Soundcard analogue outputs Vs spdif

Will be upgrading soon and it occured to me that I have no idea whether there would be any extra loading on the cpu if I used a set of digital speakers via an spdif output of a motherboard instead of the speaker outputs of an Audigy with analogue speakers. Obviously running via the speaker outputs of an Audigy is getting the Audigy to take as much sound processing away from the cpu as possible. Does anyone know what the situation is cpu use wise when using a spdif port. Obviously the 5.1 processing is done by the receiver/amp but it would seem to me that the cpu would be needed more in this scenario - correct? Also, is there any difference if one was to use the spdif output of the audigy rather than the spdif of the MB? TIA.

The spdif output is just a tap from the sound card before the signals get to the DA converter surround splitter and amplifier and stuff. None of the these (DA converter and amplifiers and stuff) are even controlled by your CPU, so you'll see zero impact on cpu either way. A sound card these days consists of what is needed to produce sound of the right format (surround) without any intervention by system cpu. ---Asgeir--- Byron Forbes wrote:

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> Will be upgrading soon and it occured to me that I have no idea whether > there would be any extra loading on the cpu if I used a set of digital > speakers via an spdif output of a motherboard instead of the speaker outputs > of an Audigy with analogue speakers. Obviously running via the speaker > outputs of an Audigy is getting the Audigy to take as much sound processing > away from the cpu as possible. > > Does anyone know what the situation is cpu use wise when using a spdif > port. Obviously the 5.1 processing is done by the receiver/amp but it would > seem to me that the cpu would be needed more in this scenario - correct? > > Also, is there any difference if one was to use the spdif output of the > audigy rather than the spdif of the MB? > > TIA. > >

I think it's running whether you use it or not, so I don't know that you would see a difference. It's just a blinking light :) I use the SPDIF output (optical) on my Home-Built HTPC (aka FrankenMedia). I have an OEM copy of MediaPC 2005 and it's better than I thought it would be. I just bought a Silverstone HTPC case from NewEgg and tossed my old P4 2.53Ghz MB, etc... into it and walla! HTPC. I bought the MediaPC Remote OEM from NewEgg for $37. I have about $400 invested in the whole thing :) When I built this new AMD-64/3500 system the old P4 was going to go to Server duty, but this came up instead. -Larry "Byron Forbes" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:41a88791$0$3595$[email hidden]... > Will be upgrading soon and it occured to me that I have no ideawhether > there would be any extra loading on the cpu if I used a set of digital > speakers via an spdif output of a motherboard instead of the speakeroutputs > of an Audigy with analogue speakers. Obviously running via the speaker > outputs of an Audigy is getting the Audigy to take as much soundprocessing > away from the cpu as possible. > > Does anyone know what the situation is cpu use wise when using a spdif > port. Obviously the 5.1 processing is done by the receiver/amp but itwould > seem to me that the cpu would be needed more in this scenario - correct? > > Also, is there any difference if one was to use the spdif output ofthe > audigy rather than the spdif of the MB? > > TIA. > >

Well, some of them are :) Most on-board sound systems are CPU/Software based and can be quite taxing to FPS in games, though for music they are generally fine. That's what I'm using in my home-built HTPC. -Larry "Asgeir Nesoen" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:coensf$5rc$[email hidden]...

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> The spdif output is just a tap from the sound card before the signals > get to the DA converter surround splitter and amplifier and stuff. > > None of the these (DA converter and amplifiers and stuff) are even > controlled by your CPU, so you'll see zero impact on cpu either way. > > A sound card these days consists of what is needed to produce sound of > the right format (surround) without any intervention by system cpu. > > ---Asgeir---

Unless you have a soundcard/onboard sound that can do realtime Dolby Digital Encoding you wont get surround sound from games out of the SPDIF port, all you will get is Stereo PCM. nForce2 chipsets used to contain SoundStorm onboard sound that would carry out Real Time Dolby Digital Encoding - it would take the mutlichanel sound that the game was generating (either on the processor - see Doom 3) or on the sound card, and encode it into the AC3 stream that a seperate dolby digital decoder (such as a home theatre amplifier) could then read just from that 1 single cable. If you do not have a card capable of Real Time Dolby Digital Encoding (and at present there arent any creative cards that do it aimed at consumers - the Intel 915 and 925 chipsets contain HDA which will do it, as will the nForce2 Sound Storm) then you will only get 2 chanel stereo PCM out of the SPDIF. For multichanel to work correctly from non DDE cards you have to connect up all 6 or 8 analogue RCA ports from your sound card to your amp. pez "Larry" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:gANsd.472$ln.39@lakeread06...

