Adding a sound card to my computer.

Factual Questions
1

Just a couple of days ago, I went and bought a Soundblaster 16 PCI card for a computer that I have. As I was installing it, I wasn’t careful and, let’s just say I think that due to some static, I killed my motherboard. No problem, I was going to upgrade anyway. So yesterday I get a new computer, but the motherboard has built in audio. According to my Windows 98 SE profile, it’s a Avance AC97 Audio for VIA ® Audio Controler.

OK, so my question is, since I don’t want my SB card to go to waste, I’m thinking of installing it in my computer. But can I leave the built in sound card activated, then, if I feel like it, switch back and forth between sound cards in Windows, or do I have to disable the built in card if I install a new one?

Thanks. Oh, and I did look in the motherboard manual, but I didn’t see anything that helped to answer my question.

2

Don’t bother. The 32-bit onboard sound card on your new mainboard will vastly outperform your 16-bit SB card. You could sell it on eBay or something.

3

Wow, so basically, $30 down the drain, minus what I might be able to sell it for. Oh well, live and learn I guess.

4

Don’t get rid of it just yet. My board has the same AC97 onboard setup yours does, and I’ve had no end of problems with it. A couple weeks after I first fired it up, it started producing horrible static.

An upgrade to WinXP appears to have solved the problem, though.

5

FWIW, my VIA sound built into my MOBO sounds great. No problems with Win XP.

-B