Alternative to SB Audigy2 PlatinumEX

[SHWoff]

I just replaced my Audigy2 Gamer with an Audigy2 PlatinumEX. I did it for the external unit with MIDI, Mic/Instrument, and stereo jacks. I don't know what the deal is but it just doesn't sound as good as the gamer and my sound cuts out completely often when I'm playing BF (more often when BF and TS are running simultaneously). I'm thinking of building a separate music-only or gaming-only machine. In the meantime, any suggestions for an alternative to the SB A2 PlatinumEX?

Any suggestions for an external video processor would be cool too.

BTW. System specs are:

P4 2.2
512 PC2100 DDR <-- another 512 coming soon
GeForce3 64 <-- replacing soon
XP Home

I use a Game Theater XP.
http://us.hercules.com/products/showpage.php?p=57&b=0&f=1
give you Optical MIDI Mic USB etc. and it was 129 brand new at CompUSA.

[SHWoff]

Very cool. I'm gonna look into this. $100 less than the SB...

I have the platinum Ex... my sound is great and never cuts out maybe u have a bad one