rec.autos.simulators

Soundcard upgrade

Russell Spearin

Soundcard upgrade

by Russell Spearin » Fri, 15 Aug 2003 09:43:07

Hi all,

Having upgraded to WinXP I have been getting the problem of dreadfull sound
from my SBLive card in GPL. I have tried all the workarounds and fixes and
can "improve" the sound but it is still very annoying.

Therefore, I have decided the time has come to upgrade my soundcard to
something that won't have this problem. I have tried a cheap soundcard based
on the C-Media 8738 chip but was not impressed with it at all. So I am now
thinking of going the whole hog and getting a SB Audigy 2. The problem is
that I don't want to spen 80 (uk pounds) on one only to find that it hasn't
cured the problem.

So can anyone let me know if they are using a SB Audigy 2 with WinXP and GPL
and if they get sound distortion or not.

Many thanks

Mike Beaucham

Soundcard upgrade

by Mike Beaucham » Fri, 15 Aug 2003 10:59:16

I don't know about GPL and XP specifically, since I didn't want to bother
reinstalling GPL after I formatted to XP. But, I do have the audigy 2. I got
the OEM version for $102CDN, which I think is quite a good price. The OEM
version doesn't include that 'break out box', which is cool, but nothing I'd
really use. You can always purchase it separately later..
It's a good card, no doubt.

Mike


T. Wortma

Soundcard upgrade

by T. Wortma » Fri, 15 Aug 2003 12:32:20

I've ran SB products for years. But when I built my new XP rig a few
months back, I decided to upgrade to a Turtle Beach Santa Cruz. IMO,
the sound quality is superior to the Live card I was using, and it
supports reflections for the Sierra Nascar sims. According to
pricewatch, you can get it for about $50 with shipping.

On Thu, 14 Aug 2003 00:43:07 +0000 (UTC), "Russell Spearing"


>Hi all,

>Having upgraded to WinXP I have been getting the problem of dreadfull sound
>from my SBLive card in GPL. I have tried all the workarounds and fixes and
>can "improve" the sound but it is still very annoying.

>Therefore, I have decided the time has come to upgrade my soundcard to
>something that won't have this problem. I have tried a cheap soundcard based
>on the C-Media 8738 chip but was not impressed with it at all. So I am now
>thinking of going the whole hog and getting a SB Audigy 2. The problem is
>that I don't want to spen 80 (uk pounds) on one only to find that it hasn't
>cured the problem.

>So can anyone let me know if they are using a SB Audigy 2 with WinXP and GPL
>and if they get sound distortion or not.

>Many thanks

Tuomas Koskel

Soundcard upgrade

by Tuomas Koskel » Fri, 15 Aug 2003 20:18:23

On Thu, 14 Aug 2003 00:43:07 +0000 (UTC), "Russell Spearing"


>Having upgraded to WinXP I have been getting the problem of dreadfull sound
>from my SBLive card in GPL. I have tried all the workarounds and fixes and
>can "improve" the sound but it is still very annoying.
>Therefore, I have decided the time has come to upgrade my soundcard to
>something that won't have this problem. I have tried a cheap soundcard based
>on the C-Media 8738 chip but was not impressed with it at all. So I am now
>thinking of going the whole hog and getting a SB Audigy 2. The problem is
>that I don't want to spen 80 (uk pounds) on one only to find that it hasn't
>cured the problem.
>So can anyone let me know if they are using a SB Audigy 2 with WinXP and GPL
>and if they get sound distortion or not.

I'm using XP Pro SP1 and was using SB Live with those horrible sound
problems with GPL. Then changed the soundcard to Hercules Fortissimo
III 7.1, and while the distortion problems were gone, new problems
with the volume level arrived (for example after a collision the
engine volume dropped about 10 dB). Then I bought SB Audigy 2 (bulk)
and all the problems were history - almost: there is still a small
amount of crackling now and then, nothing serious though. Generally,
I'm happy with the overall *** performance of Audigy 2, even though
I miss some aspects of Hercules drivers and software.

**************************************
Tuomas Koskela

**************************************

Russell Spearin

Soundcard upgrade

by Russell Spearin » Fri, 15 Aug 2003 23:17:12

Hi Tuomas,

Thanks for the reply. Can you tell me if you are using the Audigy 2 with the
Hardware acceleration set at maximum or has it had to be lowered for GPL the
same as SBLive.

