space_eraser wrote on 2025-03-15, 16:15:

I am owner of these ISA sound cards. Just trying to make decision, which to use in retro 486 setup described below. I would like […]
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I am owner of these ISA sound cards. Just trying to make decision, which to use in retro 486 setup described below. I would like to ask local experts for their experience. It seems AWE64 is too enough for used CPU. There happens P166 as a minimum supported CPU limitation during software installation. I decided to remove AWE64 from the list and keep him for better hardware setup. But what next ? I prefere good DOS compatibility.

PC setup:
Mobo GMB-486UN, Cyrix 486 DX2/80, 8MB 70ns FPM DRAM, VGA OTI067

The list of possible SBs:
Yamaha OPL YF-718-S
Yamaha YMF719E-S
SB AWE64 (CT4520)
SB Vibra 16XV (CT4170)
SB Vibra 16S (SF16FMP - DXP44Q OPL3 chip)
ESS 1869FC
ESS 1868F

I prefer the ESS FM sound to the others on that list.

Also if you remove AWE from that list then yes ESS 1869.
Fuss free setup. And perfect SB PRO.
Bonus ESFM and 3D effects that you can use even in DOS.

Either the ESS or Yamaha cards would be fine. I use a Yamaha card in my 486 DX-33 setup and it works quite well. Clean output, good FM, and has a wavetable header for adding a wavetable daughtercard to.

I'm partial to Yamaha myself, but ESS can be a pretty good choice too.

Tiido wrote on 2025-03-15, 22:56:

I'm partial to Yamaha myself, but ESS can be a pretty good choice too.

Yamaha has braindead drivers and you do not relesse a generic version of yours.

Yamaha YMF719E with the mixer set up correctly and with a modded low pass filter is the best ISA sound card I've used. ESS also great but no WSS support there.

Cyberdyne wrote on 2025-03-16, 02:05:

Yamaha has braindead drivers and you do not relesse a generic version of yours.

My site may be offline but the setup util was always available for everyone and could be used with any YMF71x card. Latest version is found here : Re: T-04YBSC-A, new YMF71x based sound card + SETYMF utility
I'm working on a complete rewrite to support the final version of the YMF71x card I made, and like the currently available one, it still supports the generic cards.

Apart from putting a downer on the 16XV (CQM), if you like a genuine OPL3, then the other SB or the Yamahas (but possibly with with only SBPRO emulation) should give you that. Otherwise ESFM seems to be preferred to CQM

space_eraser wrote on 2025-03-15, 16:15:

I am owner of these ISA sound cards. Just trying to make decision, which to use in retro 486 setup described below. I would like […]
Show full quote

I am owner of these ISA sound cards. Just trying to make decision, which to use in retro 486 setup described below. I would like to ask local experts for their experience. It seems AWE64 is too enough for used CPU. There happens P166 as a minimum supported CPU limitation during software installation. I decided to remove AWE64 from the list and keep him for better hardware setup. But what next ? I prefere good DOS compatibility.

PC setup:
Mobo GMB-486UN, Cyrix 486 DX2/80, 8MB 70ns FPM DRAM, VGA OTI067

The list of possible SBs:
Yamaha OPL YF-718-S
Yamaha YMF719E-S
SB AWE64 (CT4520)
SB Vibra 16XV (CT4170)
SB Vibra 16S (SF16FMP - DXP44Q OPL3 chip)
ESS 1869FC
ESS 1868F

This is a list of chips, not of cards. Cards with Yamaha or ESS chips can be downright awful or utterly amazing. List the actual cards.

Also, what sort of DOS games do you like? And do you want to do anything with MIDI? (wavetable or external synth)

space_eraser wrote on 2025-03-15, 16:15:

I am owner of these ISA sound cards. Just trying to make decision, which to use in retro 486 setup described below. I would like […]
Show full quote

I am owner of these ISA sound cards. Just trying to make decision, which to use in retro 486 setup described below. I would like to ask local experts for their experience. It seems AWE64 is too enough for used CPU. There happens P166 as a minimum supported CPU limitation during software installation. I decided to remove AWE64 from the list and keep him for better hardware setup. But what next ? I prefere good DOS compatibility.

PC setup:
Mobo GMB-486UN, Cyrix 486 DX2/80, 8MB 70ns FPM DRAM, VGA OTI067

The list of possible SBs:
Yamaha OPL YF-718-S
Yamaha YMF719E-S
SB AWE64 (CT4520)
SB Vibra 16XV (CT4170)
SB Vibra 16S (SF16FMP - DXP44Q OPL3 chip)
ESS 1869FC
ESS 1868F

Vibra 16s has pretty good software applications
Yamaha has good software applications too