Sound Blaster and OPL3 emulator for DOS

[Bondi]

There is a very interesting project being developed on Vogons by user crazii. It's a driver/TSR based on modified HDPMI(it's author takes part too) and to some extend on old Virtual Sound Blaster(VSB) driver. It supports relatively modern output devices like Intel HDA, AC'97, recent additions are SB Live/AUdigy sound cards.
The added value is that it supports also protected mode games. Which is a breakthrough in a way, as noone did this before. Actually PM games work even better, as older games may have problems on fast CPU, large RAM and modern video cards. Yet, many RM mode games also work.
I tested it on my X60s and X230 and got many games working with digital sound and music.
So if you have a Thinkpad that boots to DOS you now can run DOS games on it with sound now.
The driver is on pre-beta stage. Here is the latest version, I guess https://www.vogons.org/viewtopic.php?p=1144896#p1144896

[dr_st]

Gotta say, that's pretty awesome. If it works well, it surely beats having to set up an ancient Thinkpad with a native DOS-compatible card (A20/T20 series).

[Bondi]

Gotta say, that's pretty awesome. If it works well, it surely beats having to set up an ancient Thinkpad with a native DOS-compatible card (A20/T20 series).

It works perfectly fine with all Doom engine games, Build games, Quake, ROTT, Wolf3d,Tomb Raider, Tunnel B1, Abuse, and many others.
But many titles don't work. If you look through the thread, people give a lot of feedback on different games.
The other problem is that there is no USB mouse support in DOS.

[dr_st]

The other problem is that there is no USB mouse support in DOS.

That's a good point. So on a modern Thinkpad with no external PS/2 ports - it's internal trackpoint/touchpad or nothing (or hacking/modding).

[Bondi]

The other problem is that there is no USB mouse support in DOS.

That's a good point. So on a modern Thinkpad with no external PS/2 ports - it's internal trackpoint/touchpad or nothing (or hacking/modding).

I should have probably written that the usb mouse was not YET supported. As the same guy has an experimental driver, that actually didn't work for me. But maybe he'll get it working at some point.
Other workaround is a com port mouse, some docks have the port, or a pcmcia com card+mouse, if there is a pcmcia port.

[dr_st]

I think if a dock has a COM port, it will most likely also have a PS/2 port.

I do expect USB mouse to work eventually.

[Bondi]

I think if a dock has a COM port, it will most likely also have a PS/2 port.

I do expect USB mouse to work eventually.

Some docks indeed have ps/2. But My x60s dock doesn't unfortunately.