Thanks


> On Thu, 14 Aug 2003 00:43:07 +0000 (UTC), "Russell Spearing"

> >Having upgraded to WinXP I have been getting the problem of dreadfull
sound
> >from my SBLive card in GPL. I have tried all the workarounds and fixes
and
> >can "improve" the sound but it is still very annoying.
> >Therefore, I have decided the time has come to upgrade my soundcard to
> >something that won't have this problem. I have tried a cheap soundcard
based
> >on the C-Media 8738 chip but was not impressed with it at all. So I am
now
> >thinking of going the whole hog and getting a SB Audigy 2. The problem is
> >that I don't want to spen 80 (uk pounds) on one only to find that it
hasn't
> >cured the problem.
> >So can anyone let me know if they are using a SB Audigy 2 with WinXP and
GPL
> >and if they get sound distortion or not.

> I'm using XP Pro SP1 and was using SB Live with those horrible sound
> problems with GPL. Then changed the soundcard to Hercules Fortissimo
> III 7.1, and while the distortion problems were gone, new problems
> with the volume level arrived (for example after a collision the
> engine volume dropped about 10 dB). Then I bought SB Audigy 2 (bulk)
> and all the problems were history - almost: there is still a small
> amount of crackling now and then, nothing serious though. Generally,
> I'm happy with the overall *** performance of Audigy 2, even though
> I miss some aspects of Hercules drivers and software.

> **************************************
> Tuomas Koskela

> **************************************

Haqsa

Soundcard upgrade

by Haqsa » Sun, 17 Aug 2003 04:04:01

I believe the "small amount of crackling" to be a Papyrus problem, something
to do with their sound code.  I have XP Pro and had the GPL problems when I
was using an SBLive.  Changed to a new mobo recently and with the onboard
sound the distortion is all gone, but I still get occasional crackling from
all Papy games.  Turning down the in-game and windows volume sliders reduces
it a lot but it seems to be impossible to eliminate it entirely.  All other
games are fine.  There is something about the way Papy does the sound code
that is aggravating this.


> On Thu, 14 Aug 2003 00:43:07 +0000 (UTC), "Russell Spearing"

> >Having upgraded to WinXP I have been getting the problem of dreadfull
sound
> >from my SBLive card in GPL. I have tried all the workarounds and fixes
and
> >can "improve" the sound but it is still very annoying.
> >Therefore, I have decided the time has come to upgrade my soundcard to
> >something that won't have this problem. I have tried a cheap soundcard
based
> >on the C-Media 8738 chip but was not impressed with it at all. So I am
now
> >thinking of going the whole hog and getting a SB Audigy 2. The problem is
> >that I don't want to spen 80 (uk pounds) on one only to find that it
hasn't
> >cured the problem.
> >So can anyone let me know if they are using a SB Audigy 2 with WinXP and
GPL
> >and if they get sound distortion or not.

> I'm using XP Pro SP1 and was using SB Live with those horrible sound
> problems with GPL. Then changed the soundcard to Hercules Fortissimo
> III 7.1, and while the distortion problems were gone, new problems
> with the volume level arrived (for example after a collision the
> engine volume dropped about 10 dB). Then I bought SB Audigy 2 (bulk)
> and all the problems were history - almost: there is still a small
> amount of crackling now and then, nothing serious though. Generally,
> I'm happy with the overall *** performance of Audigy 2, even though
> I miss some aspects of Hercules drivers and software.

> **************************************
> Tuomas Koskela

> **************************************

bertr

Soundcard upgrade

by bertr » Sun, 17 Aug 2003 08:31:13

I agree about the Santa Cruz.  I also switched to it after upgrading to XP and
experiencing lousy souind in GPL.  Every 4 to 6 weeks, Circuit City has the Santa
Cruz on special.  I got mine for $40 after rebate.  ($80 purchase less $40
rebate).

> I've ran SB products for years. But when I built my new XP rig a few
> months back, I decided to upgrade to a Turtle Beach Santa Cruz. IMO,
> the sound quality is superior to the Live card I was using, and it
> supports reflections for the Sierra Nascar sims. According to
> pricewatch, you can get it for about $50 with shipping.

> On Thu, 14 Aug 2003 00:43:07 +0000 (UTC), "Russell Spearing"

> >Hi all,

> >Having upgraded to WinXP I have been getting the problem of dreadfull sound
> >from my SBLive card in GPL. I have tried all the workarounds and fixes and
> >can "improve" the sound but it is still very annoying.

