You probably want X58 with ICH10 for Windows 98. It behaves mostly identical to any late Core 2 system and some motherboard have a lot of PCI slots to spare:
https://theretroweb.com/motherboards/s/asus-p … ws-professional
https://theretroweb.com/motherboards/s/asrock-x58-deluxe3
https://theretroweb.com/motherboards/s/supermicro-x8sax

Some H and Q chipsets for Ivy Bridge (7x series) also have native PCI support.

The Gigabyte GA-Z97-HD3 worked quite well for me with the Audigy 1 (SB0090) on Windows 7 and Linux.
I still have that board and card and can check again for you if you want.

I did not test the Audigy 2ZS because unfortunately I do not have it 🙁

zyga64 wrote on 2025-06-03, 20:22:

The Gigabyte GA-Z97-HD3 worked quite well for me with the Audigy 1 (SB0090) on Windows 7 and Linux.
I still have that board and card and can check again for you if you want.

I did not test the Audigy 2ZS because unfortunately I do not have it 🙁

Oh, that board supports Broadwell!! That would be amazing 🤩

I will definitely give that board a try. Thank you so much!

-Brian

Yes. And I have i7 5775c in it (this is my main computer BTW).
And Audigy 1 just works here 😀

zyga64 wrote on 2025-06-04, 05:09:

Yes. And I have i7 5775c in it (this is my main computer BTW).
And Audigy 1 just works here 😀

You read my mind. I have a 5775c laying around, for such a project. Very cool CPU.

I purchased a board. Excited to try it with some PCI soundcards. Let you know how it goes.

Thank you again for your help!

-Brian

I have a Biostar B550GTA with a PCI slot, but I never tried a soundcard in it

maxtherabbit wrote on 2025-06-04, 18:04:

I have a Biostar B550GTA with a PCI slot, but I never tried a soundcard in it

Be curious to hear if a PCI soundcard works in it... Especially something like an Audigy...

I've tried dozens of motherboards, with PCI bridge chips... And so far, haven't had any luck. Hoping the GA-Z97-HD3 works...

-Brian

For 6/7 series PCHs, only B and Q models have native PCI (Z/P/H models do not, but X79 does). Native PCI is no longer available on all chipsets from 8 series onwards.

For AMD chipsets I think native PCI is available at least up to pre-Ryzen desktop FCHs. I don't think Ryzen has any native PCI anymore.

Not sure to how much extent non-native PCI slots can break in terms of compatibility, as I haven't really tested any PCI sound cards on new (non-native PCI) chipsets myself, either.

I think some audio processors of the PCI era can already work behind a PCIe bridge, as I've seen CMI8738 and VIA (VT172x) cards produced in PCIe form, through PCI-PCIe bridges.

On the other hand, Audigy Rx is Audigy 4 behind a PCI-PCIe bridge, and there are some unofficial Live! and maybe Audigy clones (e.g. "Sound Blessed") in PCIe form as well.

I have a PCIe variant of the CMI8738. And it does work with Win98. But, really wanting to get Audigy and Vortex working...

The Audigy Rx looks very interesting. But, can't seem to find any drivers for it with Win98. Even tried looking into the KX drivers. Let me know if there are any forks that support Audigy Rx and Win98.

I tried a bunch of different PCI-PCIe bridge adapter cards. So far no luck... And would prefer going with the approach of having in-built with the motherboard.

I'm not familiar with the clones you've mentioned. Those sound very interesting. I'll research those. Thank you for pointing me in that direction!

-Brian

zyga64 wrote on 2025-06-04, 05:09:

Yes. And I have i7 5775c in it (this is my main computer BTW).
And Audigy 1 just works here 😀

I've been playing around with a GA-Z97-HD3, and so far not having much luck. OS is Win98. Soundcard is Audigy1 SB0090. Also been testing with a very similar GA-Z97M-D3H.

Had a couple of questions, if you don't mind answering...

Do you know which BIOS your board has?

Do you remember which drivers you used?

-Brian

Sorry, my fault 🙁 I didn't noticed you want to install Windows 98 here. It was repeated several time, what a fool I am...
Anyway: Bios version is F3c and drivers are probably Daniel K's (I don't remember, because I installed it long time ago).