunch of other computers in the OP that already have OPL-based sound cards that are better suited for those games.

AlessandroB wrote on 2023-04-08, 20:11:

kixs wrote on 2023-04-08, 19:45:

AWE32 CT3980

Although P-II is more of a Windows machine. Not sure what DOS only game would need the power of P-II? As it seems you have all the DOS bases already covered.

Maybe I didn't explain well, this computer is used as a daily pc so as not to overuse the 486 and pentium which are becoming more and more rare and expensive. I use those when I want to test something period correct but for almost all games (which are not speed sensitive) I use the PII. For that it should have an opl3. I could put the awe32 in the PentiumII, but it seemed perfect for the Pentium200, and besides, what would I put in the pentium200??

He wants a 'cheap', daily computer to protect the other 'old' ones.

ok, you convinced me, with this PentiumII I will use some card that is not strictly Creative as a rule (as you saw I always followed)

Let's see, suggest something like this:
-simple to setup and 100% DOS compatible with Sound Blasters
-that has good (excellent?) sound quality
-that has an olp3
-that I can install the X2GS weaveblaster card and use it in games

There are huge threads already dedicated to best ISA sound card. No point replicating all that here.

kolderman wrote on 2023-04-09, 21:46:

There are huge threads already dedicated to best ISA sound card. No point replicating all that here.

yes agree, i will find, tnks

I'm probably going to build a PII system for DOS soon. I mostly play later stuff including Glide titles, and my current Socket 7 board maxes out at 200mhz (non MMX). I've got a Slot 1 board and PII 450 sitting here, so why not.

The sound card will just be something Yamaha or ESS based. Unexciting, but good quality and covers all the bases.

If you need DOS compatibility and that Yamaha chip is a must, there are always a bunch of Yamaha OPL3-SAx ISA cards on eBay. They're Sound Blaster 2.0 compatible in DOS, and sound great. They're not as beefy as an AWE32 in terms of wavetable features, but they get the job done, and the main chip that drives the sound is literally a more advanced OPL3 chip.

There is a slight nuance that I don't understand though, if the various ess or yamaha cards only set to simulate an AWE32, we might as well take an awe32 directly! so much the difference in price will be, looking closely, 50€, a spendable amount.