SB Live Value vs Turtle beach Santa Cruz
- Thread starter Joshua17
- Start date
Tyr-Sog
New member
I would have to say the SantaCruz would be the better value and is just a sweet soundcard all around. I switched from Creative and glad I did. I have no conflicts at all and SantaCruz is known for not eating up your system resources. For $79 you cant go wrong with this card that supports 5.1 and lots more...check out the reviews and people replys at like cnet and stuff but I am extremly happy as are all my friends....
Snuffoleupagus
New member
I'd definately say switch man. The Santa Cruz is a really capable card that seems to be low on the problem count so far, esp compared to creative. Of course, I also suggest what RS suggested, go check some reviews to decide for yourself!
billyhansome
New member
Turtle Beach
Turtle Beach
SB Live isn't what it used to be. You can get beter cards for the price. The Santa Cruz is a really good card, but get the Philips Acoustic Edge or maybe a Hercules Theater XP if you need all the ports.
Turtle Beach
SB Live isn't what it used to be. You can get beter cards for the price. The Santa Cruz is a really good card, but get the Philips Acoustic Edge or maybe a Hercules Theater XP if you need all the ports.
Wingznut PEZ
New member
"SB Live isn't what it used to be."
Actually, the Live is exactly what it used to be. And that's its problem.
Basically the same card has been rehashed with different software, and maybe one small feature, how many times?
The Santa Cruz is an awesome card. I have yet to meet anyone who has used both cards, and prefers the Live (including me).
Actually, the Live is exactly what it used to be. And that's its problem.
Basically the same card has been rehashed with different software, and maybe one small feature, how many times?
The Santa Cruz is an awesome card. I have yet to meet anyone who has used both cards, and prefers the Live (including me).
Seriously, lets see some numbers
Seriously, lets see some numbers
I am not ready to start a Creative smear campaign just yet, The SB Live as far as I knew was the most popular sound card, and given there have been many advances in the feild, I can not beleive that the card sucks that bad. I would like to see some numbers comparing the SB Live and other sound cards showing their resource allocation. If it is true, then ok and I might even switch... but we should give the guy a decent reason before he switches.
Equivic8
Seriously, lets see some numbers
I am not ready to start a Creative smear campaign just yet, The SB Live as far as I knew was the most popular sound card, and given there have been many advances in the feild, I can not beleive that the card sucks that bad. I would like to see some numbers comparing the SB Live and other sound cards showing their resource allocation. If it is true, then ok and I might even switch... but we should give the guy a decent reason before he switches.
Equivic8
DaWizeGuy
New member
Re: Seriously, lets see some numbers
Re: Seriously, lets see some numbers
The problem with the Live! cards is that they're very picky when it comes to hardware and software. Another problem is that Creative Labs does nothing to fix the problems. On some systems they run perfectly, but on others they don't work at all. From personal experience I will claim that Live! cards run better under Intel/AMD chipset platforms than VIAchipset platforms. I've just switched from a P-III/i815 system to an Athlon/VIA KT133a system and now my SB Live! Value doesn't work at all. I get lock ups and stutter in many games and applications, and I cannot fix it. Fortunately there're other good soundcards on the market, so hopefully one of these will work better, so I can ditch my old SB 128 PCI.
Re: Seriously, lets see some numbers
Equivic8 said:
The problem with the Live! cards is that they're very picky when it comes to hardware and software. Another problem is that Creative Labs does nothing to fix the problems. On some systems they run perfectly, but on others they don't work at all. From personal experience I will claim that Live! cards run better under Intel/AMD chipset platforms than VIAchipset platforms. I've just switched from a P-III/i815 system to an Athlon/VIA KT133a system and now my SB Live! Value doesn't work at all. I get lock ups and stutter in many games and applications, and I cannot fix it. Fortunately there're other good soundcards on the market, so hopefully one of these will work better, so I can ditch my old SB 128 PCI.
Gotta agree. The Sblive is very picky with your hardware combinations. I myself have no problems with it, but my brother has pops, crackles, stutter and his machine isn't far off spec to mine. It does appear to be VIA related though, and worked fine for him when he had an AMD chipset mobo. I would suggest getting whatever is cheaper, if it is the Sblive, then if you get problems take it back and swap.
jim_duggan
New member
my live card gives me nothing but problems every since i put my radeon in,ive tries every set of drivers and configurations known to man and im still up sh*t creek with creative, problem isnt as bad in winme as 98 put is still there, damn stuttering and stuff, i also have a via chipset, i think im gonna get the santa cruz when i get the money, maybe i can pawn this peice of **** live card off on someone while they are still popular
Sorry Percuvius, you're wrong
Sorry Percuvius, you're wrong
There is indeed an issue with Creative/Via. I refer you to:
http://boards.gamers.com/messages/message_view-topic.asp?name=VIAHardware&id=zzcws
and:
http://www.avault.com/news/displaynews.asp?story=452001-11353
Sorry Percuvius, you're wrong
There is indeed an issue with Creative/Via. I refer you to:
http://boards.gamers.com/messages/message_view-topic.asp?name=VIAHardware&id=zzcws
and:
http://www.avault.com/news/displaynews.asp?story=452001-11353
SirXcalibur
Admin in Shining Armour
Good stuff but I have to move it to Sound Card Discussion Area...
From what I've read, you can prevent VIA/Creative problems by disabling SB16 Emulation in Device Manager and not placing the SB Live in a PCI slot that would share an IRQ with another card.
Never had a game lock up due to sound issues. I think my MX300 sounded better when it comes to MP3s, but I like the 5.1 of the SB Live.
Never had a game lock up due to sound issues. I think my MX300 sounded better when it comes to MP3s, but I like the 5.1 of the SB Live.
DaWizeGuy
New member
Yiiihaaa, my my new Terratec DMX X-Fire 1024 rocks!!
Yiiihaaa, my my new Terratec DMX X-Fire 1024 rocks!!
My sound problems are over! I just got a new Terratec DMX X-Fire 1024 sound card and guess what: no VIA chipset problems like my old SB Live! Value. Delta force 3 and my other games run perfect, and there's no silly SB16 emulation that ties up an IRQ. And even better, X-Fire 1024 is powered by the Sensaura Engine, just like the Santa Cruz Turtle beach, which put less stress on the cpu than SB Live! cards. I also supports Aureal A3D which makes B17 a whole new and realistic experience. The only downside is that it's only 4.1 digital compliant. The card is a little more expensive than SB Live! 1024 and Value, but is well worth the money!
Yiiihaaa, my my new Terratec DMX X-Fire 1024 rocks!!
My sound problems are over! I just got a new Terratec DMX X-Fire 1024 sound card and guess what: no VIA chipset problems like my old SB Live! Value. Delta force 3 and my other games run perfect, and there's no silly SB16 emulation that ties up an IRQ. And even better, X-Fire 1024 is powered by the Sensaura Engine, just like the Santa Cruz Turtle beach, which put less stress on the cpu than SB Live! cards. I also supports Aureal A3D which makes B17 a whole new and realistic experience. The only downside is that it's only 4.1 digital compliant. The card is a little more expensive than SB Live! 1024 and Value, but is well worth the money!