/start rant
I have a Creative SB-Live, And it is now working fine now with my new computer/HTPC (VIA chipset). But when I first got it, I had nothing but problems with win98 and my VIA chipset. I had static in all games I played, very annoying, not just quiet static, but LOUD static. Winamp and everything else was fine. On the box it says "Intel or 100% compatible motherboard chipset" I have/had a VIA chipset, it is 100% compatible, at least that what it says.
This was a known problem with this card, many people on the SB newsgroup run by creative had this problem, and the guy who ran the forum (Harvey? [SP]) hardly even responded to it, he would just blame it on other cards in the computer, etc. etc. I said in the newsgroup, to him, Why not put on the box that it has known problems with the VIA chipsets? no dice. It is a reasonable request when paying for a product that *should* work if they say it will. I am very unhappy with them still, and will never recommend a product of theirs, and that is a shame for them, I help A LOT of people build computers. Although the amount of products I recommend is still miniscule, it is money they will never get, and I am happy with that. I know Creative will be going for a long time, but I really think that the only people that will byufrom them in the near future will be companies such as Dell and Gateway. You can get better cards for less money anyway.
My advice, DO NOT BUY CREATIVE. Horrid customer service, and even worse products.
/end rant
But I will add that once / if they work, they work good.
