Doesn't think it really matters.

Some key differences:

CT4700 (CT5507 / ES1370)
- 44.1 kHz max sampling rate.
- Sample based synth.
- External codec, might be less noisy.
- Amplifier for passive speakers.

MUSE XL (CMI8738)
- 48 kHz max sampling rate.
- FM based synth, OPL3 clone.
- Internal codec.

I would rather have the SB PCI128 for Win98.

If using it for DOS as well, I would much rather have OPL3 or a clone. The ES1370/1371 chips have horrid OPL3 emulation.

Kamerat wrote on 2026-04-17, 09:25:

CT4700 (CT5507 / ES1370) - 44.1 kHz max sampling rate. - External codec, might be less noisy. - Amplifier for passive speakers. […]
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CT4700 (CT5507 / ES1370)
- 44.1 kHz max sampling rate.
- External codec, might be less noisy.
- Amplifier for passive speakers.

MUSE XL (CMI8738)
- 48 kHz max sampling rate.
- Internal codec.

OK that means, these are the main differences for Win98.
can somebody really hear the difference from a sample playing, and the max. rate difference is here 4khz ?
About the codec... i could make a sound tests with some waves.
Ok, it must be that i have only active speakers attached to both card when i was shortly testing them with the drivers...

Kamerat wrote on 2026-04-17, 09:25:

- Sample based synth.

MUSE XL (CMI8738)
- FM based synth, OPL3 clone.

For DOS: I cannot use it !!
Reason: I am completely restricted with the IRQ settings. I cannot change it !! IRQ soundcard = 10. With the CT4700 and the leagacy driver, i can only setup the IRQ=9.
Any other setting is in conflictwith: IRQ sharing and PCI/PCI bridge ...

The system: LGA 775 platform, chipset G41,
Pentium Dual core E2160
2Gb DDR3 ram... (4 Gb is not working... for whatever reasons)
VGA Radeon X550 , 128 Mb (64bit)
OS installation: Win98 SE quickinstall.
No possibility of changing any IRQ setting in the BIOS. I have tried several methods to deactivate other parts in the system control... but no success.
I have abolutely no FX sound in pure DOS mode...
So the conclusion is: i need to stick with pure win95/win98 games only..... the system is relatively quite fast for a Win98 system. Not the fastest, but well enough for most win98 games...

My last 3dbench99 test does not differ between both cards installed.
3dbench99 (with CT4700) 15928 points ; (46564 cpu points)
3dbench99 (with MuseXL) 15951 points ; (46251 cpu points)

(Before i had for a short time, during testing the mainboard before assemble into the case, a Core2Duo 6320 installed. Have also further options of other core2duo's: 7200/7500/8400 (wolfdale) ; 2200 (allendale) ; E5430 (harpertown).
Conclusion: it does not make sense to install faster cpu's... i'm anyway GPU bottleneck'ed then !!
And the intel speedstep is not working in win98... i have anytime the max. clock to the chip. During the test of my 6320, the multi was anytime 7. no downclocking.
So, now i have the E2160 installed, and running well undervolting. ~ 1.037 Volts....

cyclone3d wrote on 2026-04-17, 13:19:

If using it for DOS as well, I would much rather have OPL3 or a clone. The ES1370/1371 chips have horrid OPL3 emulation.

As i said: I would like to use DOS-mode (in win98) or the pure DOS mode (7.1).
But with this IRQ problem it does not make any sense. For DOS, i need to run older systems...

melbar wrote on 2026-04-14, 19:06:

Which is the better Win98 PCI soundcard? ?? SB PCI128 or MuseXL […]
Show full quote

Which is the better Win98 PCI soundcard? ??
SB PCI128 or MuseXL

SB PCI128 Link:
https://theretroweb.com/expansioncards/s/crea … blaster-pci-128
The CT4700 means ensoniq ES1370.

Hercules MuseXL
a card like this chipset:
https://theretroweb.com/expansioncards/s/herc … urround-muse-lt
a card like this review:
https://bjorn3d.com/2002/07/hercules-gamesurr … s-510-speakers/

Link:
https://theretroweb.com/expansioncards/s/labw … absound-t90-oem

Nuanced because some SB PCI 128 products appear to operate at 44.1kHz and others 48kHz - as though Creative couldn't make their mind up. I think confusing owners of the ES product line was part of their strategy.

You mean that the labeled chip "5507" is not an ES1370, but an ES1371 ?

EDIT:
Sound Blaster Audio PCI 64
https://theretroweb.com/expansioncards/s/crea … -pci-64-dell-ga

melbar wrote on 2026-04-18, 05:40:

As i said: I would like to use DOS-mode (in win98) or the pure DOS mode (7.1).
But with this IRQ problem it does not make any sense. For DOS, i need to run older systems...

For PCI creative cards, they take 2 IRQs in DOS mode, one for the PCI card and one for the emulation TSR. It doesn't matter if the PCI card is on IRQ 9 or 10 as it's not used for DOS audio. What's important is the IRQ used by the emulation TSR software.

melbar wrote on 2026-04-18, 10:56:

You mean that the labeled chip "5507" is not an ES1370, but an ES1371 ?

