If you're planning on playing A3D supported games, I'd go with the Aureal Vortex based card.

Shponglefan wrote on 2023-01-19, 21:42:

If you're planning on playing A3D supported games, I'd go with the Aureal Vortex based card.

It's a Vortex 1 card, though. Can't just about all cards play A3D 1.0?

I'd pick the SB0100.

+1 for the SBLive! 5.1.

If it was the Aureal Vortex 2, then it's a different story.

disregard

Shponglefan wrote on 2023-01-19, 22:12:

Meatball wrote on 2023-01-19, 21:52:

Shponglefan wrote on 2023-01-19, 21:42:

If you're planning on playing A3D supported games, I'd go with the Aureal Vortex based card.

It's a Vortex 1 card, though. Can't just about all cards play A3D 1.0?

I'd pick the SB0100.

Haven't tried with non-A3D cards.

I did use a Vortex 1 based card (Diamond MX200) back in the day on my Windows 98 machine. It always sounded great and the 3D positional audio was convincing in games like Half-Life and Unreal.

The Diamond MX200 is an Analog Devices chip, though. It could play A3D 1.0. Did you mean MX300? This is the Vortex2 and A3D 2.0, yes, would be very much more convincing. The Sound Blaster Live(s) available can play A3D 1.0, EAX 1, 2, and has DirectX 7 support. Plus, the SPDIF connection for digital audio is there.

Meatball wrote on 2023-01-19, 22:21:

The Diamond MX200 is an Analog Devices chip, though. It could play A3D 1.0. Did you mean MX300? This is the Vortex2 and A3D 2.0, yes, would be very much more convincing. The Sound Blaster Live(s) available can play A3D 1.0, EAX 1, 2, A3D 1.0, and has DirectX 7 support. Plus, the SPDIF connection for digital audio is there.

No, I meant MX200. Though I didn't realize it didn't use a Vortex chip, but rather the Analog Devices chip.

Thanks for the input!
Sadly i don't have half-life anymore, i had the CDs but i gave them away to someone who really wanted them. I'm not sure if any of these games have vortex support, perhaps Max Payne, project nomads and AVP do?

also, i've just found these as well, though i'd be surprised if these are any better than the 1st lot:

Vic Zarratt wrote on 2023-01-19, 23:17:

Thanks for the input!
Sadly i don't have half-life anymore, i had the CDs but i gave them away to someone who really wanted them. I'm not sure if any of these games have vortex support, perhaps Max Payne, project nomads and AVP do?

If you don't have a Vortex 2, it won't matter. If the game supports A3d 1.0, the Sound Blaster Live SB0100 is your best option as it can do this as well, however, I'm betting you'd select EAX 2.0 over A3D 1.0 - but at least it is an option. Looking over your final lot, the SB0100 is still far and away your best option, with the CT4620 the runner up.

The Yamaha might be an interesting, different, choice, but I don't know much about this card - I presume for such a late Windows 9X gaming system you've put together, it's probably not the best option.

what are prime the advantages of the sb0100 over the ct4620 other than the 5.1 surround? looks like the potential winner...

Vic Zarratt wrote on 2023-01-19, 23:30:

what's the advantage of the sb0100 over the ct4620?

4.1 Sound on the CT4620, versus 5.1 on the SB0100. The CT4620 does look more stylish, though.

Meatball wrote on 2023-01-19, 23:35:

Vic Zarratt wrote on 2023-01-19, 23:30:

what's the advantage of the sb0100 over the ct4620?

4.1 Sound on the CT4620, versus 5.1 on the SB0100. The CT4620 does look more stylish, though.

Yeah those gold connectors sure are sweet looking, is the quality of the sound output any better between these two?

Vic Zarratt wrote on 2023-01-19, 23:37:

Meatball wrote on 2023-01-19, 23:35:

Vic Zarratt wrote on 2023-01-19, 23:30:

what's the advantage of the sb0100 over the ct4620?

4.1 Sound on the CT4620, versus 5.1 on the SB0100. The CT4620 does look more stylish, though.

Yeah those gold connectors sure are sweet looking, is the quality of the sound output any better between these two?

This is me, but I'd bet I could not tell the difference (not withstanding directional 4.1 versus 5.1) as far as audio quality. I'd pick the newer card made in 2001, versus 199(8 or 9?), though. Placebo, of course.

Meatball wrote on 2023-01-19, 23:41:

Vic Zarratt wrote on 2023-01-19, 23:37:

Meatball wrote on 2023-01-19, 23:35:

4.1 Sound on the CT4620, versus 5.1 on the SB0100. The CT4620 does look more stylish, though.

Yeah those gold connectors sure are sweet looking, is the quality of the sound output any better between these two?

