Uploaded January 2020 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Taking a skeptical look at retro OPL and OPM sound chips in my hobbyist sound cards, wondering if they've been resurfaced or what. I don't believe the folks making these hobbyist sound cards are attempting anything shady, but the origins of some of these YM chips are dubious.
Here's the "fake chips" video I'm referring to:
youtube.com/watch?v=k72SFBOZ_lw
To be clear, I'm cool using reproduction or resurfaced chips so long as they function the same or better. I just wish that the chip makers would make it clear that they're clones if that's the case, since I like to know if I'm dealing with brand new or vintage stuff when it comes to hardware. Buying old sound chips is enough of a gamble already, no need to obscure things further.
Taking a skeptical look at retro OPL and OPM sound chips in my hobbyist sound cards, wondering if they've been resurfaced or what. I don't believe the folks making these hobbyist sound cards are attempting anything shady, but the origins of some of these YM chips are dubious.
Here's the "fake chips" video I'm referring to:
youtube.com/watch?v=k72SFBOZ_lw
To be clear, I'm cool using reproduction or resurfaced chips so long as they function the same or better. I just wish that the chip makers would make it clear that they're clones if that's the case, since I like to know if I'm dealing with brand new or vintage stuff when it comes to hardware. Buying old sound chips is enough of a gamble already, no need to obscure things further.
