I have just finished building a new system and checked that all the components should work with Linux with one exception, the sound card. I purchased a Soundblaster XFi which I am more than happy with for playing games under Windows but I now find is unsupported by Linux, there is s suggestion that drivers will be available next year but I am trying to think of a solution until then.

Is it possible to install 2 soundcards, I have a Soundblaster Audigy which should work fine with Linux I think. Can I instal that one and use that for sound in Linux but still keep the X-Fi to use in Windows?

Presumably I would need to switch the leads to the speakers when I changed OS's?

Any advice would be appreciated

Thanks in advance

Robin

Not sure how windows would react to it, but Linux wouldn't have a problem. I have an on-board audio chip & an Audigy, both of which I use. The on-board sound is good enough to pipe music outside when I'm working or barbequeing, and the Audigy is used for surround sound games & music in my office.

I also have a SB Live! that I use for capturing, and use the onboard for playback (I don't really hear a difference).

Something you could do is have one of the cards hooked up to the front audio ports, for use with headphones, and the other hooked up to external speakers at the back. Then you wouldn't have to worry about switching the stereo mini connection.

It sounds like it might be possible. My motherboard (DFi Lanparty SLi Expert)also has onboard sound which from what I have read on here should work under Linux. How would I go about directing the output of one to a headphone socket at the front. There isn't one so I would need to install that?

Thanks for the assistance

Robin

If you don't have the audio connections on the front of your chassis (either built-in or a drive bay insert) you would need to get one. They connect to a header on the motherboard or sound card, and can be very convenient. You can also get them with USB ports and/or card readers, but I'm not sure how well supported some card readers are though...