Just about to purchase a PIII450, 128Mb, V3 3000 etc
Do I go for MX300 or the SB?
My PC is for driving sims, and in particular GPL (hence the v3 - no
good buying a N64 if you want to play GT, know what I mean?).
I -occasionally- play other games, but generally that's what my PSX is
for.
I'm tempted to go for the SB card because it's just that - a
Soundblaster. I go back to N2 and ICR2 from time to time so DOS
compatibility is a must.
Also, are there any gameport issues? will I be able to lose that ACM
card or am I best off keeping it?
TIA
Mark
Reading, UK
Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Share what you know. Learn what you don't.
Both are good cards, both have DOS soundblaster emulation...take that as far
as you want, but it seemed to work ok (at least the MX300) in ICR2 when I
ran it for a few hours a couple weeks ago. No gameport issues on either and
both are digital so you can ditch that ACM card.
Differences? Used to be that SBLive had about 3.5-4%CPU usage and MX300
about 7% (or thats what the reports said...heh), but supposedly with the
latest MX300 drivers they are about even. Thats with 32 streams running on
both cards..so quite good either way. Do you prefer 3D positional audio? Go
with the MX300...if you prefer to listen to music then the SBLive is better.
Both support DirectSound3D. SbLive support EAX (environmental audio
extensions whichis being incorprated in the next DirectX) and MX300 is
supposed to have at somepoint in time EAX support, but the MX300 does
support fully the A3D (Aureal) 2.0 positional 3D sound. Difference? The
A3D actually makes soundmaps much in the same manner that light maps work
which gives really nice 3D positional sound effects. EAX is more of things
such as reverb, etc. Its not really positional sound at all...but has that
psuedo effect.
End result..both are good cards. I went with the Diamond MX300 because I
use my game for playing games and my home stereo for music, so I wanted the
better 3D sound.
But you should really try some other PC games on the PC you are
getting.....with exception of fighting titles (sigh, the PC still lacks here
which is unfortunate since the game controllers are superior now especially
with USB) PC games are far better than PSX games. ;)
Personally I'd go with the SonicVortex2 from Videologic. It uses the Vortex2
chipset JUST LIKE the MX300 but the card costs $72. It comes with a better
interface and drivers. Plus their EAX drivers out due out in a couple weeks so
you will have all the beneifts of the EAX on the SBLive.
Quoted text (23 lines)
>Just about to purchase a PIII450, 128Mb, V3 3000 etc >Do I go for MX300 or the SB? >My PC is for driving sims, and in particular GPL (hence the v3 - no >good buying a N64 if you want to play GT, know what I mean?). >I -occasionally- play other games, but generally that's what my PSX is >for. >I'm tempted to go for the SB card because it's just that - a >Soundblaster. I go back to N2 and ICR2 from time to time so DOS >compatibility is a must. >Also, are there any gameport issues? will I be able to lose that ACM >card or am I best off keeping it? >TIA >Mark >Reading, UK >Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ >Share what you know. Learn what you don't.>Just about to purchase a PIII450, 128Mb, V3 3000 etc
>Do I go for MX300 or the SB?
[snip]
You save an IRQ with the MX300. I just had a P3-450 built
(went with SLIed Voodoo2 rather than the Voodoo 3) and
my dealer has a bunch of *** fanatics. I was gonna go with the
SB live value but they talked me into the MX300. No problems with
ANY games which includes N2, GPL, MGPRS2 and Sports Car GT.
It is an analog port but runs very smoothly with my old T2 and by
Logitech FF. Put it back in and compare lap times with both.
Regards,
Harry
well i have anMX300 and altho the card is great my computer upgrade
wont allow me to play either ICR2 or N2 :( something about DMA
conflict with the HD??)
do you have any suggestions?
no flame on gtting a new HD please
thx
Took the words straight out of my mouth. Good reply!
Quoted text (54 lines)
> Both are good cards, both have DOS soundblaster emulation...take that as far > as you want, but it seemed to work ok (at least the MX300) in ICR2 when I > ran it for a few hours a couple weeks ago. No gameport issues on either and > both are digital so you can ditch that ACM card. > Differences? Used to be that SBLive had about 3.5-4%CPU usage and MX300 > about 7% (or thats what the reports said...heh), but supposedly with the > latest MX300 drivers they are about even. Thats with 32 streams running on > both cards..so quite good either way. Do you prefer 3D positional audio? Go > with the MX300...if you prefer to listen to music then the SBLive is better. > Both support DirectSound3D. SbLive support EAX (environmental audio > extensions whichis being incorprated in the next DirectX) and MX300 is > supposed to have at somepoint in time EAX support, but the MX300 does > support fully the A3D (Aureal) 2.0 positional 3D sound. Difference? The > A3D actually makes soundmaps much in the same manner that light maps work > which gives really nice 3D positional sound effects. EAX is more of things > such as reverb, etc. Its not really positional sound at all...but has that > psuedo effect. > End result..both are good cards. I went with the Diamond MX300 because I > use my game for playing games and my home stereo for music, so I wanted the > better 3D sound. > But you should really try some other PC games on the PC you are > getting.....with exception of fighting titles (sigh, the PC still lacks here > which is unfortunate since the game controllers are superior now especially > with USB) PC games are far better than PSX games. ;) > > Just about to purchase a PIII450, 128Mb, V3 3000 etc > > Do I go for MX300 or the SB? > > My PC is for driving sims, and in particular GPL (hence the v3 - no > > good buying a N64 if you want to play GT, know what I mean?). > > I -occasionally- play other games, but generally that's what my PSX is > > for. > > I'm tempted to go for the SB card because it's just that - a > > Soundblaster. I go back to N2 and ICR2 from time to time so DOS > > compatibility is a must. > > Also, are there any gameport issues? will I be able to lose that ACM > > card or am I best off keeping it? > > TIA > > Mark > > Reading, UK > > Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ > > Share what you know. Learn what you don't.Danke.