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> I think it's running whether you use it or not, so I don't know that you > would see a difference. > > It's just a blinking light :) > > I use the SPDIF output (optical) on my Home-Built HTPC (aka FrankenMedia). > I have an OEM copy of MediaPC 2005 and it's better than I thought it would > be. I just bought a Silverstone HTPC case from NewEgg and tossed my old

P4

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> 2.53Ghz MB, etc... into it and walla! HTPC. > > I bought the MediaPC Remote OEM from NewEgg for $37. > > I have about $400 invested in the whole thing :) > > When I built this new AMD-64/3500 system the old P4 was going to go to > Server duty, but this came up instead. > > -Larry > > "Byron Forbes" <[email hidden]> wrote in message >

news:41a88791$0$3595$[email hidden]...

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> > Will be upgrading soon and it occured to me that I have no idea > whether > > there would be any extra loading on the cpu if I used a set of digital > > speakers via an spdif output of a motherboard instead of the speaker > outputs > > of an Audigy with analogue speakers. Obviously running via the speaker > > outputs of an Audigy is getting the Audigy to take as much sound > processing > > away from the cpu as possible. > > > > Does anyone know what the situation is cpu use wise when using a

spdif

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> > port. Obviously the 5.1 processing is done by the receiver/amp but it > would > > seem to me that the cpu would be needed more in this scenario - correct? > > > > Also, is there any difference if one was to use the spdif output of > the > > audigy rather than the spdif of the MB? > > > > TIA. > > > > > >

Forgot to mention that for Films its a different kettle of fish. you do not require Dolby Digital Encoding (aka Dolby Digital Live) to get a digital multichanel signal (AC3) out of your SPDIF - the movie contains this data on it, and just passes it out of the SPDIF if you select it. pez "Pez" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:41b792b8$0$50900$[email hidden]... > Unless you have a soundcard/onboard sound that can do realtime DolbyDigital > Encoding you wont get surround sound from games out of the SPDIF port, all > you will get is Stereo PCM. nForce2 chipsets used to contain SoundStorm > onboard sound that would carry out Real Time Dolby Digital Encoding - it > would take the mutlichanel sound that the game was generating (either onthe

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> processor - see Doom 3) or on the sound card, and encode it into the AC3 > stream that a seperate dolby digital decoder (such as a home theatre > amplifier) could then read just from that 1 single cable. > > If you do not have a card capable of Real Time Dolby Digital Encoding (and > at present there arent any creative cards that do it aimed at consumers - > the Intel 915 and 925 chipsets contain HDA which will do it, as will the > nForce2 Sound Storm) then you will only get 2 chanel stereo PCM out of the > SPDIF. > > For multichanel to work correctly from non DDE cards you have to connect

up > all 6 or 8 analogue RCA ports from your sound card to your amp. > > pez > > > "Larry" <[email hidden]> wrote in messagenews:gANsd.472$ln.39@lakeread06... > > I think it's running whether you use it or not, so I don't know that you > > would see a difference. > > > > It's just a blinking light :) > > > > I use the SPDIF output (optical) on my Home-Built HTPC (akaFrankenMedia). > > I have an OEM copy of MediaPC 2005 and it's better than I thought itwould

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> > be. I just bought a Silverstone HTPC case from NewEgg and tossed my old > P4 > > 2.53Ghz MB, etc... into it and walla! HTPC. > > > > I bought the MediaPC Remote OEM from NewEgg for $37. > > > > I have about $400 invested in the whole thing :) > > > > When I built this new AMD-64/3500 system the old P4 was going to go to > > Server duty, but this came up instead. > > > > -Larry > > > > "Byron Forbes" <[email hidden]> wrote in message > > >

news:41a88791$0$3595$[email hidden]...

