[AnthraX]

I just got a free Sound Blaster Live! model: CT4780. It came out of a Dell.

1) Can someone help me find a link to find out the specs of the card?

2) I have this motherboard. Would the Sound Blaster or the onboard sound do better? I have always gone with the saying "Onboard Sucks!" but I only know that to be true with video cards. I know little about sound cards.

[Apokalipse]

General Features:
# Interface: PCI
# E-mu Systems, Inc. EMU10K1 chipset
# 64-voice hardware polyphony with E-mus patented 8-point
interpolation technology
# 48 MIDI channels with 128 GM & GS compatible
instruments and 10 drum kits
# Support for real-time digital effects like reverb,
chorus, flanger,
# pitch shifter, or distortion across any audio source
# Capable of processing, mixing and positioning audio
streams using up to 131
# available hardware channels
# Accelerates Microsoft DirectSound and DirectSound 3D
# Processes bit resolutions from 4-bit to 16-bit
# Processes sample rates from 5kHz to 48kHz
# Hardware full duplex support enables simultaneous
record and playback at
# 8 standard sample rates
# Utilizes AC 97 Audio Codec
# Supports Sound Blaster MIDI and MPU-401 modes

# On-Board Connectors:
# Line in
# Microphone in
# Line Level Out (front) / Headphone Out
# Line Level Out (rear)
# 15-pin MIDI / Joystick port
# Telephone Answering Device In
# MPC-3 Analog CD Audio In
# MPC-3 AUX Audio In
# SPDIF Audio In

*edit*
I'd use the SB live over the onboard sound

[AnthraX]

Alright thanks.

Also, I'm going to be getting 5.1 speakers soon. Where I'm gonna set up the back speakers is about 3 feet back. And the left side is about 1 foot farther away than the right. Is there any utility or recommendations that can help to compensate for the awkward positioning of the speakers?

[Apokalipse]

I think Creative has software that will allow you to bias the speakers according to your chair position. it should come with the driver CD.

[PZEROFGH]

Originally posted by apokalipse
I think Creative has software that will allow you to bias the speakers according to your chair position. it should come with the driver CD.

really, i should try all my softwares

[AnthraX]

Well the thing is, it came out of a Dell. I know it's an OEM card. The utility I found with the drivers doesn't have anything for that.

Any 3rd party software?

[Apokalipse]

try this:
SB Live Driver (11.91MB)
update your drivers to this
Creative Basic Audio Suite (35.59MB)
the audio suite should have what you need to change the settings

[AnthraX]

I just spent about a half hour downloading those things. They didn't work. They aren't compatible with my sound card. Thanks for trying though. No harm done.

[Apokalipse]

ah, yeah that was the Live 24-bit driver.
here is the Live (vanilla) driver

but looking here (apps for the Live vanilla) I'm not sure if these apps have the configuration options you're looking for

[Mr. Switch]

I think you need an Audigy 2 or X-Fi to virtually repostition your speakers. I remember being frustrated with my Live! becuase i couldn't compensate for the positions. The THX menu with my X-Fi lets me do that.