One thing to consider with your soundcard purchases.
The next offerings from Papyrus will directly support A3d but
not EAX. So while the SB live will work GREAT with
n2000 etc, some of the features of the A3d version won't
be available. SBlive will work but Diamond Monster will
have a few more gimmicks.
dave henrie
--
On May 17, 1999 A Whale was killed off the coast of
Washington State. The Whale was killed in the name of
Tradition.....I say....
%&#& Tradition!
>Took the words straight out of my mouth. Good reply!
>> Both are good cards, both have DOS soundblaster emulation...take that as
far
>> as you want, but it seemed to work ok (at least the MX300) in ICR2 when I
>> ran it for a few hours a couple weeks ago. No gameport issues on either
and
>> both are digital so you can ditch that ACM card.
>> Differences? Used to be that SBLive had about 3.5-4%CPU usage and MX300
>> about 7% (or thats what the reports said...heh), but supposedly with the
>> latest MX300 drivers they are about even. Thats with 32 streams running
on
>> both cards..so quite good either way. Do you prefer 3D positional audio?
Go
>> with the MX300...if you prefer to listen to music then the SBLive is
better.
>> Both support DirectSound3D. SbLive support EAX (environmental audio
>> extensions whichis being incorprated in the next DirectX) and MX300 is
>> supposed to have at somepoint in time EAX support, but the MX300 does
>> support fully the A3D (Aureal) 2.0 positional 3D sound. Difference? The
>> A3D actually makes soundmaps much in the same manner that light maps work
>> which gives really nice 3D positional sound effects. EAX is more of
things
>> such as reverb, etc. Its not really positional sound at all...but has
that
>> psuedo effect.
>> End result..both are good cards. I went with the Diamond MX300 because I
>> use my game for playing games and my home stereo for music, so I wanted
the
>> better 3D sound.
>> But you should really try some other PC games on the PC you are
>> getting.....with exception of fighting titles (sigh, the PC still lacks
here
>> which is unfortunate since the game controllers are superior now
especially
>> with USB) PC games are far better than PSX games. ;)
>> > Just about to purchase a PIII450, 128Mb, V3 3000 etc
>> > Do I go for MX300 or the SB?
>> > My PC is for driving sims, and in particular GPL (hence the v3 - no
>> > good buying a N64 if you want to play GT, know what I mean?).
>> > I -occasionally- play other games, but generally that's what my PSX is
>> > for.
>> > I'm tempted to go for the SB card because it's just that - a
>> > Soundblaster. I go back to N2 and ICR2 from time to time so DOS
>> > compatibility is a must.
>> > Also, are there any gameport issues? will I be able to lose that ACM
>> > card or am I best off keeping it?
>> > TIA
>> > Mark
>> > Reading, UK
>> > Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
>> > Share what you know. Learn what you don't.
Cheers Dave - this is highly pertinent to me as my PC is specifically
configured to suit papy stuff - hence two previous rendition cards and the
PIII450 that I pick up on Friday (WOOHOOHOOHOO!!) having a V3 3000 and not a
TNT2 Ultra. I was -this- close to a SB Live because I heard it does a better
job of GPL sound, but now... As a matter of intertest, where did you get the
"Papy don't do EAX" info from?
Mark
Reading, UK
Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Share what you know. Learn what you don't.
From papy themselves in the interview they did early this
month for the N2000 and Legends of Nascar sims.
Keep in mind, the SBLive will STILL work with Papy sims,
it just won't have all the doodads that can be put in with
an A3d card like the Diamond Monster MX300
dave henrie
--
On May 17, 1999 A Whale was killed off the coast of
Washington State. The Whale was killed in the name of
Tradition.....I say....
%&#& Tradition!
>> One thing to consider with your soundcard purchases.
>> The next offerings from Papyrus will directly support A3d but
>> not EAX. So while the SB live will work GREAT with
>> n2000 etc, some of the features of the A3d version won't
>> be available. SBlive will work but Diamond Monster will
>> have a few more gimmicks.
>> dave henrie
>Cheers Dave - this is highly pertinent to me as my PC is specifically
>configured to suit papy stuff - hence two previous rendition cards and the
>PIII450 that I pick up on Friday (WOOHOOHOOHOO!!) having a V3 3000 and not
a
>TNT2 Ultra. I was -this- close to a SB Live because I heard it does a
better
>job of GPL sound, but now... As a matter of intertest, where did you get
the
>"Papy don't do EAX" info from?
>Mark
>Reading, UK
>Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
>Share what you know. Learn what you don't.