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> > > Will be upgrading soon and it occured to me that I have no idea > > whether > > > there would be any extra loading on the cpu if I used a set of digital > > > speakers via an spdif output of a motherboard instead of the speaker > > outputs > > > of an Audigy with analogue speakers. Obviously running via the speaker > > > outputs of an Audigy is getting the Audigy to take as much sound > > processing > > > away from the cpu as possible. > > > > > > Does anyone know what the situation is cpu use wise when using a > spdif > > > port. Obviously the 5.1 processing is done by the receiver/amp but it > > would > > > seem to me that the cpu would be needed more in this scenario -

correct? > > > > > > Also, is there any difference if one was to use the spdif outputof

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> > the > > > audigy rather than the spdif of the MB? > > > > > > TIA. > > > > > > > > > > > >

Thanks buddy. That's pretty much straightened me out on that one. :) "Pez" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:41b792b8$0$50900$[email hidden]... > Unless you have a soundcard/onboard sound that can do realtime DolbyDigital > Encoding you wont get surround sound from games out of the SPDIF port, all > you will get is Stereo PCM. nForce2 chipsets used to contain SoundStorm > onboard sound that would carry out Real Time Dolby Digital Encoding - it > would take the mutlichanel sound that the game was generating (either onthe

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> processor - see Doom 3) or on the sound card, and encode it into the AC3 > stream that a seperate dolby digital decoder (such as a home theatre > amplifier) could then read just from that 1 single cable. > > If you do not have a card capable of Real Time Dolby Digital Encoding (and > at present there arent any creative cards that do it aimed at consumers - > the Intel 915 and 925 chipsets contain HDA which will do it, as will the > nForce2 Sound Storm) then you will only get 2 chanel stereo PCM out of the > SPDIF. > > For multichanel to work correctly from non DDE cards you have to connect

up > all 6 or 8 analogue RCA ports from your sound card to your amp. > > pez > > > "Larry" <[email hidden]> wrote in messagenews:gANsd.472$ln.39@lakeread06... > > I think it's running whether you use it or not, so I don't know that you > > would see a difference. > > > > It's just a blinking light :) > > > > I use the SPDIF output (optical) on my Home-Built HTPC (akaFrankenMedia). > > I have an OEM copy of MediaPC 2005 and it's better than I thought itwould

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> > be. I just bought a Silverstone HTPC case from NewEgg and tossed my old > P4 > > 2.53Ghz MB, etc... into it and walla! HTPC. > > > > I bought the MediaPC Remote OEM from NewEgg for $37. > > > > I have about $400 invested in the whole thing :) > > > > When I built this new AMD-64/3500 system the old P4 was going to go to > > Server duty, but this came up instead. > > > > -Larry > > > > "Byron Forbes" <[email hidden]> wrote in message > > >

news:41a88791$0$3595$[email hidden]...

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> > > Will be upgrading soon and it occured to me that I have no idea > > whether > > > there would be any extra loading on the cpu if I used a set of digital > > > speakers via an spdif output of a motherboard instead of the speaker > > outputs > > > of an Audigy with analogue speakers. Obviously running via the speaker > > > outputs of an Audigy is getting the Audigy to take as much sound > > processing > > > away from the cpu as possible. > > > > > > Does anyone know what the situation is cpu use wise when using a > spdif > > > port. Obviously the 5.1 processing is done by the receiver/amp but it > > would > > > seem to me that the cpu would be needed more in this scenario -

correct? > > > > > > Also, is there any difference if one was to use the spdif outputof

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> > the > > > audigy rather than the spdif of the MB? > > > > > > TIA. > > > > > > > > > > > >

Q for Pez: If the sound card (or, in my case, the onboard A7N8X Soundstorm) can handle it, do you get Dolby/surround out of the TosLINK optical cable? "Pez" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:41b792b8$0$50900$[email hidden]... > Unless you have a soundcard/onboard sound that can do realtime DolbyDigital > Encoding you wont get surround sound from games out of the SPDIF port, all > you will get is Stereo PCM. nForce2 chipsets used to contain SoundStorm > onboard sound that would carry out Real Time Dolby Digital Encoding - it > would take the mutlichanel sound that the game was generating (either onthe

