CreativeSB0410-CO-R

Good obsolete sound card - needed the 24 bit for a spectrometer application, works well

If it would have worked I am sure I would have enjoyed it. But it didn't. =(

This audio pcs card was shipped with no instruction sheet, web address or CD to ease the installation. Beware these junk-yard parts that Amazon's cut-rate vendors offer. I think I am supposed to say more so I am adding this, I don't think I will waste my time trying to install this card. I doubt it will work anyhow. Now, is that enough Mr. Amazon?

I've had a number of SoundBlaster Live PCI cards, starting with the "value" version of the original SB Live. These cards can be a bit finicky when it comes to motherboard(PCI bus) compatibility and this model is no exception.Creative's drivers are also not even close to bug free on Windows, and full game compatibility(all features) is hit and miss. Basic Windows audio works very well, except that the mixer control for analog CD-audio doesn't seem to work with the included drivers. When using digital playback EAX effects settings are unreliable, at times they will be enabled(audibly) when disabled or vice-versa.For use with Linux, I only have two complaints about this card:1. It isn't really an SB Live(it uses the ca0106 Alsa driver,) and doesn't support hardware loading of soundfonts.2. Some mixer elements have confusing names(CD analog audio is labeled AUX Capture.)Others have said that this card is not an audio "accelerator" as previous Live models have been. I can't speak to that, except to say that it seems to perform well for me, and much better that my embedded intel hda. The Live! 24bit 7.1 Channel does support multiple hardware streams on both Windows and Linux, which is a very nice feature to have if you like skip-free audio and the ability to play audio from multiple applications simultaneously without taxing your CPU.I am not an audiophile, but I would rate audio quality as very good and noise free.

I tried a Rosewil 5.1 card, but it never would work like that. Worked mor like a 2.1. So, I found this card, the Creative Labs 24 bit 5.1 / 7.1 card. It worked right the first time, right out of the box, after I downloaded, and installed the drivers, which were easily installed in windows 7.About the only thing I did not like was the fact this card came only in an anti-static bag, with no box, no software discs, no manual, not even a box. It was shipped in an Amazon book or media mailer. Made me worry big time. I think I was very lucky in this case. It works, but the fact this product came in the above condition is the reason for only giving 4 stars.It works great with my 5.1 surround speaker system which is also from Creative Labs. I've always loved CL products, and always regreted not using CL when installing motherboards that had their own onboard audio. By the way, when installing sound cards into a machine that has it's own onboard audio, you need to disable the onboard audio in the operating system, then shut down, and disable it on the mother board, or, if you can't find a jumper on the mother board, you need to disable it in bios, then shut down again, and put in your new card, boot up, and install drivers.

Only a professional musician really knows how important "harmonics" are to their music. I have had several other sound cards, digital 7.1, etc., both coax output and optical output. Never seen a sound card with HDMI output since video is primary, that's video cards. My "old timer" Sony 1000 watt receiver has 3 optical and 1 coax inputs and 3 HDMI inputs. It was expensive, back in those 2000 era no one knew whether HDMI would take over the optical cables (and since most DVD players didn't have HDMI, but had the 5 cable RBGYR "Component" input). So it was difficult back then, they were switching from component and optical to HDMI, but it was expensive to have all 3. Anyway, I've owned Sound Blasters since the original....and this one has the "harmonics" of a Fender Amp. Only a musician or audiophile would understand. Yes, there's a difference between other sound cards and a Creative Sound Blaster (at least there used to be). Other sound cards pass through the sound "unaltered" exactly as it it sent by the station. So if you want good harmonics, it's up to the station. Unfortunately, a lot of stations expect your receiver/amp to do the "tweaking: they send the signal unaltered, and expect your receiver to supply harmonics, etc.So no one knows who's right and who's wrong. If you want to be sure you have good harmonics, buy a Sound Blaster.

I DIDNT KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN I FIRST PURCHASED THIS AUDIO CARD AFTER READING THE PREVIOUS REVIEWS.SO WITHOUT DELAY I EASILY PLACED THIS CARD IN THE PCI SLOT OF MY COMP.FIRED IT UP,INSTALLED THE DRIVER I HAD FOUND ON CREATIVE WEBSITE,WORKED FLAWLESSLY,WITHOUT A HITCH.THIS CARD SOUNDS AMAZING ATTACHED TO A YAMAHA AMPLIFIER WITH FLOATING 24 BIT DAC.SURROUND IS PRECISE AND THE QUALITY IS SECOND TO NONE.I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS CARD TO ALL THOSE WHO WANT AN EASY INSTALLED,WORRY FREE UPGRADE INSTEAD OF THEIR ONBOARD AUDIO.

Great price!!!! Needed a sound card to replace the onboard audio that would not work in Windows 7 64 bit. This fit the bill and works great!