4 Channel Sound Card $7 !!!

[Brasscat]

Stumbled across this at DV Century --- a 4 channel sound card for $7 buckaroonies.

Not bad for a cheapy card, and with 4 channels!

 

[FordLorider]

$6 ground shipping, not too bad, could be worse.

 

[q2261]

$9.95 shipped here

BTW, this retailer is pretty good. I bought four of these a couple of weeks back and had no problems.

 

[Ring]

Here's a 6 channel for $15 shipped. Bought one a few weeks ago .... arrived in 3 days. Works well in win xp

 

[pappupager]

How do these cards compare to the Aureal Vortex SQ1500 that SVC sells
Aureal Vortex SQ 1500

 

[CyberZenn]

Aureal is out of business - the winXP drivers for their cards are spotty at best (at least in my experience).

 

[Kingofcomputer]

$7 is about the cost of generic cmedia 8738 basic model 4ch sound card,
they're kind of selling at cost,
make profit only on the shipping.

The one from NovaPC is titled as CRYSTAL CS4280-CM PCI SOUND CARD, but they say CMI8738-SX in product model, inconsistent, beware. I believe it's CS4280, not Cmedia 8738 since $10 shipped is impossible for cmedia 8738 4ch sound card, but it's possible for CS4280 sound card.
Evertek (a junk distributor/wholesaler) is selling CS4280 for $6.5 or $5.29 for qty 100+.
see here.

 

[q2261]

Crystal chipsets are better than CMEDIA

 

[Jugernot]

Do any of these have SPDIF connnectors? They almost all refer to them, but none say specifically that they have them.

 

[Kingofcomputer]

check www.cmedia.com.tw and www.cirrus.com by yourself, lazy boy.

Cannot find CS4280, but there is CS4281.

The CS4281 is a PCI audio controller with integrated legacy game support suitable for desktop and notebook PC designs. When combined with driver software and an AC '97 CODEC such as the CS4297A, this device provides a complete high-quality PCI audio solution. Legacy compatibility is achieved via PC-PCI, DDMA, and Legacy support.

The product includes an integrated FM synthesizer and Plug-and-Play interface. In addition, the CS4281 offers hardware volume control and power management features. WDM drivers provide support for Windows 98™ and Windows NT®. When used with the CS4297A, the CS4281 is fully compliant with Microsoft's PC '98 and PC `99 audio requirements.

8738-SX is the basic model, without SPDIF.

HRTF-based 3D positional audio(C3DX&#8482 for 4 / 6 CH output.
¡E Professional digital interface, supporting 24-bit SPDIF IN/OUT (44.1K and 48K)

¡E Built-in 32ohm earphone buffer, ZV port, and PCtel® HSP56 Modem™ interface.
¡E 32-bit PCI bus master.
¡E Comprehensive driver support: Microsoft® DirectSound™3D, EAX™, Linux™, BeOS™, etc.
¡E Microphone echo and Karaoke ascending/descending key effects.
¡E Single chip design, digital power +3.3V, analog power +5V, 128 pins QFP.

¡E C3DX™ is the registered trademark of C-Media.

CMI8738 should be more powerful than CS4281.
Of course CS4624 (Hercules F2), CS4630 (TBSC, Hercules GTXP) are way more powerful than CMI8738.

 

[evilman]

Hey King,
I just noticed that Evertek and Compgeeks have the same address. hmmmm . . . .

I thought their stuff looked familiar

Maybe everyone else knows, if not, a heads up on my little discovery. lol

 

[knightc2]

I just noticed that Evertek and Compgeeks have the same address. hmmmm . . . .

I believe both are the same company. The site has changed since I was there last. Evertek is strictly for business sales and for wholesalers. Compgeeks is the regular consumer business. You have to have a business in order to order from Evertek.

 

[Kingofcomputer]

back to the topic,
you can say this is a hot deal or this is not a deal.

Everybody is selling it at $7 + ripoff shipping, for example,
http://www.savingxoom.com/cmedcmi84cha1.html
http://www.4goldenbridge.com/cmed4chansou.html
their profit is based on how much they want to rip you off on shipping.

Newegg can carry this card too, but they don't want to at this time.