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> processor - see Doom 3) or on the sound card, and encode it into the AC3 > stream that a seperate dolby digital decoder (such as a home theatre > amplifier) could then read just from that 1 single cable. > > If you do not have a card capable of Real Time Dolby Digital Encoding (and > at present there arent any creative cards that do it aimed at consumers - > the Intel 915 and 925 chipsets contain HDA which will do it, as will the > nForce2 Sound Storm) then you will only get 2 chanel stereo PCM out of the > SPDIF. > > For multichanel to work correctly from non DDE cards you have to connect

up > all 6 or 8 analogue RCA ports from your sound card to your amp. > > pez > > > "Larry" <[email hidden]> wrote in messagenews:gANsd.472$ln.39@lakeread06... > > I think it's running whether you use it or not, so I don't know that you > > would see a difference. > > > > It's just a blinking light :) > > > > I use the SPDIF output (optical) on my Home-Built HTPC (akaFrankenMedia). > > I have an OEM copy of MediaPC 2005 and it's better than I thought itwould

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> > be. I just bought a Silverstone HTPC case from NewEgg and tossed my old > P4 > > 2.53Ghz MB, etc... into it and walla! HTPC. > > > > I bought the MediaPC Remote OEM from NewEgg for $37. > > > > I have about $400 invested in the whole thing :) > > > > When I built this new AMD-64/3500 system the old P4 was going to go to > > Server duty, but this came up instead. > > > > -Larry > > > > "Byron Forbes" <[email hidden]> wrote in message > > >

news:41a88791$0$3595$[email hidden]...

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> > > Will be upgrading soon and it occured to me that I have no idea > > whether > > > there would be any extra loading on the cpu if I used a set of digital > > > speakers via an spdif output of a motherboard instead of the speaker > > outputs > > > of an Audigy with analogue speakers. Obviously running via the speaker > > > outputs of an Audigy is getting the Audigy to take as much sound > > processing > > > away from the cpu as possible. > > > > > > Does anyone know what the situation is cpu use wise when using a > spdif > > > port. Obviously the 5.1 processing is done by the receiver/amp but it > > would > > > seem to me that the cpu would be needed more in this scenario -

correct? > > > > > > Also, is there any difference if one was to use the spdif outputof

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> > the > > > audigy rather than the spdif of the MB? > > > > > > TIA. > > > > > > > > > > > >

"Steve Smith" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:JAYtd.44890$[email hidden]... > Q for Pez: > > If the sound card (or, in my case, the onboard A7N8X Soundstorm) canhandle > it, do you get Dolby/surround out of the TosLINK optical cable? > If I got the gist of his posts correctly, you only get surround sound via s/pdif with a card that can take a surround source from a game, say, and then convert it to a DD Surround signal ie no card owned by the typical person. The s/pdif port simply passes a DD signal onto a receiver from, say, a DVD movie. So to answer your question, with DVDs you will, with games you wont. > "Pez" <[email hidden]> wrote in message > news:41b792b8$0$50900$[email hidden]... > > Unless you have a soundcard/onboard sound that can do realtime Dolby > Digital > > Encoding you wont get surround sound from games out of the SPDIF port,all

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> > you will get is Stereo PCM. nForce2 chipsets used to contain SoundStorm > > onboard sound that would carry out Real Time Dolby Digital Encoding - it > > would take the mutlichanel sound that the game was generating (either on > the > > processor - see Doom 3) or on the sound card, and encode it into the AC3 > > stream that a seperate dolby digital decoder (such as a home theatre > > amplifier) could then read just from that 1 single cable. > > > > If you do not have a card capable of Real Time Dolby Digital Encoding

(and > > at present there arent any creative cards that do it aimed atconsumers - > > the Intel 915 and 925 chipsets contain HDA which will do it, as will the > > nForce2 Sound Storm) then you will only get 2 chanel stereo PCM out ofthe

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> > SPDIF. > > > > For multichanel to work correctly from non DDE cards you have to connect > up > > all 6 or 8 analogue RCA ports from your sound card to your amp. > > > > pez > > > > > > "Larry" <[email hidden]> wrote in message > news:gANsd.472$ln.39@lakeread06... > > > I think it's running whether you use it or not, so I don't know that

you

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> > > would see a difference. > > > > > > It's just a blinking light :) > > > > > > I use the SPDIF output (optical) on my Home-Built HTPC (aka > FrankenMedia). > > > I have an OEM copy of MediaPC 2005 and it's better than I thought it > would > > > be. I just bought a Silverstone HTPC case from NewEgg and tossed my

old

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> > P4 > > > 2.53Ghz MB, etc... into it and walla! HTPC. > > > > > > I bought the MediaPC Remote OEM from NewEgg for $37. > > > > > > I have about $400 invested in the whole thing :) > > > > > > When I built this new AMD-64/3500 system the old P4 was going to go to > > > Server duty, but this came up instead. > > > > > > -Larry > > > > > > "Byron Forbes" <[email hidden]> wrote in message > > > > > >

news:41a88791$0$3595$[email hidden]... > > > > Will be upgrading soon and it occured to me that I have no idea > > > whether > > > > there would be any extra loading on the cpu if I used a set ofdigital > > > > speakers via an spdif output of a motherboard instead of the speaker > > > outputs > > > > of an Audigy with analogue speakers. Obviously running via thespeaker