No, I got that wrong and fixed my post.

The crystal indicates the 5507 samples at 44.1kHz and that aligns with the ES1370, not ES1371. I have seen other PCI128s sampling at 48kHz. I don't know what Creative changed inside the chips between the product variations and the closer I look the muddier it feels.

NeoG_ wrote on 2026-04-18, 10:58:

melbar wrote on 2026-04-18, 05:40:

As i said: I would like to use DOS-mode (in win98) or the pure DOS mode (7.1).
But with this IRQ problem it does not make any sense. For DOS, i need to run older systems...

For PCI creative cards, they take 2 IRQs in DOS mode, one for the PCI card and one for the emulation TSR. It doesn't matter if the PCI card is on IRQ 9 or 10 as it's not used for DOS audio. What's important is the IRQ used by the emulation TSR software.

Yes, but when i switch the SB legacy setting from IRQ9 to IRQ7 or IRQ5, i have a conflict note in the system setting. And then i hear no FX sound in DOOM or other DOS games.
All these DOS games mostly don't have the choice for IRQ9 in their settings !

melbar wrote on 2026-04-18, 11:11:

Yes, but when i switch the SB legacy setting from IRQ9 to IRQ7 or IRQ5, i have a conflict note in the system setting. And then i hear no FX sound in DOOM or other DOS games.
All these DOS games mostly don't have the choice for IRQ9 in their settings !

Try and set the serial port address and parallel port address to [Disabled] in the BIOS >Advanced > Super I/O settings, it may free up some additional IRQs for devices to move around

This is exactly the most strange thing to me with this mainboard.
Serial port and parallel port is diabled in BIOS.
But still i see them in the system device manager list of win98.
I clearly don't unstand that. IRQ 3 and IRQ 4 are still blocked by this ports.
And this mainboard cannot move other devices to IRQ 3 or 4 , to release IRQ 5 or 7...

PCI sound cards and Chipsets from various manufacturers...

2. Intel Chipsets 440BX/PIIX4 have native ISA as well as both PC-PCI and DDMA. Most PCI sound cards were well-tested against thi […]
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2. Intel Chipsets
440BX/PIIX4 have native ISA as well as both PC-PCI and DDMA. Most PCI sound cards were well-tested against this chipset and should not have many problems other than the ones known and documented.
Chipsets with up to ICH5 can use legacy DMA via PC-PCI only, though not all cards and boards have PC-PCI connectors. PCI-ISA bridges used by some industrial motherboards for ISA slots also utilize PC-PCI for DMA.
Since ICH6 support for PC-PCI has dropped and it's not possible to provide ISA slots with DMA using PCI-ISA bridges anymore. This also impacted PCI audio cards that now only FM synth works on those cards. No SFX audio works except Aureal sound cards.
Note for 6/7 series (Sandy/Ivy Bridge) PCHs: For some PCI sound card legacy functionalities to work you need a PCH with native PCI support. Only B and Q PCHs have native PCI.
Native PCI support is gone since 8 series (Haswell). It may be possible to get things working by enabling subtractive decoding, but I do not have such boards and cannot be certain how this works.

Your Intel G41 based motherboard should have an ICH7 IO controller. Your hardware is just too new as the chipset is from 2008. Some period accurate chipsets like the nForce didn't support the legacy modes needed. And those were around during the switch over.

melbar wrote on 2026-04-14, 19:06:

Which is the better Win98 PCI soundcard? ?? SB PCI128 or MuseXL […]
Show full quote

Which is the better Win98 PCI soundcard? ??
SB PCI128 or MuseXL

SB PCI128 Link:
https://theretroweb.com/expansioncards/s/crea … blaster-pci-128
The CT4700 means ensoniq ES1370.

Hercules MuseXL
a card like this chipset:
https://theretroweb.com/expansioncards/s/herc … urround-muse-lt
a card like this review:
https://bjorn3d.com/2002/07/hercules-gamesurr … s-510-speakers/

Link:
https://theretroweb.com/expansioncards/s/labw … absound-t90-oem

i wouldnt use any of those cards, the 128 sounds comically bad and both those cmi8738's have the SX chip which apparently have a non working FM synth, you want a cmi 8738 with either an MX or LX chip, i have one of each and ive just bought another MX, i was using an sblive for years as its probably the best card in terms of compatibility, but after hearing yamaha OPL from the 8738 i cant go back.

also as already said your sound issues are down to your G41 chipset i had the same problem years back trying to get my sblive working on my G31 not realising chipset support was not there, you wont have sound in dos games no matter what card/settings you use, your way around it is to use SBEMU, try it out with the 8738 SX chip and run "SBEMU/SCFM" if the SX cards do have a hardware FM synth like the MX/LX then sbemu will enable it.

if you want a 775 socket that will give dos sound support out of the box then you should go for an intel 865 chipset or a VIA, if not then sbemu is what you need to get the card working under pure dos.

