Sound Card recommendations

[Gish69]

I just recently bought a new computer (P4 1.7 GHZ, 256 megs ram, asus motherboard, IBM 75 gxp, geforce3) and need to get a sound card. I am running Windows 2000. I have heard all sorts of problems about creative. How about the Turtle beach card or the Phillips acoustic edge? What are your recomendations??

Thanks in advance

 

[Alienwho]

I just got rid of my acoustic edge for a GTXP because of acoustic edge's less than stellar performance on win2k (allthough I absolutely loved it on 98)

 

[drewski]

I'm happy with my Turtle Beach. Solved some problems I had with the Creative.

 

[nortexoid]

i own the SC and it's an excellent card...i previously owned an MX300...

i have a few complaints:

1) WDM drivers don't allow software independent mixer control (i.e., if u adjust the mixer in winamp in win2k, it adjusts the WAV mixer for everything...it doesn't do this with the VxD drivers for win9x)

2) the tbcspud.sys driver file crashes my comp when doing chkdsk for NTFS partitions in win2k during boot...renaming the file (i.e. deactivating it) remedies it...but it's quite a pain in the ass...i don't know if it's specific to my system or not.

3) A3D is relatively quiet..requires jacking up the volume a little...it's no so quiet u can't hear it, but it's quieter than my MX300 A3D and the SC using EAX or nothing...

i'd assume most of these issues are present w/ the GTXP (except maybe (2)), though i'm not certain....
all in all, a good card....love it...

i like the way u can switch channels conveniently (i.e. to use front only, back only, four only, versajack, etc.)...the analog is crisp and clear and the win2k drivers work flawlessly (w/ the listed exceptions)

 

[Poncherelli]

I'd go with GTXP, my friend has one and it rocks, i'll be putting one in my new system that i build soon.

 

[w74656]

if you have the money, then GTXP is probably the best choice. but i'm happy with the Philips AE, haven't tried the TB SC

 

[slpaulson]

I have an acoustic edge. I don't know if this is just my case but I have had lots of problems with it under windows 2k. At least on my BX system my mp3s like to skip when I'm just browsing the internet. It isn't just winamp because I tried to use windows media player also. It doesn't do this on my kt133 board though, so I don't know what's up there.

I would go with the TB Santa Cruz if I had to pick again though. I had a few other problems with my acoustic edge. I've heard of a few problems with the Hercules card under windows 2k that would make me want to steer clear. Then again that is just hear say, and I don't have a source to quote this from either.

 

[Insane3D]

I have used the Philips AE, SB Live 5.1 Platnium, and the Hercules GTXP, and I prefer the AE. The GTXP, Santa Cruz, or the Philips AE would all be good choices.

 

[ZeroBurn]

i vote for the gxtp, although that was a swap from a creative sblive plat 5.1. i can't vouch for the others, but i would say the edge is the best choice for a lower budget. it seems like you don't have much of a budget so i'd go for the gxtp

 

[LukFilm]

GTXP, just make sure you download the LATEST drivers off the Web. I couldn't get the shipping drivers to install on my system. Once I downloaded the newest ones, I was golden.

 

[LukFilm]

Haha, just realized the pun of my message

 

[Wingznut]

Get the Herc if you like the breakout box, and the price doesn't bother you.
Get the Santa Cruz if you don't care for the breakout box or want to save $50.

Either way, you'll love it.

Btw, I have a very similar system to yours, with a Santa Cruz. It works perfectly with this setup.