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> > > > outputs of an Audigy is getting the Audigy to take as much sound > > > processing > > > > away from the cpu as possible. > > > > > > > > Does anyone know what the situation is cpu use wise when using a > > spdif > > > > port. Obviously the 5.1 processing is done by the receiver/amp but

it

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> > > would > > > > seem to me that the cpu would be needed more in this scenario - > correct? > > > > > > > > Also, is there any difference if one was to use the spdif output > of > > > the > > > > audigy rather than the spdif of the MB? > > > > > > > > TIA. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >

Soundstorm can do real time Dolby Digital Encoding (as far as im aware - my mates Soundstorm based PC can), and will take multichannel sound from games and convert it into an AC3 stream that a seperate Dolby Digital amp can then decode. Nice and easy, and only 1 cable :) best test for it is probably Doom3, set it up using 5.1 sound and see if you get accurate spacial movement from the characters in the game via the SPDIF. I used to think that any sound card/mobo that had an SPDIF could give me digital multichannel sound from 1 cable. It took a lot of digging and a few emails to various companies to find out that nobody apart from nVidia (through SoundStorm) and Intel (new Hi Definition Audio - HDA on the 915 and 925 mobos) actually have the hardware to do it! pez "Byron Forbes" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:41b83f16$0$31700$[email hidden]...

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> > "Steve Smith" <[email hidden]> wrote in message > news:JAYtd.44890$[email hidden]... > > Q for Pez: > > > > If the sound card (or, in my case, the onboard A7N8X Soundstorm) can > handle > > it, do you get Dolby/surround out of the TosLINK optical cable? > > > > If I got the gist of his posts correctly, you only get surround sound > via s/pdif with a card that can take a surround source from a game, say,

and > then convert it to a DD Surround signal ie no card owned by the typical > person. The s/pdif port simply passes a DD signal onto a receiver from,say,

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> a DVD movie. > > So to answer your question, with DVDs you will, with games you wont. > > > > "Pez" <[email hidden]> wrote in message > > news:41b792b8$0$50900$[email hidden]... > > > Unless you have a soundcard/onboard sound that can do realtime Dolby > > Digital > > > Encoding you wont get surround sound from games out of the SPDIF port, > all > > > you will get is Stereo PCM. nForce2 chipsets used to contain

SoundStorm > > > onboard sound that would carry out Real Time Dolby Digital Encoding -it > > > would take the mutlichanel sound that the game was generating (eitheron > > the > > > processor - see Doom 3) or on the sound card, and encode it into theAC3

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> > > stream that a seperate dolby digital decoder (such as a home theatre > > > amplifier) could then read just from that 1 single cable. > > > > > > If you do not have a card capable of Real Time Dolby Digital Encoding > (and > > > at present there arent any creative cards that do it aimed at > consumers - > > > the Intel 915 and 925 chipsets contain HDA which will do it, as will

the > > > nForce2 Sound Storm) then you will only get 2 chanel stereo PCM out of > the > > > SPDIF. > > > > > > For multichanel to work correctly from non DDE cards you have toconnect

