Replacing SB Live! with Vortex2?

[PistachioByAzul]

I just got this Turtle Beach Vortex2 card to replace the AWE64 Gold in my other box, but now I'm considering swapping it with the SBLive! in my main box and using the the Live! in the other system. One my main system where the Vortex2 would go I mostly play games, on the other system where the SBLive! would go I mostly listen to music and watch DVDs. Does this swap make sense?

 

[nortexoid]

yes, that is a good idea, if u're not planning to get a3d stably in win2k

 

[Rand]

With driver support gone for Aureal cards I don't see that it makes much sense. In their prime Aureal cards were generally considered better for gaming then the SB Live! cards but that no longer holds true with Aureal now defunct.

 

[mylam]

i actually have both card, and SB sounds better to me
and of course they have better driver suooprt

 

[PistachioByAzul]

Eww, Vortex2 is crap compared to SBLive, even with A3D turned on. Just put the Live! back in.

 

[Slugbait]

Actually, the Vortex2 isn't crap compared to the Live. That comment comes from someone who would like to rekindle a very old war.

 

[mylam]

lol
vortex2 is a good card...just w/ poor driver support

 

[PistachioByAzul]

What old war? This is my first hand experience, I knew nothing of Vortex2s until now. To me it just doesnt sound as crisp and vibrant as SBLive!

Bah I need sleep, can't type.

 

[Shudder]

THe SBLive is one of the biggest pieces of crap I've ever bought.

With the Vortex2, you get AWESOME 3d sound in games. My dear god it sounds great. Plus, I loved my card simply because it had a functional headphone jack, set up specifically for the headphones.. SBLive does not.

I got rid of my vortex because it didn't do A3D in Windows 2000 and I figured the SBlive would.. WRONG. EAX Is so screeeewwwed in 2k that I have to boot to Win98 just to use it. If I'm going to do that, screw it, I might as well go back to the vortex. I have to run the Live in plain stereo mode in 2k, so the vortex will sound the same, and if I want to CORRECTLY play games like thief, I'll have to boot to 98 anyway, so I'd rather have the vortex.

Just ordered another MX300 for 30 bucks shipped. Not too bad and I can't wait to have games sound good again. Creative blows and I hate them for killing Aureal.

 

[Littlenikki]

I love my sblive value and for 50 bucks you just cant beat it. I dont and never will use win2k so as far as that goes I know nothing. But I do listen to alot of mp3s on my altecs and it sounds great. The 3d is good. I have no complaints at all

 

[dieselstation]

Vortex drivers can be found at VortexOfSound.com

 

[sandorski]

Bah! Vortex 2 cards are every bit as good in everything, except midi and 3d sound in games, as a Live. The Live is better for midi, but the Vortex 2's 3dsound is clearly superior.

My SQ2500 still has not had one single problem with drivers that are over 1 year old now.

 

[Deeko]

I personally prefer the live.

 

[PistachioByAzul]

Just ordered another MX300 for 30 bucks shipped.

If you wanted a Vortex2 card you should have gotten the Montegumo II from ComputerGeek for $12.95, that's where I got mine.

 

[PistachioByAzul]

Hey, I just put the Vortex2 in my other box and using headphones I have to say that it sounds better than the Live! listening to MP3s. I suppose it could have been the speakers that made it sound like crap on my main system.