Hi, as anyone who has the MX400 sound card knows, the driver support was pitiful... when there was any support at all. Since Diamond was bought out by S3 (which then became Sonicblue, but that's another story... : ) the support is nonexistant. There are no drivers specific for this card for Win2k/XP, and there never will be. The only reason I get any sound at all with the MX400 in XP is because it is based on the Canyon3D chipset by ESS, and the reference drivers included in XP seem to work, not very well though (tip for anyone in my position: try switching it to ESS Maestro 2E, the only other compatible sound card listed, it appears to work better, for me at least). Anyway, I do tend to waffle on, my apologies. The question is, can anyone suggest any alternative drivers for the MX400 under XP? I'm willing to try drivers for other Canyon3D based cards too (I've tried a couple so far with no sucess). I don't really want to have to go and buy another sound card just because the manufacturer won't release any new drivers. I guess thats the final option though, which I may end up taking anyway. The card works sort of ok with the Maestro drivers, I have working sound output, but it is stereo only (no 3D audio at all, no support for a few things on the card eg output ports), and I can't get my mic to work properly at all, no matter which drivers I try. Any suggestions and other help wil be appreciated. Thanks!

I'm using XP and I'm having a terrible time with my mx400 now that I've installed a new motherboard. They seem to be a bit incompatible. Though before I installed the new mobo, WindowsXP drivers for the card were adequate, allowing me to use spdif as well as 4 channel output. I fear that, under use of my new motherboard with no good drivers for my monster, I may have to invest in another, more mainstream (and expensive) soundcard. Please let me know if you've resolved your conflict, I could use the advice!

Well, I'm in the same boat too MX400 in XP. However the Canyon3D reference drivers work ok, no DS3D or A3D though. I'm currently using AC97 on board sound which is really bad, I've tried running a few different sets of drivers but with no luck. If I find anything I let you know

I sent a letter off to the guys at ESS,asking if they were any beta drivers for the card...here is the response.... The ESS joint developed project for ended in 2000. Windows2000 was not a popular OS for retail market and gaming environment when the product was developed, also the Microsoft WDM (Windows Driver Model) kernel did not support surround sound at that time. That's why there was only W9x VXD driver available for it. Windows XP was not even in place then. If you don't mind having stereo sound only, you can "try" Win2000 driver for ES1978 Maestro-2E. Sorry ESS no longer update drivers for ES1970 Canyon3D product for some years. WinXP built-in drivers support all previously certified devices that have been submitted to Microsoft, however, many customized functions are for sure missing. For ES1970, or Canyon3D, the rear-channel surround sound and digital I/O (SPDIF) interface are believed to be missing. You can try these if you have to use Canyon3D card in Windows 2000/XP: 1. In Control Panel of Start Menu, click the System icon, Hardware tab, and find the Device Manager. 2. Locate the ESS audio device under Sound, video and game controllers, or unknown device (device with yellow exclamation mark) that you try to install audio driver to. Double click on it. 3. From its Driver tab, click on Driver Update button, and choose Next when prompted 4. Choose "Display a list of the known drivers." The OS will spend sometime to search its database. Click on Have Disk button when it finishes. 5. Use Browse button to provide the location that you store the unzipped driver, Open such directory, and click OK. 6. Pick the driver displayed on the list to install. Please beware that using these steps bypass the exact PCI ID matching to install the driver, which also means necessary customization for your device will not work. Good Luck! ESS Tech Support

I think Diamond/SonicBlue should be made to reinburse every single person who ever bought one of these cards...Then maybe they would think twice about leaving customers 'stranded', after such a short support period. Companies should be held to task for not supporting their hardware within allowable time limits. This card certainly was not,and it was expensive to purchase.

You should try this driver: http://www2.driverguide.com/files/uploads12/1957/MX400XP.zip I hope it will work. Good luck! Bagir Hungary