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> > up > > > all 6 or 8 analogue RCA ports from your sound card to your amp. > > > > > > pez > > > > > > > > > "Larry" <[email hidden]> wrote in message > > news:gANsd.472$ln.39@lakeread06... > > > > I think it's running whether you use it or not, so I don't know that > you > > > > would see a difference. > > > > > > > > It's just a blinking light :) > > > > > > > > I use the SPDIF output (optical) on my Home-Built HTPC (aka > > FrankenMedia). > > > > I have an OEM copy of MediaPC 2005 and it's better than I thought it > > would > > > > be. I just bought a Silverstone HTPC case from NewEgg and tossed my > old > > > P4 > > > > 2.53Ghz MB, etc... into it and walla! HTPC. > > > > > > > > I bought the MediaPC Remote OEM from NewEgg for $37. > > > > > > > > I have about $400 invested in the whole thing :) > > > > > > > > When I built this new AMD-64/3500 system the old P4 was going to go

to

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> > > > Server duty, but this came up instead. > > > > > > > > -Larry > > > > > > > > "Byron Forbes" <[email hidden]> wrote in message > > > > > > > > > >

news:41a88791$0$3595$[email hidden]... > > > > > Will be upgrading soon and it occured to me that I have noidea > > > > whether > > > > > there would be any extra loading on the cpu if I used a set of > digital > > > > > speakers via an spdif output of a motherboard instead of thespeaker

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> > > > outputs > > > > > of an Audigy with analogue speakers. Obviously running via the > speaker > > > > > outputs of an Audigy is getting the Audigy to take as much sound > > > > processing > > > > > away from the cpu as possible. > > > > > > > > > > Does anyone know what the situation is cpu use wise when using

a

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> > > spdif > > > > > port. Obviously the 5.1 processing is done by the receiver/amp but > it > > > > would > > > > > seem to me that the cpu would be needed more in this scenario - > > correct? > > > > > > > > > > Also, is there any difference if one was to use the spdif

output

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> > of > > > > the > > > > > audigy rather than the spdif of the MB? > > > > > > > > > > TIA. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >

Sorry for not addressing the TOSLINK. on a soundstorm based PC (if its configured correctly) - YES! you will get multichannel digital out (AC3 - Dolby Digital) via TOSLINK :) pez "Pez" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:41b87ee3$0$50863$[email hidden]... > Soundstorm can do real time Dolby Digital Encoding (as far as im aware -my > mates Soundstorm based PC can), and will take multichannel sound fromgames > and convert it into an AC3 stream that a seperate Dolby Digital amp canthen > decode. Nice and easy, and only 1 cable :) > > best test for it is probably Doom3, set it up using 5.1 sound and see ifyou > get accurate spacial movement from the characters in the game via theSPDIF. > > I used to think that any sound card/mobo that had an SPDIF could give me > digital multichannel sound from 1 cable. It took a lot of digging and afew > emails to various companies to find out that nobody apart from nVidia > (through SoundStorm) and Intel (new Hi Definition Audio - HDA on the 915and > 925 mobos) actually have the hardware to do it! > > pez > > "Byron Forbes" <[email hidden]> wrote in message >news:41b83f16$0$31700$[email hidden]...

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> > > > "Steve Smith" <[email hidden]> wrote in message > > news:JAYtd.44890$[email hidden]... > > > Q for Pez: > > > > > > If the sound card (or, in my case, the onboard A7N8X Soundstorm) can > > handle > > > it, do you get Dolby/surround out of the TosLINK optical cable? > > > > > > > If I got the gist of his posts correctly, you only get surround

sound

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> > via s/pdif with a card that can take a surround source from a game, say, > and > > then convert it to a DD Surround signal ie no card owned by the typical > > person. The s/pdif port simply passes a DD signal onto a receiver from, > say, > > a DVD movie. > > > > So to answer your question, with DVDs you will, with games you wont. > > > > > > > "Pez" <[email hidden]> wrote in message > > > news:41b792b8$0$50900$[email hidden]... > > > > Unless you have a soundcard/onboard sound that can do realtime Dolby > > > Digital > > > > Encoding you wont get surround sound from games out of the SPDIF

port, > > all > > > > you will get is Stereo PCM. nForce2 chipsets used to contain > SoundStorm > > > > onboard sound that would carry out Real Time Dolby DigitalEncoding - > it > > > > would take the mutlichanel sound that the game was generating(either

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> on > > > the > > > > processor - see Doom 3) or on the sound card, and encode it into the > AC3 > > > > stream that a seperate dolby digital decoder (such as a home theatre > > > > amplifier) could then read just from that 1 single cable. > > > > > > > > If you do not have a card capable of Real Time Dolby Digital

Encoding > > (and > > > > at present there arent any creative cards that do it aimed at > > consumers - > > > > the Intel 915 and 925 chipsets contain HDA which will do it, as will > the > > > > nForce2 Sound Storm) then you will only get 2 chanel stereo PCM outof

