- PC HARDWARE -

A Sound Blaster (or equivalent) is a sound provider/translation card that plugs into a PCI slot in your motherboard, reacts to all `sound accompanied' programs, and comes with an assortment of special effects software and a variety of speakers (up to and including a 5 speaker Dolby hi-fi pro-logic surround sound system).  It replaces your PC speaker for almost all applications with sound effects (especially games) and it can really enhance the enjoyment of your PC.   

A Sound Blaster of the 50's

SOUNDBLASTER CARDS:

The three levels of sound-blaster quality are 8-bit, 16-bit, and 32-bit (the 32-bit is the highest quality because it processes 4 times the amount of data simultaneously as an 8-bit card and gives you true 3-D surround sound).  The original Soundblaster was invented by a company named “Creative Labs” and the rest of the folks call their units “Sound Blaster equivalent” (or ad-libs).  All of the programs I’ve seen that lets you select a sound device asks you if you want to use your PC speaker, a “Sound Blaster”, or an “ad-lib” (a sound card other than a Sound Blaster).   Most of the `ad-lib’ units I’ve tested lately are hard to tell from a Creative card, and some of them sell for 25% of the price of a SB "Live" card (the current `best-buy-for-the-buck' card for about $25).  If you just want good sound, buy a generic (like a Yamaha XG), but if you want the best, stick with Creative!  It’s easy to install one yourself - so if you don’t have a sound card, go for it - it will give your PC personality !