[newbie] Is It Possible That Redhat/Mandrake does not contain a driver or workaround for my soundcard?

[Sevatio Octavio]

I've tried every setting combination with several different ESS and Soundblaster 
drivers to no avail.  Is it possible that
Redhat/Mandrake does not contain the driver or workaround for my ESS1888 soundcard?

Does anyone have a Compaq 4700series with the ESS1888 soundcard that's using Linux?  
And has anyone had success with the soundcard?

I just want to be sure before I leap to buy the OSS driver.

Seve