DOS Laptop Audio Comparisons

Here I've listed audio comparisons of various DOS laptop sound card chips, each playing the Duke Nukem 3D setup music. Most of the cards from older laptops which do work in DOS (and not all do) sound vaguely the same when it comes to playing back digital audio (usually if they implement Soundblaster 1.0/2.0 mono, or SB Pro / SB 16 stereo)… but the biggest difference is usually in their FM synth implementation.

All devices using true Yamaha OPL2/OPL3 parts (YMF262 or YMF3812) will sound the same, earlier ESS chips use their (excellent) ESFM implementation, but others (including Crystal) often have their own implementation which is not quite the same.

• ISA interface
• SBPro compatibility
• Good Crystal FM synth emulation quality
• No drivers required, or minimal initialisation (no TSR needed)
• Found in: IBM Thinkpad 380ED, 385D, 385ED

• PCI interface
• SBPro compatibility
• Poor Crystal FM synth emulation quality
• TSR needs to be loaded to initialise and provide DOS compatibility
• Found in: IBM Thinkpad T20, T21, T22, 600X

• PCI interface
• SBPro compatibility
• ESFM OPL3 synth
• Needs a driver loaded to put the chip into DOS compatible mode
• Needs a TSR loaded to set up the chip
• Found in: Compaq Presario 1800, IBM Thinkpad 240, 390E, 390X

• PCI interface
• SBPro compatibility
• Genuine Yamaha OPL3 synth
• Needs an initialisation tool to put the chip into DOS compatible mode
• Found in: Toshiba Satellite Pro 440, 460, 470, 480, 490, Tecra 520, 530, 550, 740, 750, 780, 8000, Portege 320, 3010, 3020, 7000, 7010