02-21-01, 10:17 PM
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Dancing Hero
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Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Over there
Posts: 1,163
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Quote:
Originally posted by Dave
Doesn't sound blaster live! boast less CPU usage? If that's the case, SB Live! would be better for performance, but in terms of price...that's another story.
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Not over the MX300. The MX400, on the other hand, I don't know. The MX300 typically beats the Live! by about 2% CPU usage difference.
Quote:
Originally posted by ruquick
Out of the two choices that you listed I would go with the Sound Blaster. The Monster sound card drivers dont work to good with the KT7,KT7-Raid mobos. You will have to download the Vortex driver for the Monster sound card to keep your system from crashing all the time if you go the Monster sound route. The Sound Blaster drivers work great with the KT7,KT7-Raid mobos. I know about the Monster sound card from first hand experiance.
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That's the MX300 anyway. The MX400 is a different beast totally - It uses the ESS Canyon audio chipset, so it's not dependent at all on Aureal's Vortex drivers.
However, Diamond is all but gone, and I'd rather buy a card from a company that can supply me with driver updates. While Creative may update more frequently than Hillary Rosen of the RIAA admits that she's wrong, this much may be said: A company that still exists at least has the ability to write drivers, whereas one that does not doesn't stand a chance.
Stick with Creative...unfortunately. Maybe we'll see some good performance out of that new Philips Acoustic Edge card that's coming out. It's MSRP is $99...so you may be able to fit that in your budget if you look hard enough.
DAVE!!! Why don't we get our hands on one of those for a review, eh?
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