Question about the integrated sound on the Iwill KK266

[joefart]

The integrated sound supports both EAX and A3D, but how good is the support? For games that support both, say Counter Strike, which would perform better.

I use to have a MX300 installed, but after installing Win2k, I got a SB Live! I liked the MX300 better, but it did not work well with the beta drivers for Win2k. How does the integrated sound compare to an Aureal A3D 1 based card, Aureal A3D 2 based card, and a Sound Blaster Live! based card? From all the reviews, none really emphasized the integrated sound.

Thanks in advance

 

[sweetboy]

bump

 

[complex]

cmedia's web page is at http://www.cmedia.com.tw/.

it seems (note: seems) to emphasize the a3d over eax. for example, the specs page for the cmi8738 chip says "HRTF-based 3D positional audio, supporting DirectSound? 3D and A3D? interface" on the second line, and "Drivers support EAX®, Karaoke Key, Echo?" on the ninth line. this makes me think that the a3d support is more hardware based (better sounding, lower cpu usage?) than the eax support.

another thing is, for devices that i have seen that support both eax and a3d, and aren't made by diamond or creative, the a3d support is usually 'emulated' through conversion to d3d api calls first. you can look at a review of the philips acoustic edge card at http://www.3dsoundsurge.com/reviews/AcousticEdge/AcousticEdge-p2.html.

of course, this really gives you no idea how it sounds. sorry. i've never seen or heard this particular sound chip in action, but my kk266 non-raid will be here in two days, and i'll post again then, if you want, with comparisons of the sound quality and effects in counter-strike, my favorite game.

p.s. my last experience with on-board sound chips was back on a packard bell. i look forward to being impressed by this chip, which certainly sounds decent.

 

[joefart]

Thanks for the response.

I too will be getting the motherboard in a couple of days. Just curious if anyone knew of the quality of the onboard sound in A3D and in EAX, and which is better sounding and has less CPU usage.

I plan on using the Tbird 650 that I got from Compgeek, which they have in stock again, and water cooling the cpu, which will incorporate a dorm fridge in cooling the water.