Need suggestions for sound card

[dxj40c]

I currently have a Sound Blaster Live! Mp3+ (Model CT4760M) sound card. Since upgrading from Win98 to XP, I have had nothing but trouble.
I went to the Creative site to find WinXP drivers. The card isn't even on the site. There is a SBLive!MP3+5.1 but it has a different model no. (Yes, I tried those drivers, and others of the SBLive! line). Even when I search the Creative site by model no. (as they suggest) I get "no results found". It's like they have totally disowned this card.
I was left to find drivers somewhere else, as I began my search I learned that this card has been discontinued and is being offered at deep discounts by online sellers. Further digging found that this card never had any good drivers that would work with Win2k or XP, I kept running across the word "unstable".
What it does is it mutes the 'line-in' in the control panel. I can unmute it, but at some point, on its own, will remute. Usually in the middle of recording a video clip and this is really starting to hack me off.
I have decided I don't want to fix it, I am sick of it.
Tell me of a decent sounding basic sound card. I don't need bells and whistles, just two cables for CD/DVD drives on the board. Line IN, Line OUT. I don't need game ports, 5 channel or spdif. I am not an audiophile, if it sounds good on the TV or Computer speakers I'm a happy camper.
Most of all IT CAN'T BE A SOUND BLASTER PRODUCT! I would like to spend less than $50. I'm tired of buying $100 + cards with features and software I will never use. Just be sure it will work with winXP and compatible with ATI capture card. Thanks

[rallynavvie]

I'm not a fan of SB hardware anymore either. I had a really nice SB card in my video box when I first built it and it never worked with everything else in it. Some people with the same board as I have said it would never work with my chipset for whatever reason. I was told to get a Hercules sound card (a division of Guillemot). I'd most certainly look into their cards. I've got one of their better units in my video PC now and have never had a problem with it. The only complain I have is the breakout box for mine has this massive cable that connects to it that sometimes gets in the way, otherwise I love what it can do. If you do get one with 6-channel or better output and you want to use seperate speakers make sure you get powered speakers as the unit doesn't have any amplification and power enough to run unpowered speakers (like a receiver would). They have some entry-level cards too, but spending the money for a surround card and a set of good speakers is a great idea, especially now that most games have very good surround sound (you can hear people sneaking up behind you and the like).

[John James]

I too was having problems "SB Live", the sound card is too old. Better to get a new updated sound card for WinXP.

SB Live's website got drivers that I can download and the drivers just won't work with the sound card already in the PC.

A discontinued sound card won't work with the drivers from their website. So, don't waste your time trying to get drivers for it after an OS upgrade.

My sound card was originally in a new PC, with OS WinMe and now since the hardware upgraded to P4 with new mainboard, an extra big HD to OS Win2k.

I thought of updating the sound card driver and this wouldn't work. Better to use the original disk for the sound card driver. Unfortunately, the disk is now gone.

I am thinking of getting a new sound card next time I upgrade.

[rallynavvie]

Again: Hercules. I thought the brand name sounded goofy too when it was suggested. Look around for some reviews on them, I know at least for the one I have it has some great reviews. Dunno about their new or entry-level ones though.

[Shudder]

The Turtle Beach Santa Cruz (I think it uses similar/same chipset as the herc..) is a damn awesome card. When my Live gave me nothing but trouble I redid the machine and popped in the new one (creative's crap screws up machines) and it's been awesome ever since.

[dxj40c]

Thanks for the input. I settled for a sound card I found at Micro Center in Dallas, A 'Mad Dog Preditor 5.1'. Seems to work fine and suits what I do.
I make training and instructional presentations on cd and dvd (depending on size). It has a nice soft even sound that sounds good on standard computer speakers (where most of my stuff is used). The soundblaster card sounded better when played through a reciever with subwoofer, but was a little harsh and tinny sounding on the high side with standard computer speakers. But, I no longer have the 'self-muting' problem in capturing video from video camera.

[ofbarea]

If you still have your soundblaster try getting the drivers from here:

http://us.creative.com/support/downloads/

Then select Sound Blaster, 16-bit, Sound Blaster Live.

Choose XP, and click on the Go button.

From that page get the following driver:

* Sound Blaster Live! - LiveDrvUni-Pack (English)
Date : 28 Feb 2003
Size : 23.32 MB

This one should work.

[John James]

If you still have your soundblaster try getting the drivers from here:

http://us.creative.com/support/downloads/

Then select Sound Blaster, 16-bit, Sound Blaster Live.

Choose XP, and click on the Go button.

From that page get the following driver:

* Sound Blaster Live! - LiveDrvUni-Pack (English)
Date : 28 Feb 2003
Size : 23.32 MB

This one should work.

This doesn't work on superseded or discontinued sound cards. Forget SB Live.