Xref: utzoo comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc:168 comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware:348
Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!samsung!rex!ames!amdahl!pacbell!sactoh0!mholtz
From: mholtz@sactoh0.UUCP (Mark A. Holtz)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc,comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
Subject: Re: SoundBlaster info needed
Summary: Some answers
Message-ID: <3553@sactoh0.UUCP>
Date: 20 Jul 90 23:30:41 GMT
References: <90200.112011RFM@psuvm.psu.edu> <1990Jul19.191538.10451@IRO.UMontreal.CA>
Organization: Sacramento Public Access, Ca. USA
Lines: 52

In article <1990Jul19.191538.10451@IRO.UMontreal.CA>, fasciano@IRO.UMontreal.CA (Massimo Fasciano) writes:
> First of all, does anybody know an approximate price for the
> card in Canada (in a a store, not mail order)?

I paid $199 for it from a consultant friend of mine. While some mail
order houses are a couple of bucks cheaper, if I have a problem, it
gets solved very easily.

> Is it worth the extra money or should I get the Adlib? What
> does it do that the Adlib doesn't, and most of all, which
> additional features are supported in games (how many games?)...
> Is it 100% Adlib compatible (all the channels)?

The board is 100% Adlib compatible. However, the only program (so
far) that I've tried was Taito's Sky Shark, and that sounded like a
casio keyboard. It is also Game Blaster and CMS Sound Board
compatible. 

> Is it easy to install? I've been told it requires an IRQ line.
> Which one? I suppose the IRQ number is jumper-selectable. What
> lines can I use (3,4,5,7). 3,4,7 are already taken up by my serial
> and parallel ports so I hope it can use 5 (or some other IRQ line
> i'm not aware of).

You have 4 IRQ lines to choose from. Three of them are IRQ3, IRW5,
and IRQ7, but all of them are jumper selectable. 

Also, there are several different hex addresses for the card. Best
to leave it at 220H.

> I've also heard of a game port (option?). I already have a double game
> port so I don't want to pay for another, and I don't want a conflict
> between the 2. Can the one on the SB be disabled?

The game port can support two joysticks, and can be easily disabled
by removing the jumper without affecting MIDI compatibility.

> Does it come with good software and programming info?

It comes with a diagnostics utility, a music program, a "talking
parrot", and something called "Voxkit", which you can use to record
sound with. However, the included software generally disappointed
me.

I have used the Sound Blaster for about a week now, and am very
satified with the operation. For about $70 more, you get a joystick
port and more sound board compatibility. That's value.
-- 
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