This is assuming the general priorities - Authentic OPL3, Hanging Note Bugs, built-in General MIDI, Output quality

The only card that definitely has no hanging notes for General MIDI is the CT3670.
The only card potentially without Hanging Notes for General MIDI is the CT1750, depending on DSP.
The cards with relatively mild hanging notes are: CT2230, CT2290, CT2770, CT3780.
The cards with wavetable are: CT3670, CT3780, CT4500, CT4520,
The cards with an authentic OPL3 are: CT1750, CT2230, CT2290, CT2770, CT3780.

aries-mu wrote:

CT3780 - Good - OPL3, EMU8000, no RAM for Soundfont expansion, possible hanging notes. CT4500 - Bad - No OPL3, No Soundfont Expa […]
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CT3780 - Good - OPL3, EMU8000, no RAM for Soundfont expansion, possible hanging notes.
CT4500 - Bad - No OPL3, No Soundfont Expansion
CT4520 - Bad - No OPL3, No Soundfont Expansion
CT3670 - Medium - No OPL3, SIMM Slots, No Hanging Notes.
CT1750 - Depends on DSP version
CT2230 - Good - OPL3, Hanging Notes
CT2960 - Bad.
CT2290 - Good - OPL3, Hanging Notes
CT4180 - Bad.
CT2940 - Bad
CT2770 - Good - OPL3, Hanging Notes

thank you so much!

fitzpatr wrote:

This is assuming the general priorities - Authentic OPL3, Hanging Note Bugs, built-in General MIDI, Output quality […]
Show full quote

This is assuming the general priorities - Authentic OPL3, Hanging Note Bugs, built-in General MIDI, Output quality

The only card that definitely has no hanging notes for General MIDI is the CT3670.
The only card potentially without Hanging Notes for General MIDI is the CT1750, depending on DSP.
The cards with relatively mild hanging notes are: CT2230, CT2290, CT2770, CT3780.
The cards with wavetable are: CT3670, CT3780, CT4500, CT4520,
The cards with an authentic OPL3 are: CT1750, CT2230, CT2290, CT2770, CT3780.

aries-mu wrote:

CT3780 - Good - OPL3, EMU8000, no RAM for Soundfont expansion, possible hanging notes. CT4500 - Bad - No OPL3, No Soundfont Expa […]
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CT3780 - Good - OPL3, EMU8000, no RAM for Soundfont expansion, possible hanging notes.
CT4500 - Bad - No OPL3, No Soundfont Expansion
CT4520 - Bad - No OPL3, No Soundfont Expansion
CT3670 - Medium - No OPL3, SIMM Slots, No Hanging Notes.
CT1750 - Depends on DSP version
CT2230 - Good - OPL3, Hanging Notes
CT2960 - Bad.
CT2290 - Good - OPL3, Hanging Notes
CT4180 - Bad.
CT2940 - Bad
CT2770 - Good - OPL3, Hanging Notes

thank you so much!

Wow fantastic! Thanks so much fizpatr!!!!!!

Okay, 2 final questions, 3 actually:

1) If I were to choose between CT2230, CT2290, and CT2770, since the OPL3 and hanging note functionalities are similar, which one should I choose? Is there any other feature/limitation to prefer any among these three?

2) Besides the OPL3 thing, if I were to choose between the CT4500 and CT4520, which one?

3) For what would the CT4500 or CT4520 would be preferable under MS-DOS / Win 3.11? Is there any kind of software or game under those operating systems that would make us prefer them? Maybe relatively "modern" games? What about Win95/Win98 games? Is there any reason to get one of those?

EDIT: removed 3670 from the questions 2) and 3) as I had added it by mistake.

Thanks so much everyone!

I know this isn't what you were asking but.....

1. Do you have the card(s) or are you buying?

2. Do you really NEED a Sound Blaster 16?

3. Have you considered a Yamaha YMF719 type card with better Sound Blaster Pro compatibility, less noise, real OPL3, etc than a real Sould Blaster 16?

squareguy wrote:

I know this isn't what you were asking but..... […]
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I know this isn't what you were asking but.....

1. Do you have the card(s) or are you buying?

2. Do you really NEED a Sound Blaster 16?

3. Have you considered a Yamaha YMF719 type card with better Sound Blaster Pro compatibility, less noise, real OPL3, etc than a real Sould Blaster 16?

Hi, thanks so much squareguy!

Well, I'd say, especially in the 486, the SB 16 is more an "emotional" need.... long story of fond memories...

I don't have them yet, I'm assessing for buying...

Also, even better if it has a CD-ROM IDE controller connector, as the 486 is an old pre-EIDE system, ISA-only, with only 1 ide channel occupied by 2 solid state drives.

thanks!

Totally understand.

Take a look at this http://nerdlypleasures.blogspot.com/2012/07/s … ibulations.html

squareguy wrote:

Totally understand.

Take a look at this http://nerdlypleasures.blogspot.com/2012/07/s … ibulations.html

woow thank you man!!!! that link is great!

finally, what about CT4500 and CT4520? Which of the two?

Thanks

There are some variables on the CT4520, so I'd recommend staying away from it. There won't be much of a difference between the two anyways.

fitzpatr wrote:

There are some variables on the CT4520, so I'd recommend staying away from it. There won't be much of a difference between the two anyways.

ok thanks!!

You want a CT3980 😀 awe32, simms, real opl, and has a CT1747 chip to avoid hanging notes bug. Second I would pick the CT2760.

BloodyCactus wrote:

You want a CT3980 😀 awe32, simms, real opl, and has a CT1747 chip to avoid hanging notes bug. Second I would pick the CT2760.

oh wow thanks!

Too bad this guy I know doesn't have such models you mentioned 🙁

Models are:

CT3780
CT4500
CT4520
CT3670
CT1750
CT2230
CT2960
CT2290
CT4180
CT2940
CT2770