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Topic: good sound card for an old computer (Read 3910 times) previous topic - next topic
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good sound card for an old computer

I have an old Pentium 75MHz that I use to play MP3s through my headphones (Senn 280Pro). The sound card on this machine is absolutly horrendus. I want to upgrade, but I am not sure if the newer high quality cards will work with this dinosaur.

I am looking at the Turtle Beach Santa Cruz, but it says in the system requirements that a 233 MHz processor is required. Someone at another forum told me that requirement is probally for the software it comes with, and the actual card will have no problem working. All I want is to be able top playback MP3s at high quality. I'm using Winamp 2.81 and they play fine (although things can get a little choppy if I'm doing something else during playback)

I bid on a Sound Blaster 128 on ebay a few days ago, and someone outbid me but the person that outbid me hasn't payed yet, so I have to opportunity to buy the card for 4.99 (plus 5 or so bucks for shipping). Should I buy the SB 128 or the Santa Cruz? One cost $5 and the other one costs $50, but money really isn't my concern. What do you think I should do?
 

good sound card for an old computer

Reply #1 –
hi there.
At first: If money isn't your concern, then why don't you just upgrade your good old machine and get something new? 
A decent PC  doesn't cost a fortune theese days... especialy if you in to ebay-buisnes (although I wouldn't by any processors, ram, or mb there).
Anyway, if you keep your PC, I would prob. go for the sb 128, the price speaks for itself, and it should be enough for normal mp3 listening (I myself use a sb audigy, great stuff ).
Nothing but a Heartache - Since I found my Baby ;)

good sound card for an old computer

Reply #2 –
Small Tip for shopping for sb 128 pcis on ebay: Don't search for 'soundblaster' or anything like that, but for es1371/es1370.
"To understand me, you'll have to swallow a world." Or maybe your words.

good sound card for an old computer

Reply #3 –
Quote
Small Tip for shopping for sb 128 pcis on ebay: Don't search for 'soundblaster' or anything like that, but for es1371/es1370.

why?

good sound card for an old computer

Reply #4 –
Maybe because you'll get TONS of answers with cards being SoundBlaster-compatible?
ruxvilti'a

good sound card for an old computer

Reply #5 –
es1370, the legendary Ensoniq PCI card. Don't ask, just do it. es1371 was Creative's crippled version of the same chip, to have only 2 channels instead of the original 4. The original Ensoniq PCI cards used to cost about 25US$ and were superior to the SBLive! of then (about 100$). These cards don't resample, and have very good signal to noise ratio for a 16bit/48khz card. Because Creative bought Ensoniq, some were resold as "SB64 PCI" or "SB128" or things like that. I think some (or all?) have cinch (RCA) output connectors.
She is waiting in the air

good sound card for an old computer

Reply #6 –
I'd skip all newer (cheapo) Creative cards. I have one ES1371 model here and it is one of the worst soudning audio sources I have ever heard - I beleive that it was sold as SB64PCI.  My educated guess is that the reason for the poor sound was the crappy analog stage of the card.

But I was fairly pleased with Terratec's cheapo modes 128PCI - might want to check those for a budget solution.

good sound card for an old computer

Reply #7 –
I've got a later SB PCI128 ("digital") that thankfully has the non-resampling ES1371 chip.  Honestly, it sounds quite good to me, and the minimalist, stable, non-intrusive drivers are a joy.

My next card will be the M-Audio 24/96 (thanks to using an older OS, and future Linux compatibility when I dump Win98SE).... but really this card sounds quite good enough, so I can't bring myself to spend the money anytime soon.  Maybe I should get one soon, before M-Audio discontinues it for their newer cards.

good sound card for an old computer

Reply #8 –
Terratec cards (except EWS64) are also supported under Linux by ALSA.
Every card with Envy24 and Envy24HT I know of is supported.
All Envy24 (Audiophile included) cards use driver snd-ice1712,
while Envy24HT (Aureon Sky and Space included) cards use driver snd-ice1724.
ruxvilti'a

good sound card for an old computer

Reply #9 –
Quote
Terratec cards (except EWS64) are also supported under Linux by ALSA.
Every card with Envy24 and Envy24HT I know of is supported.
All Envy24 (Audiophile included) cards use driver snd-ice1712,
while Envy24HT (Aureon Sky and Space included) cards use driver snd-ice1724.

Thanks for the infos.  I still prefer the 24/96, as it seems to be lacking in a bunch of features I don't need and probably would never use (and it's also time-tested and well liked across the board).

I've seen generally good reviews on the Terratecs as well, but there have been a few exceptions (can't remember the specifics).

good sound card for an old computer

Reply #10 –
Quote
My next card will be the M-Audio 24/96 (thanks to using an older OS, and future Linux compatibility when I dump Win98SE).... but really this card sounds quite good enough, so I can't bring myself to spend the money anytime soon.  Maybe I should get one soon, before M-Audio discontinues it for their newer cards.

I just ordered one from Newegg.com.  Chrissakes, I've been thinking about it long enough (at least a year)... and have some money in the bank that probably won't be there in another couple months.