Best Gaming Sound Card for Via686B chip MBoard?

[EglsFly]

Looking for recommendations on a Sound Card that is most compatible with VIA 686B, supports at least 4 channel sound, main use is for Gaming, with cost in mind.

I have a SBLive (not the 5.1 version) currently, have had a few issues.
If you do not know about some of the 686B SBLive issues, refer to:
http://www.viahardware.com/686bfaq.shtm

Considering the following:
Turtle Beach Santa Cruz
Philips Seismic Edge 5.1
Sound Blaster Audigy
Hercules Fortissimo II

Suggestions?

 

[edfcmc]

i have an Asus a7v-133 with 686B. No problems with a TB Santa Cruz runnin ME/98 or XP.

 

[EglsFly]

edfcmc: Where did you get your Santa Cruz and for how much?

 

[EglsFly]

This site:
http://www.soundcardcentral.com
mentioned that the TBSC couldn't play A3D 2 in Half-Life???
I'm not sure if this is anything to be concerned about or not?

 

[EglsFly]

^bump^

Looking for some more votes on the poll...

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Hey EglsFly
I voted for the Audigy but I wanted to ask if you've already tried the fixes available for your card(since it's not the 5.1) that are available at the site you linked on this page? There is also some good info here. It appears that some boards fix the problem with a bios update or changing bios settings and others with the fixes available from the link I added. If you've already exhausted the potential fixes then I apologize for posting what would be redundant data. Anyways, since you have a good soundcard I was hoping to help you potentialy save some cash by making it work with your board. Hope this helps but if the new card is a foregone conclusion then I've added my thoughts on that as well.

 

[Gandalf90125]

I've run an Iwill KK266 (686B) with both the Live! and the Audigy cards. No problems experienced with bad sound (crackling, popping, etc.) or data corruption.

 

[Commando223]

Dude go for the Hercules Gamesurround Muse XL I am runnig one right now it's great EAX and A3D Plus it supports 4 speakers and best of all I paid $18 retail box for it
I have used it on my brothers Via chipset and ran perfect so you might wanna give this card a chance

 

[Another]

I got myself a Gamesurround Fortissiomo II a couple of months ago because I got issues with my SBLive! X-Gamer 5.1 and my KT7A-Raid. Work just great! Good sound, good bundle, good price. I paid CND dollar for it though (since I live up there) so I can't recommend any places to buy from.

 

[RanDum72]

The Hercules game surround Muse is based on the C-Media 8738 chipset, the same chipset used on the built-in sound of some motherboards.
Its cheap and OK in quality but The Fortissimo II is superior in specs and in performance. I would consider it the best bang for the buck right now,
great in games (low CPU usage) plus awesome quality when listening to music.

 

[EglsFly]

DAPUNISHER: Yea, I just recently installed one of the patches mentioned on this page.
http://www.viahardware.com/686bfaq.shtm

A friend of mine clued me in on it.
He used it on his MSI motherboard (686B with SBLive) to correct DVD movies from crashing and/or rebooting his PC. Seems to have fixed his problem.
The file:
http://www.viahardware.com/download/viapfd100.exe
Seems to be working for me at the moment. Time will tell.

I haven't really put it to the test yet, need a good 1-3 hours of gaming or so to replicate the problem.
Depending on what I am playing.

My symptoms are that after this time has gone by, some games will start getting choppy and progressivly get worse to the point it locks up.
If I disable EAX (that seems to help) or use the built in sound chip (EPOX-8K7A MB), it works fine.

I think I read somewhere that the VIA 686B issues with the SBLive where fixed on the Audigy?
Can someone confirm this?

Thanks.

 

[Peter]

There are no "686B" south bridge issues with the SB!Live. The issue is in the SB!Live itself, it slightly misbehaves on the PCI bus
and may hang the VIA chipset north (!) bridge. The 686B IDE data loss problems came in when some mainboard makers applied a
non-working workaround.
Now things have evolved in the meantime - VIA has issued a working workaround (in north bridge programming) to make the
original SB!Live work without causing other problems, and Creative have fixed their card design on the SB!Live 5.1.

What remains is that a VIA chipset system with the original SB!Live in won't be as fast as it could be, since the PCI bus can't run
full throttle thanks to the SB!Live's problem.

regards, Peter

 

[holdencommodore]

I have a Seismic Edge PSC705 in one computer and a Acoustic Edge PSC706 in another computer. Both have a 686B southbridge. Both are fine. If you are only using 4.1 speakers, why not consider the Rythmic Edge PSC703 and save some money?
It uses the same chip as the Seismic Edge and Acoustic Edge... So any comments you read in reviews regarding sound quality / gaming of the Acoustic Edge also applys to the Rythmic Edge as well as the Seismic Edge.
QMSS is great and Philips have got a good record for driver updates now.

Cheers.

 

[EglsFly]

Pretty close voting so far...

^bump^ for more votes!

 

[EglsFly]

Well the votes are in and I have picked up a Turtle Beach Santa Cruz.
Got the full retail version on buy.com for $58.

I am know going to go through the process of uninstalling my SB Live hardware and software.
I found some notes on this from the viahardware.com site.

If anyone has any particular tips to share in regards to this, feel free to post them to this thread.

Thanks!

 

[ctk1981]

Acoustic Edge 706. It replaced my Audigy after I tried everything to get it to stop popping and crackling (SB wants me to send the card in, going to next week). So far Ive been really impressed with the 706, wish i woulda just skipped the audigy and went with the 706 in the first place. Bought mine at Circuit City for 109 I think.

 

[anime]

santa cruz for me.

 

[tslaughrey]

I voted for the Seismic Edge, but I have an Acoustic Edge. Either one will be good, depending on your speakers and how much you want out of it. I got mine for $99 at CompUSA, but you should be able to find it for less than that online. And the Seismic Edge will be even less.

I haven't had any problems with mine, other than the fact that the Philips website is a nightmare to navigate. The sound quality is great and I haven't had any compatibility issues, so I would recommend the Philips to anyone who's interested.