DOSCab: Sound card compatibility list

[Chris]

Many of my support queries have to do with trying to find a sound card in DOS that works.  Unfortunately, the official list of cards is pretty limited: the SoundBlaster 1.0, SoundBlaster 1.5, SoundBlaster 2.0, SoundBlaster Pro, SoundBlaster 16, ESS Audiodrive, Ensoniq Soundscape, and Windows Sound System.  All of these cards are ISA (with the exception of WSS, which I think is found on some old integrated chipsets).  Any card that is 100% hardware compatible with one of these cards should work.  Unfortunately, most later Creative Labs cards like the SoundBlaster PCI 128, SoundBlaster Live, etc. don't fit the bill, as they use a software emulator for SB DOS compatibility.

So I need to create a hardware compatibility list for DOSCab.  For that, I need to know what cards DOSCab users out there are using, along with the chipset name if you know it.  (Some Creative Labs cards, for example, use several different chipsets, so one SB128 might work where another does not.)  Chipset is probably more important than card, as I'm willing to bet that all cards with the same chipset will work (if their DOS drivers can be located, that is...). If you had to jump through any particular hoops or download a special driver to make the card work, I'd like to hear about that, too.

For sound cards that don't work, either sound won't initialize and DOSCab will error out, or it will initialize as a SoundBlaster but when attempting to play a song the song wil get stuck at 0:00. I'd like to hear about  cards you have that don't work as well.

Outside of the ones listed above, I know the following work:

Crystal Semiconductor CS4236 (ThinkPad 380ED onboard sound)
Via VT82C686A (ASUS K7M onboard sound)
ALS 4000 (CompUSA-brand PCI 3D Sound Card)
C-media CM8738 (IWill KK266-R onboard sound)
Creative Vibra16 Model CT4180


Does anyone know of any others?

Thank you for your help!

--Chris

[RacerX]

It will probably be Monday before I have time, but I have three different machines running DOSCab at home so I'll let you know what chipset each sound card is on those and what drivers I had to load to get them working.

[Chris]

Anyone else have any input?

[krick]

You should check out the vsynchmame page...
http://vsynchmame.mameworld.net/

The have DOS drivers for a LOT of sound chips.

I'm sure the drivers will probably work with DOSCab.

You can pick up some of the cards listed on the page above pretty cheaply on Ebay if you feel like doing some testing and detective work.

[garyh]

Chris

I use an ISA Creative Vibra16 Model CT4180
Main chip is labelled CT2505-TDQ2

Regards

Gary

[RacerX]

Sorry it took me so long to respond, Chris.  I've been swamped at work.  Anyway, here is the skinny on my 3 DOSCab machines.

1.  ESS Technology - ES1938/ES1941/ES1946 Solo-1(E) AudioDrive
2.  ESS ES1869 AudioDrive
  The above 2 cards use the following drivers:
      ESSOLO.COM
      ESSVOL.EXE for setting the volume.

3.  Creative Soundblaster PCI 512
   Uses SBEINIT.COM

[ArcadeMaze]

I believe I use a Soundblaster 64 PCI, Model #CT4750 in my DOS based machines.

[Chris]

I believe I use a Soundblaster 64 PCI, Model #CT4750 in my DOS based machines.

This is good news!  I wasn't aware anyone had the SoundBlaster 64 PCI working with DOSCab....

[ArcadeMaze]

Aw shoot.  This is what I get for doing forums too early in the morning.  Sorry Chris, I misread the title when I replied and thought you were talking about DOS cabs, like for MAME.  I haven't tried running DOSCab with a Soundblaster 64 PCI, I apologize for the mixup.

[Chris]

Any other DOSCab users hiding out there? 

[Lave Laar]

Well I've tried SB16, SB32 and SB64 all ISA.

[Chris]

Well I've tried SB16, SB32 and SB64 all ISA.

[garyh]

No, no, no . .  . keep saving for a touchscreen!  :-)

[Thenasty]

Hi Chris,

Dammm I have to get the cards again and type what i already type before.....My time was up and it log me and could not go back and COPY/PASTE what I typed....Anyway enough of the rant.....

Here is the scoop, it sounded better the first time... 


