What sound cards have HW MP3 Decoding?

[thorin]

Hey Guys,
Can anyone tell me which of these have Hardware mp3 decoding:

1) CL SBLive Platinum
2) CL Audigy
3) TB SataCruz
4) Any others u can think of

Thorin

 

[AMB]

I can tell you the Sb Live Platinum DOES NOT have hardware decoding for MP3s.

 

[IdahoB]

As far as I know, none of them have it, and none of them need it.

 

[Random Variable]

and I can tell you that the Santa Cruz does have hardware MP3 decoding

 

[samgau]

Check this article out... looks like MP3 HW acceleration is only under some older version of winamp.... CS4630 chip
linky

 

[thorin]

"One feature the Audigy lacks is the early much hyped MP3 acceleration of the CS4630 chip but most reviews including ours find it to be of very little benefit with a reasonable fast CPU. In addition to that, the fact it only works with AudioStation 4, or the outdated Winamp 6.4 and even then not at the same time as you play a game using 3D sound makes the feature of even less interest. "

Hmmmm.....I have to question if these ppl have any clue what they're talking about. "Winamp 6.4", There isn't even a final version of WinAmp 3 out yet. I think they meant Windows Media Player (WMP) 6.4.

I was pretty sure that the Santa Cruz had MP3 decoding, and I know that it's only a few % saved (<5%) CPU time I was just curious to compare numbers if other cards had it. It wouldn't be a selling point for me, I was just trying to satisfy a curiosity.

Thorin

 

[sean2002]

The Santa Cruz does but with todays fast CPU I doubt you will notice