Hot: A3d PCI Sound Card $12.94 Shipped

[jclose]

I have the SQ2500 running under XP. I have had no problems with the sound drivers or sound support under the system; and I do play a lot of games. I do remember looking around on Vortex of Sound (there is a link higher up in this thread) for drivers, but I honestly don't remember installing them. As someone else mentioned here just a few messages up, I think I just did a clean install of XP on the system and things came up fine. (I did find a file by this name on my HD though: Aureal_wdm5_12_01_2559.exe. So maybe I did install the drivers and just don't remember. )

For those wondering, these cards (or almost ANY card, actually) will be MUCH better than what onboard sound can deliver. (I haven't compared them to the Nvidia on board sound, though. But as far as AC97 sound goes...)

 

[PC166]

SB live is all talk and bluff but isn't as great as some people say and is no better then a generic snd card or onboard ac97 for that matter. I think I paid like 32 buck for it but I could have paid alot less for something better and the more everyone buy SB live the more they are going to kill their competition with it. Sueing others for more money just isn't right. Let all get together and put them out of business like stop buying SB crappy product and see what it like to be another one to bite the dust.

SB 16 with no wavetable is just a freaking joke and cost 4 time as much. Best Buy sell these crap for 49.95 retail. I could buy 10 of these aureal card with that amount and have better sound quality plus 4meg wavetable! LOL.

 

[kdegarmo]

Very nice find, and I LOVE their shipping costs -- $3.99 to ship 3 cards Priority Mail -- most sites would rape you with shipping charges that are higher than the cost of the item.

Thanks FPSGuy!

Kev

 

[aphex]

Awesome! Thanks!

 

[BlueMysticWarrior]

I was wondering if anyone has had experience w/ this card under Win 2000? I went ahead and ordered two ,but I would love some input from you guys. Do I need to cancel one? (Other one is for 98SE box)

 

[JJd]

Can't beat it...Im in! Win98

 

[randomlinh]

i think the cmedia's are a better alternative.. at least for 2k/xp. i've found the output to be stronger (especially for my headphones, HD495's). And you can find them for < $15 usually.

but still a great deal. they will work in 2k/xp... it just might take a bit of effort

 

[Budarow]

Thanks for the deal...just order 2 for <$16 delivered!

 

[Budarow]

Oh...any problems running this sound card with any DDR based AMD mobo's/cpu's? I've got all the pieces for a new PC EXCEPT a mobo/cpu/hs/fan.

Thanks

 

[mindless1]

This is a great deal, especially for anyone still running Win9x.

I have both Vortex 2 and Vortex 1 cards, they all seem to have better sound quality than anything Creative can come up with, let alone the pathetic sound on most motherboards (though I do fondly remember some old motherboards with Ensoniq chips that were pretty good).

 

[hans007]

there was a deal last week for cmedia 8738 cards for $2. i got one, and these cards are nice and supported. you can find them everywhere for like $5-8 like on ebay.

 

[unclebud]

how do they work in millenium? tia

 

[esquared]

Order last night at 11pm and I just received an e-mail telling me it's shipped. Wow! That's fast service. This is the second time I've ordered from them. Good vendors.

 

[mindless1]

Originally posted by: esquared
Order last night at 11pm and I just received an e-mail telling me it's shipped. Wow! That's fast service. This is the second time I've ordered from them. Good vendors.

I agree. Mine was even faster... Ordered at 1:30 today, received the "shipped" email at 5:19, less than 4 hours later!

 

[Dran]

A little feedback for people wanting information about Vortex 2 cards.

I've been using an MX300 since it was released, 2048 Aureal betas since they were released, and never had any problems using the card or drivers with Win95 through Mill. Ed.

I've also installed both Win2k Server and WinXP Pro, and the card worked just as well in both OS'. I don't recall which drivers I used for Win2k, but as stated earlier in this thread, XP already had drivers available and installed them itself. Furthermore, either by some strange quirk or possibly built-in A3D support, I noted that in XP, sounds for things like menu pop-ups would correspond to the side of the monitor I had the cursor on (meaning, if i right-clicked on the left side of the monitor, the left speakers would deliver more of the audio than the right speakers, while clicking on the right side of the monitor delivered louder sounds from the right speakers. centered actions on the monitor seemed to deliver centered sounds). So the answer to "Do these cards work in 2k/XP?" is definitely "Yes."

To the question "Does A3D or A3D 2.0 work in 2k/XP?", I can't give an answer. To be honest, I never tested it, and I don't even use it now in 98. I have somewhat sensitive hearing (my co-workers thought i was nuts until the day i made all of them walk over and lean over to listen to the busy signal coming out of the phone that hadn't been properly settled in the cradle... which i heard from the opposite side of the room, over all the kitchen equipment i had running) and positional audio tends to be more disorienting than helpful to me.

I can also confirm that both audio output ports work in 2k/XP. I've been running a 4.2 system for some time (Altec Lansing ACS45.2 w/sub on front, ACS45 w/sub on rear), and all speakers were functioning in 2k/XP when I tested those OS'.

Good price if it's a Vortex 2 chip, and still better than onboard sound even if it's a Vortex 1 or Advantage. I'd jump on it, but I already bought 2 last time they popped up in a thread at this price (one for a friend, one for a future build).

 

[fargopilot]

A3D 2.0 was a lot better than EAX 2.0 But i guess if Creative figured if you cant beat them, sue em!

It was a great sound card, and I only moved on because of driver support

 

[Jokersmokerwannabe]

Great find. Can finally get an SB replacement.

 

[huesmann]

Very reasonable shipping costs!

 

[PC166]

ordered 7 and it shipped today LOL! stacking up on quality stuff and who knows I may take out my SB live and ebay that sucker for good money. Shipping is still 3.99 even with 7, hmm this is excellent purchase but I think i'm willing to bet all of that on the mailman doing a good job.

I may order 7 more on tuesday or wednesday when i receive so I can decorate my whole room with it, LOL I am just obsess! folks grab them fast before I grab them all cause it so cheap anyone can afford at least 10 hehe. I could not find any great deal like this at pricewatch.com so it must once in a lifetime grab them all for later use even if you're not going to use it now.

 

[Banshee Mullet]

Which is the better card for general use?

The SQ1500 for $5.79 or the A3D for $4.89?

Not sure which one to get.

 

[PC166]

Get them both, you can then experience them for yourself lol. Who know they both probably just as good except sq1500 is more advanced and has more feature.

Originally posted by: Banshee Mullet
Which is the better card for general use?

The SQ1500 for $5.79 or the A3D for $4.89?

Not sure which one to get.

 

[AceTKK]

Just thought I'd drop in to confirm that XP had no problems whatsoever with my old Turtle Beach Vortex 8820. It recognized it immediately and installed it's own driver. The sound has been working great ever since.

-Ace-

 

[Codfish]

I have the 2500 which uses the 8830 chipset. The card was recognized by Win2k with no problems. I can't see any reason why the 1500 wouldn't have the same success rate.

 

[TheToOTaLL]

Purchased 5 and shipping was only $4.35! Absolutely wonderful Can't wait to give these suckers a try!

 

[PC166]

Originally posted by: TheToOTaLL
Purchased 5 and shipping was only $4.35! Absolutely wonderful Can't wait to give these suckers a try!

only 5??? sir you need to purchase a minimum of 10 to be considered a valueable customer LOL.