I have finish configuring all my pure DOS soundcards and here is the list. LMK which one you want to test.

Creative Ct3620 ISA
Creative Ct2230 ISA
Creative Ct2980 ISA
Creative AWE64 Ct4520 ISA
Creative CT4810 PCI
Creative AUdioPCI ES1373
FX-3D AD1816 ISA
FX-3D Plus AD1816 ISA
SoniWave-SR FM801 Forte Media PCI
Crystal CX4235 ISA
Crystal CS4236 ISA

I have tested this Cards w/Vantage and MAME.

Also I have this YAMAHA XG YMF724E PCI card that I have the DOS driver for and the test past but Vantage/MAME don't recognise it.

I also have 3 more cards that I can't find DOS driver for, maybe you have some. Here is the list
Vortex Au8820B2 PCI
Crystal CS 4231 ISA
AD1845JP Soundport (Ensonic chip on it) ISA


LMK which of this you have not tested w/DOScab.

[OldSchool79]

I failed miserably trying to get an Creative AudioPCI ES1371 to work with DOScab but hell, I coudln't even get the test program that came with the driver to work. It's possible that it was conflicting with the onboard sound.

[pcmode]

I have compiled a list of sound cards for DOSCAB.

ISA WORKING
CT2960
CT4170
CT4180
CT4380
CT4500
CT4520

ISA NOT WORKING
CT1600
CT2900

PCI NOT WORKING MAY BE DRIVER VERSION
ES1370
ES1371
CT4370

VIDEO CARDS NOT ALWAYS SHOWING VIDEO
SIS6326

VIDEO CARDS WORKING GREAT
NVIDIA TNT2
NVIDIA CHIPSET IN GENERAL WITH 32-256MB MEMORY
ATI 9200-9800 CHIPSET.

It took a while to compile this list but i found that most computer recyclers had the most ISA and first edition PCI Sound Blaster sound cards for a $1 a piece and were more than happy to part with them, as they melt them down to extract the gold.

Hope this helps you all...

[Chris]

Thank you for this wonderful information!  I really appreciate your help!

--Chris

[Wengier]

Unfortunately, most later Creative Labs cards like the SoundBlaster PCI 128, SoundBlaster Live, etc. don't fit the bill, as they use a software emulator for SB DOS compatibility.

Actually, the SB PCI 128 and SB Live! cards *CAN WORK PERFECTLY* with DOSCab, but NOT if CWSDPMI is used as the DPMI server. The problem occurs only if Allegro and CWSDPMI are used at the same time with the SB PCI/Live! DOS driver (i.e. SBINIT/SBEINIT). Either replacing CWSDPMI by HDPMI32 (BTW: you need set HDPMI=512 for SB PCI), OR re-stubbing DOSCAB.EXE by the WDOS/X one using STUBIT.EXE, then the sound issue will be completely gone. I have both of these cards (SB PCI 128 and SB Live!), and DOSCab works fine with both of them after replacing CWSDPMI. This applies to similar programs (including the Allgero setup program) as well.

[Chris]

WOW!! This is INCREDIBLE information!  I hadn't heard of HDPMI32.. is it part of the Creative Labs package?  If not, where can it be found?

Thank you so much for this!!!!

--Chris

[Wengier]

WOW!! This is INCREDIBLE information!  I hadn't heard of HDPMI32.. is it part of the Creative Labs package?  If not, where can it be found?

Thank you so much for this!!!!

--Chris

HDPMI16/32 is also an open-source 16/32-bit DPMI server, which is included in HXRT for the HX DOS Extender. More information for it and downloads are available from:

http://www.japheth.de/HX.html
http://www.japheth.de/dwnload4.html

[burgerface]

hi all,
i have a machine running windows 98se and another running windows millenium.
They both use an INtex sound card based on the crystal 4624 chipset and they work perfectly without any issues.
i hope this helps.
regards
Vishal

[bkeating]

In my trevails with trying to get a PCI sound card to work under DOS, If my time=$$$, I found it easier and cheaper to buy a new motherboard/CPU and run mame in windows. 

[david656]

with the easycab windows 98 stripped to dos setup that installs sound blaster drivers i got a SB16 PCI working in does a treat