Best Win2k sound card?

[CalebTG]

I'm looking for a card with a good digital out that works well in win2k
I have a KT133 chipset based motherboard, and my vortex2 doesnt like it at all.
I'd like to stay away from creative if at all possible

 

[Davegod75]

maybe the new phillips card then but the best one is the sb live

 

[CalebTG]

Yes, but pricewatch only comes up with two matches at $78 each, and in the beta reviews of this card, the win2k drivers were sketchy

 

[Ulysses]

Really, I think Creative is the only way to go. I'm in the same situation with an MX300, Win 98SE and wanting to move to Win 2K.

 

[Yoshi]

The new cards from Phillips sure look promising. You can't go wrong with Sound Blaster Live! I'm not sure why you want to avoid it. Like it or not it is pretty much the best solution on the market.

 

[abracadabra1]

i've stuck w/ creative cards- they just have great driver support.

 

[abracadabra1]

btw, i have a similar system to yours:
duron600@1Ghzm, kt7-raid, 256mb pc100cas2 sdram (@140mhz cas2), gf2mx, 30gb maxtor hd, 13.5gb ibm hd, 4X scsi cdr, adaptec 2930c scsi controller, creative sblive

 

[syf3r]

what's your price range for a sound card...? there are a few manufacturers that are better than creative, but it depends on your budget...

-syf3r.

 

[CalebTG]

Well, I bought my Aureal Vortex2 for $50 new and it had an optical out, and that was over a year ago. Since then, Creative massacured Aureal, and put them out of business, so I need a new card for win2k. Hence, I don't want a Creative card, I'm against their way of business.

I just orderd and Aopen AW744 Pro for $35, supports 4 speaker, optical out, and comes with an optical cable ($20 value alone). It uses the Yamaha 744B chipset, so drivers shouldn't be too much of an issue.

compared to buying a live! value for $50 + shipping + $25+ for the optical addon + $20 for optical cable.

Creative overprices their products way to much. Aureal cards had always been around $50, some specialized up to $100, but creatives $50, 100, and 200 is just rediculus for a two year old card.

 

[imgod2u]

First off, why not just buy a Sound Blaster Awe64? Do you really have that advanced a speaker system? Sound isn't exactly the most crucial part of your system so why buy the latest and greatest? I myself have a live but that's cause I wanted the digital out for my fps2000.

 

[KouklatheCat]

Sound Blaster Live works great in both my Windows 2000 Boxes. It even works on W2K advanced server.

 

[najar]

CalebTG, I applaud your protest!

 

[damocles]

I was in the same boat. Ditched my MX 300 when i went to WIn2k. I chose a Live and really like it. (Prefered my old MX 300 though, just so damned unstable)

 

[themadmonk]

The CL Live Value is good card and excellent Win2k support.

 

[CalebTG]

Like I said, I wish to run the ac3 pass-through to my home stereo, which is Dolby Digital and DTS certified, therefore, kicking the heck out of any computer speakers, not to mention much louder

I am very happy with my Aureal Vortex2 card when I can stand windows 9x, but I definatly prefer windows 2000 pro (and anything that works with win2k pro will work fine with server and advanced server because they have the same driver code).

Am now awaiting my Yamaha 744 based sound card to give the torture test.
I hope to never have to buy another unCreative product.