Re: looking for advice on buying a card

[gary <lists@lazygranch.com>]

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Having spent an ungodly obscene amount of time trying to get two 
different USB audio cards to work in 64 bit opensuse, I suggest not 
trying to be a pioneer. I solved my need for multiple sound cards 
(exceeding the number of PCI slots I have) by using a PCI bridge.

For one soundcard, you can try thing:
http://www.siig.com/ViewProduct.aspx?pn=JJ-000111-S1
It doesn't list linux in support unfortunately. However, the latest 
linux kernal might recognize the card. Then pick a soundcard from the 
list of supported devices.

For my particular situation, I bought a Magma PCI expander on ebay. I 
plugged it in and it worked with the soundcards I had on hand (Diamond 
5.1 using C-Media chipset). With the shipping, it worked out to be about 
$39 a PCI slot. [My time, about 10 minutes, not counting searching 
ebay.] Thus the price for the SIIG seems reasonable if you only need to 
run one card. However, I can't vouch it will work. The Magma boxes do 
work, but are obscenely expensive new and bulky.



Dmitri Seletski wrote:
> Hello Guys
> I am thinking to buy pci express sound card. Nothing fancy, just
> something with dolby surround 7.1 and decent sound quality, rather
> inexpensive, i am not audiophile.
> 
> I have noticed that there are not that many sound cards out there which
> have descent support in Linux(unlike many forums claim). I have had
> MAJOR problems with pci xfi card from creative labs(fatality gamers
> edition), my buddy still has a lot of problem with it, like major issues
> with input. No mic - no skype or other voip, you know yourself...
> 
> I have found source of asus xonar dx(namely ebay), it is not that
> expensive compared to many other pci express cards out there, still is
> expensive enough, from alsa matrix it appears to be quite descent.
> Question is, is it worth buying? Is it painful to get it
> running?(probably nothing unusual, matter of loading module), does it
> work fully(does microphone work, does surround sound 7.1 work?)?
>  Is there something better for similar money?(EUR 73 or £65 or $97)
> Please do not propose incompletely supported cards(while i wouldn't mind
> submitting issues to mail lists if i come across bugs, i wouldn't want
> product that doesn't work)
> 
> I appreciate any comments.
> 
> Thank you in advance.
> Dmitri
> 
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