Difference between SB Live Plat and SB Live Value...

[PwAg]

Hey all!
Looking to buy a SB live card to accompany my Terratec EWS88MT, but just want to make sure there is no difference between the SB Live Value and Platinum besides the Live Drive (outputs/inputs) and bundled software. Both offer same sound processing specs and utilize same EMU 10K1 processor. Any input from any SB live users would be great. All I'm looking for is a card to power some video applications/games/dvd etc that are not supported by my EWS88MT (which is a professional recording/synth sound card). SBLive is also basically the only consumer sound card supported in Windows 2000 (this is important to me even though I work mostly in a Win 98SE environment). Thanks guys!

[thekingofpain]

Seems like youve done your homework, and subsequently answered all your own questions...I have 2 of these fine cards and cant complain...

[alondra]

Ive been looking for a live value card too. on the net, cant find localy. some list as OEM . and bulk, and some list w/CD drivers etc. sort of comfusing, what have you found?.
Al

[otheos]

I got the Live Value.
the card is identical to the non-Value one. it says SB Live (no value markings anyware) and compared to the Platinum there are no differences at all (all chips are same and same PCB). Some OEM value cards lack the digital I/O for the Live drive, but retail ones have it. OEM may be also using a different PCB (as OEM commonly do). So I am not sure for the OEM's but the retail Live Value is 100% the same product as the Live Platinum minus the drive.

[PwAg]

Nice! Thanks for the quick responses. I'm simply going to buy one off ebay that I know is retail and has all necessary drivers/software. Looks like I'll be taking one home in a couple of hours.

ALONDRA: Becareful when buying the SB Live (Value Package) from OEM dealers found through search engines such as Pricewatch. Many of those dealers still sell the original Live card without the 5th Digital i/o. This 5th digital i/o is now included in Version 2 of SB Live Value. But if you don't have any use for it, don't even bother. Both versions are identical except for that one i/o. Ebay sellers tend to mention if it has 5th digital i/o or not... so that's where i'm gonna buy. Good luck.

Later all!

[Brian48]

It doesn't cover the OEM's (which vary in shape and form), but you might find this useful.

http://atlas.hemmet.chalmers.se/livecenter/showpage.php?id=9&page=3

[alondra]

I appreciate this info. too Thanks.

[AuraEdge]

Ive bought 1 SBLive Value Retail, and 3 SBLive Value OEMs. The retail one had 4 holes in the back, and a Digital2 pin connector on the inside (to a CD drive).
The OEM ones have 5 holes in the back, the additional one being the Yellow one for DIgital out.
One more diff from the Platinum to the Value. The Platinum has gold plated connectors instead of plastic color coded connectors..this supposedly keeps the signal stronger, but is that and the Live!Drive worth 3x the price?

[mike511]

I bought a SB Live Value from directron.com and when i got it it had the 5 holes on the back and they were gold platted. So i checked the number on it with SB's web site and it turned out that its either an MP3+, x-gamer, or live. So for 49 bucks you can get ourself and oem live card with gold platted plugs, digtial out and all the hardware of an mp3+ card. for 50 bucks less. Then goto the sb site and download liveware 3.0 and you'll have all the software, minus the retail software, that you need. IT works great in my system, 4 channels, the works.

[Psycho-holic Slag]

i always wondered the difference between the two... for my uses i'm not missing out on anything.

course a year and a half ago i spent a hundred bucks on it, but i've put it to good use since then. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/wink.gif