This is me, but I'd bet I could not tell the difference (not withstanding directional 4.1 versus 5.1) as far as audio quality. I'd pick the newer card made in 2001, versus 199(8 or 9?), though. Placebo, of course.

Well then, whittling 7 cards down to 2 to choose from is a good deal of help from all you who inputted, so thanks again!
Also while i'm still here - if i can't get my 128bit pci-e nVidia 6200le working, should i fallback on a 64bit pci matrox g450 dual-head or a 64bit pci nVidia geforce 2mx400?

Vic Zarratt wrote on 2023-01-19, 23:48:

Meatball wrote on 2023-01-19, 23:41:

Vic Zarratt wrote on 2023-01-19, 23:37:

Yeah those gold connectors sure are sweet looking, is the quality of the sound output any better between these two?

This is me, but I'd bet I could not tell the difference (not withstanding directional 4.1 versus 5.1) as far as audio quality. I'd pick the newer card made in 2001, versus 199(8 or 9?), though. Placebo, of course.

Well then, whittling 7 cards down to 2 to choose from is a good deal of help from all you who inputted, so thanks again!
Also while i'm still here - if i can't get my 128bit pci-e nVidia 6200le working, should i fallback on a 64bit pci matrox g450 dual-head or a 64bit pci nVidia geforce 2mx400?

We'll need someone else with more expertise on the Matrox to chime in. You might get better results opening a new thread. In any case, enjoy!

Meatball wrote on 2023-01-19, 23:54:

Vic Zarratt wrote on 2023-01-19, 23:48:

Meatball wrote on 2023-01-19, 23:41:

This is me, but I'd bet I could not tell the difference (not withstanding directional 4.1 versus 5.1) as far as audio quality. I'd pick the newer card made in 2001, versus 199(8 or 9?), though. Placebo, of course.

Well then, whittling 7 cards down to 2 to choose from is a good deal of help from all you who inputted, so thanks again!
Also while i'm still here - if i can't get my 128bit pci-e nVidia 6200le working, should i fallback on a 64bit pci matrox g450 dual-head or a 64bit pci nVidia geforce 2mx400?

We'll need someone else with more expertise on the Matrox to chime in. You might get better results opening a new thread. In any case, enjoy!

Thanks for the good advise ) Take care

Id use the 5.1 card. Its the one I have in my P4 and ive used it since the 90s. or maybe early 2000s I remember i bought it along with a 5.1 creative sound system which I still use to this day. Sounds great IMO.

Nothing to really add, agree one of the Live! cards is your best pick here. Although if only using 2.0 speaker or headphones it doesn't really matter which card if you want the extra bling of the gold connectors. (I also doubt you'll notice any difference in sound)

You have an interesting collection of cards though as far as dos is concerned anyway
The Yamaha YMF cards are a popular choice for PCI only systems due to true OPL and great sounding midi thanks to the XG MIDI chip which is comparable to a external unit like the Yamaha MU10 Midi module.

Aureal Vortex 1 card has better dos drivers and OPL emulation compared to Creative cards.

The ALS4000 also has true OPL chip and native dos support.
The ALS4000 PCI Sound Card - PCI SB Compatibility in Newer Systems

The CT4810 is based off the Ensonic ES137x chip it does support its own type of soundfonts (ecw files) but only 3 files exist. 2, 4, 8MB patches, Dos drivers are exactly the same as the Live accept they emulate a SBPro rather then SB16

The Diamond card I don't really know but think it's based on the FM801 chip and seems to have good dos performance.
ForteMedia FM801 FM Synthesis

So you don't have any real trash cards which is always nice to know, but even if you did want dos support I'd still keep things easy and just use the Live! These cards are more if you wanted to build anther PC on the cheap.

Oh and this page is good at telling you if it supports EAX, A3D and what versions.
https://members.optusnet.com.au/kirben/3dsoftware.html

Meatball wrote on 2023-01-19, 23:54:

Vic Zarratt wrote on 2023-01-19, 23:48:

Also while i'm still here - if i can't get my 128bit pci-e nVidia 6200le working, should i fallback on a 64bit pci matrox g450 dual-head or a 64bit pci nVidia geforce 2mx400?

We'll need someone else with more expertise on the Matrox to chime in. You might get better results opening a new thread. In any case, enjoy!

I think P4 with PCIe deserves something better than PCI GF2MX. Something like Radeon X550 PCIe (it is really Radeon 9550 for PCIe)