Windows since 98 support modern USB joysticks. Sure you want to play on an older analogue one?

As for sound cards, there are a lot of options. Audigy, X-Fi, Realtek onboard...

You could always use something cheap like a VIA Tremor card if all you need it for is the Gameport... Alternatively, you can just get a gameport->USB converter and use your older joysticks in all three systems.

Btw, why 7 and 8.1 on the same machine? Aren't they kindda redundant?

alexanrs wrote:

You could always use something cheap like a VIA Tremor card if all you need it for is the Gameport... Alternatively, you can just get a gameport->USB converter and use your older joysticks in all three systems.

I need a sound card anyway.
The line-in of the computer's onboard sound doesn't seem to work properly.

Btw, why 7 and 8.1 on the same machine? Aren't they kindda redundant?

I needed both for classes I took at community college.

philscomputerlab wrote:

Windows since 98 support modern USB joysticks. Sure you want to play on an older analogue one?

I have a Microsoft Sidewinder Force Feedback Pro I want to use.
It's a nice joystick, but refuses to work with any USB-to-gameport adapter I've tried.

As for sound cards, there are a lot of options. Audigy, X-Fi, Realtek onboard...

The onboard sound doesn't have a gameport -- either too new or too cheap or both.
I haven't seen an X-Fi with a gameport.
I've seen them like this...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/261578296859
But whatever that port is, the pins are wrong for a gameport.

The Audigy seems to be the most recent Creative card where some models have a gameport.

Sorry I went of the assumption that you're going to ditch that old joystick and get a new one 😀

I'm using a modern Thrustmaster T.160000m. I'm telling you, all the Windows 98 games are a dream. The stick is so smooth and precise. Sure you got to buy one, but it's so worth it and it will open up all the options for your sound cards.

Something based on the CMI8738 LX chip should be perfect for you then. Unless you want the advanced features an Audigy offers I'd advise you to save your money and get something cheap.
See this or this or this. This chip has drivers from Windows 2000 through Windows 7 (which should work on Win8)
Alternatively, you can look for cards with the CMI8738 MX chip, as those have actual Windows 8 drivers as well. Look at this. You can't beat a US$4,00 price tag if it works fine.
Oh, and the drivers can be downloaded from the CMedia website

philscomputerlab wrote:

Sorry I went of the assumption that you're going to ditch that old joystick and get a new one 😀

I'm using a modern Thrustmaster T.160000m. I'm telling you, all the Windows 98 games are a dream. The stick is so smooth and precise. Sure you got to buy one, but it's so worth it and it will open up all the options for your sound cards.

I agree the T16000m is a good joystick, but it doesn't have Force Feedback.
Whether games that support Force Feedback will work in XP on a computer with a 2.51 GHz quad processor is something I don't know yet. There might be a speed issue or some other "newer hardware" issue.

alexanrs wrote:

Something based on the CMI8738 LX chip should be perfect for you then. Unless you want the advanced features an Audigy offers I' […]
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Something based on the CMI8738 LX chip should be perfect for you then. Unless you want the advanced features an Audigy offers I'd advise you to save your money and get something cheap.
See this or this or this. This chip has drivers from Windows 2000 through Windows 7 (which should work on Win8)
Alternatively, you can look for cards with the CMI8738 MX chip, as those have actual Windows 8 drivers as well. Look at this. You can't beat a US$4,00 price tag if it works fine.
Oh, and the drivers can be downloaded from the CMedia website

Well I didn't think this Audigy LS was expensive at $4.99
http://www.ebay.com/itm/151745880203
However I've read bad things about Creative's drivers interfering with previously installed drivers for onboard sound, so maybe the Cmedia cards would work out better. Thank you for the suggestion.