Which soundcard is better supported under linux...?

nithral · Tux's lil' helper Joined: 23 Dec 2003 Posts: 84

I currently have a SB Audigy 1 with firewire port and my abit kv8-max3 has an onboard AL650 which is currently disabled.

I've recently installed gentoo with the 2.6.1 kernel on my system and trying to decide which sound card to use before I set it up.

I won't be playing that many games so any performance hit with the AL650 isn't a huge deal.

Which has better support and sounds better under linux?
I have a Logitech Z-560 4.1 speaker setup too.

Thanks!

flonejek · Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2004 11:27 pm Post subject:

I got an "SB Audigy 1" as well, and it works fine with alsa, and I have no idea what your other card is. I have heard of problems with the Audigy 2, but i had none, and was even able to get the firewire working with my ipod

. The sound quality is the same as any other but you don't get to use the cool EAX effects. Your other soundcard should work unless its over 5 years old, and if you can't find specific drivers for it some generic drivers may work. Hope I've been helpful. :wink:

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tristure · Apprentice Joined: 30 Oct 2003 Posts: 270 Location: France

The only advice I can give you is : do NOT buy a Hercules Fortissimo III.

I get really bad sound with it (whereas sound quality is amazing in windows).

It works with cs46xx drivers in alsa. I don't know if other cs46xx cards get poor sound quality as well. But if you aren't sure, avoid them...

Malakin · Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2004 6:03 pm Post subject:

There's hardware mixing support in the audigy driver but there isn't any in the alc650 driver so use the audigy.

axolotl · Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2004 6:30 pm Post subject:

I have a Soundblaster Live 5.1 Platinum (predecessor of Audigy) and it works really fine on Kernel 2.6.1 (but also on 2.4.x) with alsa. I have 5.1 sound for watching dvds with very good quality.
I guess an Audigy 1 should have the same alsa driver (emu10k1) as my card.

The Mountain Man · l33t Joined: 03 Sep 2003 Posts: 643

Audigy 1 works without a hitch. Even the onboard firewire works just fine in Linux (I use it to sync my iPod).
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Seoushi · Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2004 2:04 am Post subject:

nithral · Tux's lil' helper Joined: 23 Dec 2003 Posts: 84

Sorry to sound stupid, but what does the hardware mixer give me?

jcc · Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2004 4:03 am Post subject:

you can have more than one app using the soundcard at once without the help of any sound daemon such as esd or arts. This seems like nothing, but it's a great supplementary comfort.

Oh, and just to really make you sure, the emu10k1 chip (audigy1 and SBLive) is indeed one of the greatest cheap choice for a Linux sound card. Rock on! Keep that onboard soundcard shutdown for good :)

nithral · Tux's lil' helper Joined: 23 Dec 2003 Posts: 84

I will put the Audigy 1 back into my system then

I was reading somewhere that the Audigy had problems with rear channel audio, thats why I questioned it. But if everyone says it's great they I'll use it!

Thanks again!