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> > the > > > > SPDIF. > > > > > > > > For multichanel to work correctly from non DDE cards you have to > connect > > > up > > > > all 6 or 8 analogue RCA ports from your sound card to your amp. > > > > > > > > pez > > > > > > > > > > > > "Larry" <[email hidden]> wrote in message > > > news:gANsd.472$ln.39@lakeread06... > > > > > I think it's running whether you use it or not, so I don't know

that

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> > you > > > > > would see a difference. > > > > > > > > > > It's just a blinking light :) > > > > > > > > > > I use the SPDIF output (optical) on my Home-Built HTPC (aka > > > FrankenMedia). > > > > > I have an OEM copy of MediaPC 2005 and it's better than I thought

it > > > would > > > > > be. I just bought a Silverstone HTPC case from NewEgg and tossedmy

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> > old > > > > P4 > > > > > 2.53Ghz MB, etc... into it and walla! HTPC. > > > > > > > > > > I bought the MediaPC Remote OEM from NewEgg for $37. > > > > > > > > > > I have about $400 invested in the whole thing :) > > > > > > > > > > When I built this new AMD-64/3500 system the old P4 was going to

go

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> to > > > > > Server duty, but this came up instead. > > > > > > > > > > -Larry > > > > > > > > > > "Byron Forbes" <[email hidden]> wrote in message > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >

news:41a88791$0$3595$[email hidden]...

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> > > > > > Will be upgrading soon and it occured to me that I have no > idea > > > > > whether > > > > > > there would be any extra loading on the cpu if I used a set of > > digital > > > > > > speakers via an spdif output of a motherboard instead of the > speaker > > > > > outputs > > > > > > of an Audigy with analogue speakers. Obviously running via the > > speaker > > > > > > outputs of an Audigy is getting the Audigy to take as much sound > > > > > processing > > > > > > away from the cpu as possible. > > > > > > > > > > > > Does anyone know what the situation is cpu use wise when

using > a > > > > spdif > > > > > > port. Obviously the 5.1 processing is done by the receiver/ampbut

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> > it > > > > > would > > > > > > seem to me that the cpu would be needed more in this scenario - > > > correct? > > > > > > > > > > > > Also, is there any difference if one was to use the spdif > output > > > of > > > > > the > > > > > > audigy rather than the spdif of the MB? > > > > > > > > > > > > TIA. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >

Thanks, Pez. That's what I thought...or, more precisely, hoped. I bought 3 A7N8X mobos in part because I like everything I've heard about...and from..Soundstorm. But these are my last 3 homebuilt 'putas. They are finicky to build, take forever to tweak, and wind up costing more than a storebought by the time I'm thru swapping parts in and out to find the right combo. I bought a Falcon NW Fragbox Pro (my first storebought in ten years) and it worked great right outta the box. SFF is the way to go. And anyway, Soundstorm is gone, just another Betamax on the trash heap of history.... "Pez" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:41b88c9f$0$50901$[email hidden]...

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> Sorry for not addressing the TOSLINK. > > on a soundstorm based PC (if its configured correctly) - YES! you will get > multichannel digital out (AC3 - Dolby Digital) via TOSLINK :) > > pez > > "Pez" <[email hidden]> wrote in message > news:41b87ee3$0$50863$[email hidden]... > > Soundstorm can do real time Dolby Digital Encoding (as far as im aware - > my > > mates Soundstorm based PC can), and will take multichannel sound from > games > > and convert it into an AC3 stream that a seperate Dolby Digital amp can > then > > decode. Nice and easy, and only 1 cable :) > > > > best test for it is probably Doom3, set it up using 5.1 sound and see if > you > > get accurate spacial movement from the characters in the game via the > SPDIF. > > > > I used to think that any sound card/mobo that had an SPDIF could give me > > digital multichannel sound from 1 cable. It took a lot of digging and a > few > > emails to various companies to find out that nobody apart from nVidia > > (through SoundStorm) and Intel (new Hi Definition Audio - HDA on the 915 > and > > 925 mobos) actually have the hardware to do it! > > > > pez > > > > "Byron Forbes" <[email hidden]> wrote in message > > >

news:41b83f16$0$31700$[email hidden]...

