CMI 8738 4 channel vs CMI 8738 6 channel?

[Xtasy]

I need help with these two sound cards. I am looking for a sound card that is cheap and almost as good as a sb live!, and i think Cmedia is the best choice. Well i came across several cards, all that either use the 4 channel or the 6 channel. Besides the fact that the 6 channel sound card supports 5.1 speakers, what does it have over the cmedia 8738 4 channel? Does the 4 channel support eax and other sound standards? Also, does anyone know whether there are versions that carry s/pdif optical output or where i can get a daughter card w/ s/pdif output to plug to one of these cards? Thanks.

 

[Peter]

The 4-channel chip is older, but uses the same driver set.

Of either, there are three versions: Full blown with modem subunit and digital I/O (no suffix), w/o modem unit (-MX), and w/o modem and digital I/O (-SX).

The full blown version is found on mainboards, where it is often used to drive an AMR or similar technology modem, while on sound cards the latter two are being used, the -MX most of the time. So yes, most cards do have digital I/O capability. If you want optical headers, please buy one that comes with that second slot bracket right away.

regards, Peter

 

[Xtasy]

How about the LX chipset? So SX is the lowest version? Thanks Peter.

 

[Peter]

http://www.cmedia.com.tw/e_product_01.htm

sums it up.