Just tested with SBEMU.
First, with setting /A220 /I7 /D1
Second, with setting /A220 /I5 /D1
No chance... does not matter if I7 or I5 is configured, the JEMMEX is giving exception error.

Had a short look for i865 microATX board... don't find any, which is intel core architecture capable...
But doesn't matter. Then this system is just a pure Win98 system without DOS.
At first i was only asking, which is better for pure win98 applications: CT4700 (5507/ES1370) or MuseXL (CMI8738SX)

What is the reason for those two specific cards for pure Windows mode? Once you move into Windows games you generally just have digital audio, MIDI, and CD audio through DirectSound. An extremely small number of very, very early Win95 games utilizing MILES could utilize OPL. And you could run the DOS versions of those just fine on your other systems.

So either card is fine. Best really comes down to what you think of either card's MIDI playback. The SB PCI 128 has that 8MB MIDI waveset. I haven't used a Muse XL to is if it has MIDI beyond Windows' built-in Roland GS handling.

IMO Win9x audio really needs a card that fully supports EAX so either a SB Live or Audigy as EAX can enhance the playback in a very large number of games. A3D 2.0 gives much better 3D audio, and the audio path tracing was incredible at the time, but a very small numbers of games took advantage of it.

melbar wrote on 2026-04-14, 19:06:

Which is the better Win98 PCI soundcard? ?? SB PCI128 or MuseXL […]
Show full quote

Which is the better Win98 PCI soundcard? ??
SB PCI128 or MuseXL

SB PCI128 Link:
https://theretroweb.com/expansioncards/s/crea … blaster-pci-128
The CT4700 means ensoniq ES1370.

Hercules MuseXL
a card like this chipset:
https://theretroweb.com/expansioncards/s/herc … urround-muse-lt
a card like this review:
https://bjorn3d.com/2002/07/hercules-gamesurr … s-510-speakers/

Link:
https://theretroweb.com/expansioncards/s/labw … absound-t90-oem

Assuming this is for a Win9x/XP box, I'd expect the games to output 22kHz audio, which the CT4700 will ingest without resampling - that's era accurate behaviour with little or no CPU involvement.

The MuseXL is going to need Windows (or drivers) to resample the stream to 48kHz. Personally, I do everything I can to avoid that.

melbar wrote on 2026-04-18, 17:13:

Had a short look for i865 microATX board... don't find any, which is intel core architecture capable...
But doesn't matter. Then this system is just a pure Win98 system without DOS.
At first i was only asking, which is better for pure win98 applications: CT4700 (5507/ES1370) or MuseXL (CMI8738SX)

Unfortnately I think your suspicions are correct and the mainboard has a quite rigid IRQ architechture that is purely designed to service the Super I/O chip without consideration for any other devices that may want to use them. Probably just stick with the Creative card unless you have some others kicking around.

SScorpio wrote on 2026-04-18, 13:59:

PCI sound cards and Chipsets from various manufacturers...

2. Intel Chipsets
Since ICH6 support for PC-PCI has dropped and it's not possible to provide ISA slots with DMA using PCI-ISA bridges anymore. This also impacted PCI audio cards that now only FM synth works on those cards. No SFX audio works except Aureal sound cards.

Thanks for sharing.

Does it means that there is an exception for Aureal PCI cards??
In my case, with ICH7 southbridge, i'm blocked by IRQ issues for my soundcards. Could the Aureal card really solve this problem?
To me, the only chance for DOS + 775 platform is maybe a VIA chipset, or the i865 platform with ICH5 but very limited amount of boards available...

melbar wrote on 2026-04-19, 07:08:

Thanks for sharing. […]
Show full quote

SScorpio wrote on 2026-04-18, 13:59:

PCI sound cards and Chipsets from various manufacturers...

2. Intel Chipsets
Since ICH6 support for PC-PCI has dropped and it's not possible to provide ISA slots with DMA using PCI-ISA bridges anymore. This also impacted PCI audio cards that now only FM synth works on those cards. No SFX audio works except Aureal sound cards.

Thanks for sharing.

Does it means that there is an exception for Aureal PCI cards??
In my case, with ICH7 southbridge, i'm blocked by IRQ issues for my soundcards. Could the Aureal card really solve this problem?
To me, the only chance for DOS + 775 platform is maybe a VIA chipset, or the i865 platform with ICH5 but very limited amount of boards available...

It's not an exception.

Aureal were designed from scratch for the PCI bus and their legacy ISA-era behaviours were always tacked on in software. In other words, they don't have any hardware connectivity like SB-Link.

In contrast, Yamaha XG has SB-Link so you might think it's neutered when the ISA bus is removed. But, actually, Yamaha provided very good software fallback for systems that didn't have SB-Link.

There are other chips that are have a good software fallback. What you are really hitting though is the true benefit of retro machines because when your system is too new, you simply cannot replicate the original contracts - you are driven to get an older PC. I think that's why we see members here with a lot of different PCs.