SB Live! cards

[LiLRiceBoi]

Are they ALL the same? Except for the software package that is. I'm asking about both the SB Live! and SB Live! 5.1 series.

Thanks

I know its probably been asked before, but i couldnt find a vary clear and definitive answer.


[This message has been edited by LiLRiceBoi (edited 07-22-2001).]

[lynchmob]

As far as I know(and I looked at both at a comp show today)they appear to be the same except for the software.I could be wrong as I looked at them through thier anti-static bags http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif.
lynch

[qball]

I believe you need the 5.1 for 5.1 sound, the others only support 4.1 sound.

Checkout:
http://www.soundblaster.com/products/sblive/specs.asp

Dolby® Digital 5.1 decoding No

[LiLRiceBoi]

How about the individual cards in each series? Is a Platnum the same as value, minus the live drive? According to Creative, its not, but if I download the other drivers and update the live ware will it be the same?

[Brian48]

Actually, they're not "exactly" the same, but close enough. They all use the same processing chip, but there are minute differences between the cards.

Earlier SBLive cards did not have digital out. Recent ones do come with the digital DIN. The current retail X-Gamer and +MP3 come with 5:1 support while the the SBLive value still only has 4:1 (like the earlier cards). Some OEM SBLive are sold as the "value" edition, but there are slight differences here as well. Many of these OEM cards lack the SPDIF connector for CDROM digital SPDIF output. The retail cards come with gold plated connectors, while the value/OEM ones come with conventional, color-code connectors (which I like better actually).

For all practical purposes, the only real significant difference is whether or not you need 4:1 or 5:1 support. As far as I can tell, they all perform and sound the same.

[This message has been edited by Brian48 (edited 07-22-2001).]