opinion of Sound Blaster Motherboard

[natb1]

Does anyone have any experience with or comment about the Sound Blaster Motherboard w/integrated Sound Blaster Live.

Im considering this package deal from Tiger:

Includes:

Intel Celeron 400MHz Processor
Creative Labs BlasterBoard Motherboard
Blaster PC 9-Bay Case with Power Supply
Sound Blaster Live! Audio Processor
Sound Blaster Live! Platinum expansion unit
Creative Labs Infrared Remote Control Unit
FM Tuner Built Into The Case
All Cables And Hardware
100 page assembly guide

I understand a couple limitations include:
Win 98 or ME only!
No FCPGA CPUs. No Coppermine CPUs.

I dont mind these limitations....Do you know of any others?

I know one needs to be carefull of the Tiger Direct "Deals".

[ephmynus]

Personally I have never used it but, from previous experience and the the experience of other users in this forum, do not use Tiger. In all truthfullness, I have never heard anything good come from this company.

[ephmynus]

By the way, check out the resellerratings comments. 2.9 out of 7.0... not very good.

http://www.resellerratings.com/cgi-bin/reseller/comview.cgi?TigerDirect

[JungleMan1]

I wouldn't even bother, considering the system is so limited and Creative isn't known for mobo making either..

how much are you getting it for?

plus that 400 celeron is slow.

[natb1]

[quote]Originally posted by JungleMan:
I wouldn't even bother, considering the system is so limited and Creative isn't known for mobo making either..

how much are you getting it for?

plus that 400 celeron is slow.

---

Havent actually got it...but I think its $129

Sound Blaster Live 5.1 sells for $99 at Best Buy
Sound Blaster Live Platnium Expansion sells for $99
Any box w/power supply will cost $40
Now throw in an ATX MoBo and CPU for $50 (slow as it may be)

Now add some extras that lay around the house anyway...and POOF!....a cheap little PC that works!

My Current PCs:
Pentium I
98 MB of EDO
VooDoo3 2000 PCI
SB AWE 32 ISA buss

PS...What might be a better Discount PC Store?
Thanks!

[WebHead]

All I have to say is, if their XP support for mobo's is anything like their support for all their other products, then forget it. CL is totally on my bad list right now.

[natb1]

[quote]Originally posted by WebHead:
All I have to say is, if their XP support for mobo's is anything like their support for all their other products, then forget it. CL is totally on my bad list right now.

---

WOW....I must be stuck in the 80s! I thought Creative Labs was THE PREMIER PC audio technology with the MOST compatibility! What is the "BEST" audio company?

[JungleMan1]

[quote]Originally posted by natb1:


WOW....I must be stuck in the 80s! I thought Creative Labs was THE PREMIER PC audio technology with the MOST compatibility! What is the "BEST" audio company?

---

The first part might be true (Audigy rules) but definitely not the last!

I have heard good things about Turtle Beach cards.

[WebHead]

[quote]Originally posted by natb1:


WOW....I must be stuck in the 80s! I thought Creative Labs was THE PREMIER PC audio technology with the MOST compatibility! What is the "BEST" audio company?

---

If you're not using XP, then I guess CL has some very quality products. And supposedly, they'll be coming out with compatible software and drivers, but so far, not everything is supported. I know this from experience.

[WebHead]

[quote]Originally posted by JungleMan:
...I have heard good things about Turtle Beach cards.

---

Turtle Beach has always had comparable hardware to CL. They just don't have the same great marketing that CL does.

[natb1]

Anyone with direct knowledge of additional limitations of the MoBo?

[Silverman]

Aside from the integrated live, looks like a typical BX chipset motherboard ATA UDMA 33 only so you will need a ATA 66/100 controller card for fast hdd, slot1, the Celeron400 is secc2 so a P2 450 would work in it. It may support FCPGA processors with a bios update and slotket converter. The add doesn't say who makes the board (wasn't Creative actually) so if you do decide to purchase it do it over the phone and ask lots of question's about the manufacturer support and such.

[format c:]

I saw the same system being offered at a local computer shop , I shook my head , CL does not make motherboards , Beware!!! Do you want stablity or BSODS plus format once a month, They are selling 2 year old technology
CL makes good sound cards but their software is slow and buggy , Once installed their cards are great ,I have had their installers stop responding under Windows 9x , Guess my Celery 733 is too slow
Generally you get what you pay for , I have tried cheap before and failed many times

[natb1]

" Generally you get what you pay for , I have tried cheap before and failed many times "

I have to agree with that.
Its a hard habit to break.
Its like...."Homer touches hot stove....Dohhh!.....Homer touches hot stove...Dohhh!....Homer touches hot stove...."