Soundcard recently just fried in my machine... SB Live 5.1 MP-3+. I'm looking around at possible alternatives.

For one thing, I have my sound system hooked into a surround sound procesor, so I really don't ned an ultra sophisticated card to start with. Put it this way, would there really be an advantage to going with a SB Live under such circumstances.

So... I am considering about 3 other options right now.

1. Yamaha PCI sound card. It DOES have all of the goodies of the SB Live card, but for a bit less in cost. At the same token, there is a Yamaha PCI card that offers just one set of speaker outputs.

2. Ensonique card... I talked with one very knowledgeable tech who says that the SB Live and the Ensonique cards are the same card... minus the software package and different drivers.

3. SB AWE 64 Gold. I DO happen to have an ISA slot in my Abit KT7A board.

Well I use an AWE64. It is a great card. I do have only one audio out, though perhaps the gold has two?

I've heard only good things about the SB Live. There is a cheaper OEM version of the live you can get, have you looked into that?

A good comparison site for prices is www.pricewatch.com (http://www.pricewatch.com)

hope that helps.

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Manu Narayan

If you want a GOOD soundcard at a low price, go for the Diamond MX300 if they're still for sale. I got this over a year ago and it has everything you can possibly ask for at a very good price. Personally I chose not to get a Creative soundcard because they conflict with my video capturing hardware for some reason. However, Diamond is known for being late and lame with their software drivers, so... its your choice, but i strongly suggest an MX300 (it has golden plug-thingies, bling bling http://discussanything.com/Ubb/biggrin.gif )

Yes Diamond makes some good sound cards that have relatively few problems. Another great card manufacturer is Turtle Beach.

Diamond MX300, as Tam said, is an awsome card. Got one at Christmas for $45.00 I think. Great sound and take some of the work off of the processor.

As Rebel said, Turtle Beach sound cards are very good also...

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Uh, what country is this??

I have the soundblaster live value, paid about 30 bux for it. I found the best price on pricewatch.com I am very pleased with.. great value soundcard w/ a digital output too!

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I remember the MX300. Black and gold hardware, 4-speaker support native... it was pretty nice, until I actually tried to get it to work. Probably just some odd incompatibility with my voodoo3. I took the card back, traded it out for another of the same, and tried again. Fried again. Then I picked up one of those shiny new Soundblaster Live X-Gamers, with a bunch of games I actually didn't own yet (major selling point). It performed admirably into its dying days, until it was replaced by the latest and greatest, the Soundblaster Live 5.1 Platinum, with the live-drive and all that cool schtuph.

I actually have a use for the live-drive, using it as a home recording studio, so I don't consider it a waste. But there are plugs on that sucker that I think anyone would find a use for. There are fiber-optic outputs, 1/4" line-in and line-out jacks with independed volume controls, SPDIF in/outputs, MIDI in/outputs, Auxiliary inputs, and even a cool IR remote control for jamming mp3s from across the room! What a great toy.

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"Who are you?"
"The devil," she said. "The devil in love."

Personally, I'd stick to Turtle Beach or an SBLive card. Just in my experience, they're the best. Hercules has just come out with a new Game Theatre package, but since you say you want simple that's probably not your thing anyway.