Credit goes out to id Software for making such a great shooter! Also, my video card doesn’t seem to be doing such a good job… but when the music is this good, who needs video! Sound effects were muted so the pure joy of these two cards could be enjoyed. Which is your favourite?

I’ve been putting together my retro gaming PC, which is running an Intel 486 DX4 OverDrive processor at 100 MHz. There are still a few things to sort out, including the video card, but today it’s the sound cards that are causing me to think a little too hard.

I’ve got two rather nice options. First is a Gravis UltraSound MAX revision 1.8, a beautiful great long card that’s taking up an impressive amount of space. Then there’s the Creative Sound Blaster 32, a cheaper relative of the AWE32 family.

The Gravis is fitted with 2 MB of memory, while the Sound Blaster has its own onboard sample memory. Both have their advantages, and I’m not entirely sure which one I want to keep in this machine.

What better way to compare them than a little Doom? I’ve recorded the audio directly from each card, with the sound effects disabled so we can concentrate on the music. There’s plenty to listen to, so sit back and enjoy some of the finest tunes ever to come out of a DOS gaming PC!

The Sound Blaster gets the first turn, followed by the Gravis UltraSound. There are some rather noticeable differences in the way the music comes across, and that’s really the whole point of the exercise. I’m curious which one everybody prefers.

Personally, I’m leaning rather heavily towards the Gravis UltraSound. Not too heavily, mind you. It’s a very long sound card and I’d hate to snap the thing in half!

Ideally I’d install both cards and use the Sound Blaster for digital sound effects while letting the Gravis handle the music. Trouble is, this 486 is already running out of expansion slots and physical space.

I’ve got other equipment to accommodate, including my SNASM2 Sega development hardware and a VLB IDE controller. Some of these cards are enormous, and there are only so many positions in the case where a full-length card will actually fit. It isn’t simply a matter of finding another empty ISA slot.

I could perhaps move a few things around or try one of my smaller Sound Blaster cards, but that would mean making some other compromises. For the moment, the Gravis is looking awfully attractive.

Anyway, enough of me rambling about expansion slots. Have a listen to the comparison and tell me which one sounds better to you!