The Yamaha YMF724 is one of my favourite retro-PC bargains. I found mine on eBay for $20 in February 2022, listed only as a “DCS S81X S817 S81X-SF CARD” — the seller clearly had no idea it was a sought-after Yamaha card. I could just make out the chips in the listing photo and took the risk. It paid off: proper eBay bargains still exist if you pay attention.
What it is
Part of Yamaha’s YMF7x4 family of PCI sound chips. What makes these cards special for retro use is a rare combination: real Yamaha FM synthesis, easy Windows support, and unusually good DOS compatibility for a PCI card — the thing most PCI audio simply can’t do.
Why I like it
- it gets you strong DOS audio without needing an ISA slot
- DSDMA keeps DOS sound working on surprisingly modern hardware, where most PCI cards fall apart entirely
- Windows support is straightforward
- the MIDI is a genuine highlight
My take
This is the most DOS-compatible PCI sound card I’ve used. DSDMA support is the headline — it got native DOS audio working on an ICH7 machine, which is well past where I’d expect a PCI card to still function. The MIDI side surprised me too: General MIDI already sounds good, but XG MIDI sounds fantastic on this card. The shame is that so little software targets XG, because when you do hear it properly it’s a real highlight.
I reach for a YMF724 before a Sound Blaster Live! whenever DOS compatibility is the priority. It’s the card I fitted in my OptiPlex 380 retro build.
Pros
- the best DOS compatibility I’ve seen from a PCI sound card
- DSDMA keeps DOS sound alive on quite modern machines
- real Yamaha FM synthesis
- easy Windows support, and XG MIDI sounds superb
Cons
- General MIDI in DOS is the weak point — it only really works under Windows
- XG MIDI is wonderful but barely any software uses it