> >Therefore, I have decided the time has come to upgrade my soundcard to
> >something that won't have this problem. I have tried a cheap soundcard based
> >on the C-Media 8738 chip but was not impressed with it at all. So I am now
> >thinking of going the whole hog and getting a SB Audigy 2. The problem is
> >that I don't want to spen 80 (uk pounds) on one only to find that it hasn't
> >cured the problem.

> >So can anyone let me know if they are using a SB Audigy 2 with WinXP and GPL
> >and if they get sound distortion or not.

> >Many thanks

DB

Soundcard upgrade

by DB » Sun, 17 Aug 2003 09:24:13

I'll agree with that as well. I changed from a SBlive to a
Turtle beach SC card and the improvement was night and day
as far as background noise levels. I'll stick with it as long as
I can get drivers.


> I agree about the Santa Cruz.  I also switched to it after upgrading to XP
and
> experiencing lousy souind in GPL.  Every 4 to 6 weeks, Circuit City has
the Santa
> Cruz on special.  I got mine for $40 after rebate.  ($80 purchase less $40
> rebate).


> > I've ran SB products for years. But when I built my new XP rig a few
> > months back, I decided to upgrade to a Turtle Beach Santa Cruz. IMO,
> > the sound quality is superior to the Live card I was using, and it
> > supports reflections for the Sierra Nascar sims. According to
> > pricewatch, you can get it for about $50 with shipping.

> > On Thu, 14 Aug 2003 00:43:07 +0000 (UTC), "Russell Spearing"

> > >Hi all,

> > >Having upgraded to WinXP I have been getting the problem of dreadfull
sound
> > >from my SBLive card in GPL. I have tried all the workarounds and fixes
and
> > >can "improve" the sound but it is still very annoying.

> > >Therefore, I have decided the time has come to upgrade my soundcard to
> > >something that won't have this problem. I have tried a cheap soundcard
based
> > >on the C-Media 8738 chip but was not impressed with it at all. So I am
now
> > >thinking of going the whole hog and getting a SB Audigy 2. The problem
is
> > >that I don't want to spen 80 (uk pounds) on one only to find that it
hasn't
> > >cured the problem.

> > >So can anyone let me know if they are using a SB Audigy 2 with WinXP
and GPL
> > >and if they get sound distortion or not.

> > >Many thanks

Larr

Soundcard upgrade

by Larr » Sun, 17 Aug 2003 12:26:35

I agree.  The TBSC is great.

However, their latest beta drivers have some anomolies with NR2003.  If you
use NR2003, stick with the 4161s rev drivers until the finals come out.

This is the first driver issue I've ever had with the TBSC.

-Larry


> I've ran SB products for years. But when I built my new XP rig a few
> months back, I decided to upgrade to a Turtle Beach Santa Cruz. IMO,
> the sound quality is superior to the Live card I was using, and it
> supports reflections for the Sierra Nascar sims. According to
> pricewatch, you can get it for about $50 with shipping.

> On Thu, 14 Aug 2003 00:43:07 +0000 (UTC), "Russell Spearing"

> >Hi all,

> >Having upgraded to WinXP I have been getting the problem of dreadfull
sound
> >from my SBLive card in GPL. I have tried all the workarounds and fixes
and
> >can "improve" the sound but it is still very annoying.

> >Therefore, I have decided the time has come to upgrade my soundcard to
> >something that won't have this problem. I have tried a cheap soundcard
based
> >on the C-Media 8738 chip but was not impressed with it at all. So I am
now
> >thinking of going the whole hog and getting a SB Audigy 2. The problem is
> >that I don't want to spen 80 (uk pounds) on one only to find that it
hasn't
> >cured the problem.

> >So can anyone let me know if they are using a SB Audigy 2 with WinXP and
GPL
> >and if they get sound distortion or not.

> >Many thanks

Tuomas Koskel

Soundcard upgrade

by Tuomas Koskel » Tue, 19 Aug 2003 21:24:50

On Thu, 14 Aug 2003 14:17:12 +0000 (UTC), "Russell Spearing"


>Thanks for the reply. Can you tell me if you are using the Audigy 2 with the
>Hardware acceleration set at maximum or has it had to be lowered for GPL the
>same as SBLive.

HW acceleration is set at maximum (for me, SBLive didn't work with GPL
even if HW acc. was lowered). I haven't done any experiments whether
it has any affect on slight "crackling" in GPL. Anyway, it is not a
serious problem.

**************************************
Tuomas Koskela

**************************************


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