What is the difference between SB 512 and SB Live! Value?

[eyor]

What is the difference between the 512 and the Live! Value sound cards?

 

[eyor]

Anyone have the 512?

 

[AndyHui]

El cheapo PCB just like the other PCIxx. It lacks Rear Out, CD_SPDIF, and cannot use LiveWare.

 

[kingz]

well, i only have a 2.1 style analog speaker setup, so i opt to go with the 512. got it for $35 at amazon. basically, its the same chip, with only minor differences, as andy indicated. its was a perfect card for my setup, but if you got a 4.1 or 5.1, pay the extra $30

 

[eyor]

I think I may go with the 512, as I only have 2 old speakers right now. CD_SPDIF? LiveWare? Rear out? What are these used for?
Thanks

 

[Noriaki]

The 512 doesn't have rear-out? I thought it was just the digital and liveware. Hmmm.


CD_SPDIF is just a digital CD Rom Audio input, it's mildly useful but I dont' really notice a quality difference. I use it because I have a CDRW, a DVDRom and a Hollywood plus to hook up to my SBLive!s internal connectors.

The Rear-out is for the back two speakers if you have a 4 speaker set.

LiveWare is the big fancy driver package creative uses with the SBLive! I kinda like it...but it's not terribly great

 

[JackHawksmoor]

Get the Live! The 512 is basically just the ancient Awe32. Who cares what kind of speakers you have? The Live! still takes more sound processing off of your CPU, has less noise, and of course has EAX and Direct sound support.

 

[ss284]

plus you can nab a live for only 10 bucks more, 40 bucks oem from pricewatch.com



steve

 

[Aboroth]

<< The 512 is basically just the ancient Awe32 >>



Huh? The PCI 512 uses the same chip, the EMU10K1, as the rest of the Live! series. It isn't exactly the same as the Live! cards, but it is still much better than the Awe32.

 

[eyor]

I think I will get the live... what are your experiences with beyond computers? They have it for $52 including 2nd day ship...
Thanks

 

[JackHawksmoor]

I didn't realize the 512 used the 10K. Still, just go with the Live! Value, and you won't have to worry about drivers or anything.