Solutions for a quiet PC beeper \ VOGONS

Solutions for a quiet PC beeper

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First post, by Retrodude

Posted on 2015-07-31, 03:15

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I've got a pretty nice Windows 95 PC that I've been using for retro gaming lately, and it's got a really quiet PC speaker. This wouldn't be a problem if it weren't for the fact that there are many good DOS games that use it for audio exclusively, e.g. Commander Keen, Duke Nukem 1, etc. I was wondering what solutions there would be to boost the sound for it? I've heard of some ways to hotwire it so it can play through an external speaker, and I know some sound cards support outputting it through their hardware, but I was wondering what the best solution would be.

Reply 1 of 6, by PhilsComputerLab

Posted on 2015-07-31, 03:23

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An easy way is to route the PC speaker through your sound card. Many sound cards have a PC SPK header for this and also a volume slider in the mixer.

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Reply 2 of 6, by RacoonRider

Posted on 2015-07-31, 03:32

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That's weird. People usually try to tune it down instead of up!

Reply 3 of 6, by alexanrs

Posted on 2015-07-31, 03:32

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Is this PC using a piezo beeper or an actual speaker? Those piezoelectric beepers can be very quiet compared to the real deal.

Reply 4 of 6, by Matth79

Posted on 2015-08-02, 00:32

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Soundcard PC-SPK in is the best way.

If the PC has a real speaker with space around it, some cardboard baffles can increase it - can remember getting some impressive results out of ye olde Win3.1 PC speaker driver - the PC that we'd added speaker baffles to was about twice as loud, with our favourite test piece of "Pugh, Pugh, Barney McGrew, Cuthbert, Dibble, Grub" ringing loud & clear.

Reply 5 of 6, by PeterLI

Posted on 2015-08-02, 14:24

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Interesting. I pulled the beeper off my Magnavox 386SX MOBO so the beeping does not wake my sons after 7PM. 🤣 I also disconnect the speaker whenever possible.

Reply 6 of 6, by Retrodude

Posted on 2015-08-27, 00:32

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Finally opened her up and found the PC speaker header on my sound card as well as the connection point on my motherboard. I've been trying to get it working with my 4 pin cable but haven't had any luck. The pins on the motherboard total at 3 with a gap between 2 and 1 of them. The sound card has all 4 pins at its connection point. Is there anything I should be looking for to indicate the correct connection? I'm not sure I have it in properly.

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