Synthetic Benchmarks

Drivers

Yamaha Waveforce 192 Digital, Driver Version 4.06.1031
Monster Sound MX300, Aureal Reference Drivers 4.06.2015 (12/98)
SoundBlaster Live!, Driver Version 12/98

3D Audio Winbench 99 Static - CPU Utilization
44Khz 16 Bit	8 Voices	16 Voices	32 Voices
WaveForce	10%	24.9%	47.9%
MX300	3.91%	5.46%	29%
SBLive!	1.3%	1.2%	>3.41%
22Khz 8 Bit
WaveForce	6.76%	13.7%	27.7%
MX300	3.06%	3.97%	17.4%
SBLive!	1.27%	2.16%	3.37%

2D Audio Winbench 99 Static - CPU Utilization
44Khz 16 Bit	8 Voices	16 Voices	32 Voices
WaveForce	2.34%	3.3%	5.1%
MX300	1.48%	2.42%	5.77%
SBLive!	0%	0%	0%
22Khz 8 Bit
WaveForce	1.73%	2.25%	3.07%
MX300	1.41%	2.12%	3.86%
SBLive!	0%	0%	0%

Download full benchmarks

The Ziff-Davis Audio Winbench 99 tests show that the Yamaha Waveforce is a competent stereo performer, easily handling all stereo sound mixing chores with a maximum of 5 percent CPU usage, but it stumbles a bit in 3D. The card reports only 8 accelerated DirectSound 3D streams, and CPU usage veers up sharply after that.

I also ran some preliminary tests based on a beta Vortex 2 driver that reduces CPU usage significantly across the board, bringing it closer to the low CPU usage champ, the SoundBlaster Live!. Here's hoping that this driver gets released soon!