AWE64 Legacy: Community project produces new premium ISA sound card for retro PCs

In the past few years, the retro PC community has been busy working on a new premium ISA 16-bit sound card, which can now be purchased as the AWE64 Legacy. The original second-generation Creative SB AWE64 Value (CT4520) chipset served as a template.

To the features of AWE64 legacy include 28 MiByte of onboard RAM, a Yamaha OPL3 chipset and an MPU-401. On the connectivity side there is a Waveblaster header, routable MIDI outputs, connections for S/PDIF RCA, two analog RCA analog outputs and an AC97 front panel header. Furthermore, the expansion card with 185 × 120 millimeters corresponds to the ISA half-size standard, while the PCB was manufactured with 6 layers.

There is a detailed review from the well-known retro PC youtuber Lazy Game Review via the “LGR Blerbs” channel. There, a borrowed copy is first unpacked. In addition to the sound card, the LGR package also includes matching case badges that you can decorate your own retro computer with. The hardware is then tested in a Windows 98 PC with a Pentium III processor and LGR’s own Woodgrain 486. The AWE64 Legacy has to face the former AWE64 Gold.

the Acquisition of the AWE64 Legacy is quite expensive in the fully assembled and tested state including chic packaging. 540 US dollars have to change hands for this. The blank PCB including bracket is significantly more affordable at 110 US dollars. In addition, there are separate shipping costs. However, before you can hold the hardware in your own hands, you have to overcome another hurdle, because the sound cards manufactured so far are located in Russia, which can sometimes cause difficulties with shipping. However, the associated thread on vogons.org points out that so far only the delivery to Australia has failed.