First post, by Prez
Hi all !
I'm glad to have a little spare time to do what i intended to do some weeks ago : add a true soundcard into this little and cheap thin client the HP T5710, which uses a VIA SoundBlaster compatible chipset.
The VIA chipset does some almost neat soundblaster effects, but FM synthesis is not very accurate. So, lets try to do something better for this side !
First, i did buy a flexible PCI extension ribbon, like this one :
Then, a very cheap CMI soundcard that i did modify to remove the useless bracket :
This $5 soundcard doesn't works well for SoundBlaster effects, but does for FM synthesis very well (OPL3 compatible).
Once you add the PCI extension ribbon on the machine, you still have a tiny place where you can try to fit the small soundcard :
So, lets try to put here the soundcard : it fits !
It leaves even enough room to place back the metal plate with the small speaker on it !
The CPU is left alone so heat is okay for this part. The Radeon chipset is a little bit obstructed, but hey, this is useful under DOS games, so it will not work too much here 😉
For the sound output of the soundcard, we have the choice : First, i will try to redirect the sound output into the MIC input of the Thin Client and see if its works like this.
If not, i'm going to dissasemble the motherboard to connect the soundcard output directly here. We'll see.
But first, this evening, i will test the system using CMI drivers to obtain real FM synthesis and soundblaster effects through the VIA chipset. This should work !
Next phase will be to add a soundblaster + fm compatible PCI soundcard like an ALS4000 or maybe, if we find enough place, a real Yamaha with a true OPL3 sound ! 😀
Best regards,
Philippe Dubois
Old computers and videogames freak
President of french association https://mo5.com
Get better, get old ! 😁
