Cheap sound card

Kwad Guy · Feb 20, 2001

Nothing wrong with the Vortex 2 chipset, except that Aureal is
out of business. Basically, get the best available drivers
at vortexofsound and you have a very respectable soundcard.

Not as good as the SoundBlaster Live, and I wouldn't consider
a Vortex 2 card if it cost nearly the same as a SBL (e.g. $40 or
so). But if you can get one for free, as you can at CompUSA
this week after rebate, you can't go wrong. Fine for a server (if
you want sound on your server at all) or for an inexpensive
computer. (Of course, most inexpensive computers have on-board
sound these days...The Vortex 2 chipset is better than most
on-board sound)...

Kwad

Gustavus · Feb 20, 2001

The CompUSA HiVal cards have the Vortex 8820B2 chip on them. Isn't that the Vortex 1 chip?

panasyuk · Feb 20, 2001

Hmm, My Hival card from CompUSA bought last Sunday has Au8830A chip which is Vortex2.

shr00m · Feb 20, 2001

Last year I got a request for claims from a lawyer handling the Hi-Val bankrupcy. I filled out the paperwork, claiming unredeemed rebate for a 56k modem but haven't heard a peep since. Anyone here actually get money back from the bankrupcy proceedings?

Gustavus · Feb 20, 2001

panasyuk
They must have had sound cards with both chips on them. I did some further checking and the 8820B2 is a Vortex 1, yours is a Vortex 2.

Tacoma99 · Feb 20, 2001

I bought the HI-VAL PCI-338 sound card from Compusa for $29.99 with full MIR. But since HI-VAL bought the remains of Aureal I wasn't surprised to see the VORTEX2 chipset on the PCB. I already own a Aureal Vortex SQ-1500 and this card bears a striking resemblance to it. Anyway, the card sounds pretty darn good for free.

Boogak · Feb 20, 2001

Just stop by your local Fry's and get one of their cheapy PCI soundcards for $10.

SinMen · Feb 20, 2001

Anyone get the Vortex to work in W2k + VIA chipset?

novice · Feb 20, 2001

I was able to pick up a Montego II oem card from Egghead.com auction site for $14 plus shipping and it really works great, even with the included drivers. They have had bunches of them, some guys have bought large quantities for as low as $9.00 ea. Granted their shipping is high ($8 for 2 day) but I still thought it was a good deal.
Chuck

breweyez · Feb 20, 2001

Me=<< I got the hi-val soundcard from compusa. It was terrible. I returned it promptly... >>

Dirk=I got it also. It works great once you get the correct drivers. It's a Vortex 2 chip (not 1 like the box says). Nice sound, no problems at all. Can't beat free.

I can figure out the drivers dirk. The card did work for me. The quality was poor. I put in a 2K machine and a WinME machine. Both were the same results. I only build systems with products that dont come back(at least I dont expect them to).

ALBundyHere · Feb 20, 2001

I cant get anything ISA. I only have 6 64bit PCI slots on my server board. But did Compusa not have the 4 channel pci one free with rebate on sunday and monday?

Richard98 · Feb 20, 2001

<< I cant get anything ISA. I only have 6 64bit PCI slots on my server board. But did Compusa not have the 4 >>

Al,
The free ones from Compusa were PCI. Check out the link at macssuck's post above. This looks almost identical to the free compusa card.
Apparently some of us got the Vortex 1 and others got the Vortex 2. I haven't installed my V1 yet. Should I even bother - Is the Vortex 1 a piece of crap?

I'll be using Win 98. Are some of the reported problems the result of using Win2k and Winme?

longhorn · Feb 20, 2001

It sounds like many people here are particular about
their sound. In my gaming system, I have a Soundblaster Live.
In the kids' system, and the systems I put together for friends
and family, I usually just toss a Soundblaster 16 in there.
I can grab them for between $10 and $12 bucks. The driver support
is great. They're completely compatible with all the DOS games
that people drag out of their closets. Most people are only
running 2 little cheap speakers on either side of the monitor.
The Soundblaster 16 works fine, sounds OK.

I guess now that ISA slots are vanishing, I'll have to go
to something else. I had a Vortex-1 for a while, and it was
a decent card. You have to wonder if the driver support will
be there long term, however, since Aureal went broke.

Pretty Cool · Feb 20, 2001

I just installed the freebie sound card from CompUSA. Unfortunately, I received an aureal 1.0. Anyway, sound is barely audible from this card unless the volume is cranked up past the 50% mark. My bottom of the barrel Yamaha Opl3Sa ISA card that cost $10 in 1998 does not require such manuevering of the speaker controls. In fact, normally, sound properties are set low because I cannot stand loud noises. Looks like I will either keep this for a new system in the future with no ISA slots or return it to CompUSA for a refund and eat the restocking fee.

Strange, since I originally wanted this card, but settled for the cheap Yamaha in late 1998. Maybe I am doing something wrong. Does everyone require their speakers to be turned up all the way to hear the sounds being generated?

Thanks.

OutlawWolf · Feb 20, 2001

I were looking for those freebie card at Compusa but none left.

Wik · Feb 20, 2001

If you want a good cheap card get this PCI 4 channel card. Ok before you flame I know that the CMI 8738 is not even close to the quality of a Creative Live card but hey we are talking cheap. I got a few of these to put in some computers for the family and I tell you they are pretty cool for the price. Check them out for yourself, oh BTW linux drivers are available.

$16.95 4 Channel sound cards

Gustavus · Feb 20, 2001

I posted earlier in this thread saying that I got the 8820B2 chip (Vortex 1) on the card I purchased at CompUSA Sunday. I installed it this morning and it hisses like a snake -- well that is an exaggeration but if at my advanced age I can hear it hissing it is pretty bad. CompUSA said to bring it back for a refund -- which I will do. Too bad, I had need of a free sound card for a give away system. Guess they will have to settle for an old Ensonic ISA card now.

uscpte7 · Feb 20, 2001

Aarrgh, my PCI338 "free" card has the AU8810A1 chip and only one connector. Anybody know what this one does, besides hiss???

Delbert · Feb 20, 2001

I installed my free Hi-val card in a machine I built for my niece this weekend. It had the three external inputs (CD-TAD-AUX) and I just installed the drivers from the enclosed CD. It sounded great. I have used Diamond mx300 a few times in the past (A3D) with good luck. You just cant install the DOS (legacy) drivers in the "no-DOS" Win ME. Put me down as an Aureal fan.

Slimer · Feb 20, 2001

I got my freebie Hi-Val sound card from CompUSA too and keeping my fingers crossed for the rebates to come through. One prob I have had is getting a driver installed for the card on Windows ME. Anyone else with this problem or any ideas as to what to do?

Kwad Guy · Feb 21, 2001

My Hi Val has the Vortex 2 chipset...Quite a deal for free.

The driver disk enclosed is from January 1999, and is labeled
"Vortex 2", though that's kind of irrelevant...

Kwad

larrymoencurly · Feb 21, 2001

That Fry's sound card is $7.99 in their Wednesday ad. which seems to be almost the regular price, but it's been advertised as low as $3.99. Mine seems to work fine.

StealthX32 · Feb 21, 2001

Brr, chilly deal. I vote for a the "pick a local store" idea.

Cybordolphin · Feb 22, 2001

Actually this sound card got very good reviews about a year and a half ago. I bought one back then from VA.

It works great.

If they can still be had for free I will gladly pick one up. Very worth the price (free).

chien · Feb 22, 2001

So, if I disable the dos driver, Hi-val PCI 338 should work fine under winME?

Chien

Cheap sound card

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