Unfortunately, VTD in Warp 4.0 seems to disable a sound card's full duplex ability, so full duplex won't do much good for retaining system sounds when VTD is active, though in theory it could. Interfaces Modern sound boards frequently have interfaces for one or more types of CD-ROMs. As I don't use the sound card's CD interface, I wasn't very concerned with this in my own search, but I've included a note for each of the boards I mention on what types of interfaces it has. More complex boards may require two or more IRQs for the sound board, and frequently another for the CD-ROM interface, if it's being used. Thus, if you want an advanced wavetable board, be sure you've got enough free IRQs, and IRQs the board can use.
Most modern boards use software to set the IRQs, etc., that they use.
Some FM synthesis boards include a connector for a wavetable daughter card, which allows one to upgrade to wavetable abilities relatively painlessly. I haven't seriously investigated such daughter cards, though, and don't know much about them. There are also a few wavetable-only boards available that can be used in conjunction with an existing FM synthesis board. A microphone is a necessary component if you intend to use a sound card for speech recognition , for an Internet telephony application, or simply to record your own wonderful self. Unfortunately, sound cards are often finicky about what types of microphones they require.