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> > > > > > "Steve Smith" <[email hidden]> wrote in message > > > news:JAYtd.44890$[email hidden]... > > > > Q for Pez: > > > > > > > > If the sound card (or, in my case, the onboard A7N8X Soundstorm) can > > > handle > > > > it, do you get Dolby/surround out of the TosLINK optical cable? > > > > > > > > > > If I got the gist of his posts correctly, you only get surround > sound > > > via s/pdif with a card that can take a surround source from a game,

say, > > and > > > then convert it to a DD Surround signal ie no card owned by thetypical > > > person. The s/pdif port simply passes a DD signal onto a receiverfrom, > > say, > > > a DVD movie. > > > > > > So to answer your question, with DVDs you will, with games youwont. > > > > > > > > > > "Pez" <[email hidden]> wrote in message > > > > news:41b792b8$0$50900$[email hidden]... > > > > > Unless you have a soundcard/onboard sound that can do realtimeDolby

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> > > > Digital > > > > > Encoding you wont get surround sound from games out of the SPDIF > port, > > > all > > > > > you will get is Stereo PCM. nForce2 chipsets used to contain > > SoundStorm > > > > > onboard sound that would carry out Real Time Dolby Digital > Encoding - > > it > > > > > would take the mutlichanel sound that the game was generating > (either > > on > > > > the > > > > > processor - see Doom 3) or on the sound card, and encode it into

the > > AC3 > > > > > stream that a seperate dolby digital decoder (such as a hometheatre

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> > > > > amplifier) could then read just from that 1 single cable. > > > > > > > > > > If you do not have a card capable of Real Time Dolby Digital > Encoding > > > (and > > > > > at present there arent any creative cards that do it aimed at > > > consumers - > > > > > the Intel 915 and 925 chipsets contain HDA which will do it, as

will > > the > > > > > nForce2 Sound Storm) then you will only get 2 chanel stereo PCMout

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> of > > > the > > > > > SPDIF. > > > > > > > > > > For multichanel to work correctly from non DDE cards you have to > > connect > > > > up > > > > > all 6 or 8 analogue RCA ports from your sound card to your amp. > > > > > > > > > > pez > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > "Larry" <[email hidden]> wrote in message > > > > news:gANsd.472$ln.39@lakeread06... > > > > > > I think it's running whether you use it or not, so I don't know > that > > > you > > > > > > would see a difference. > > > > > > > > > > > > It's just a blinking light :) > > > > > > > > > > > > I use the SPDIF output (optical) on my Home-Built HTPC (aka > > > > FrankenMedia). > > > > > > I have an OEM copy of MediaPC 2005 and it's better than I

thought > it > > > > would > > > > > > be. I just bought a Silverstone HTPC case from NewEgg andtossed

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> my > > > old > > > > > P4 > > > > > > 2.53Ghz MB, etc... into it and walla! HTPC. > > > > > > > > > > > > I bought the MediaPC Remote OEM from NewEgg for $37. > > > > > > > > > > > > I have about $400 invested in the whole thing :) > > > > > > > > > > > > When I built this new AMD-64/3500 system the old P4 was going to > go > > to > > > > > > Server duty, but this came up instead. > > > > > > > > > > > > -Larry > > > > > > > > > > > > "Byron Forbes" <[email hidden]> wrote in message > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >

news:41a88791$0$3595$[email hidden]...

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> > > > > > > Will be upgrading soon and it occured to me that I have no > > idea > > > > > > whether > > > > > > > there would be any extra loading on the cpu if I used a set of > > > digital > > > > > > > speakers via an spdif output of a motherboard instead of the > > speaker > > > > > > outputs > > > > > > > of an Audigy with analogue speakers. Obviously running via the > > > speaker > > > > > > > outputs of an Audigy is getting the Audigy to take as much

sound

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> > > > > > processing > > > > > > > away from the cpu as possible. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Does anyone know what the situation is cpu use wise when > using > > a > > > > > spdif > > > > > > > port. Obviously the 5.1 processing is done by the receiver/amp > but > > > it > > > > > > would > > > > > > > seem to me that the cpu would be needed more in this

scenario -

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> > > > correct? > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Also, is there any difference if one was to use the spdif > > output > > > > of > > > > > > the > > > > > > > audigy rather than the spdif of the MB? > > > > > > > > > > > > > > TIA. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >

> SFF is the way to go. Absolutely, and Shuttle XPCs are the greatest all round PCs money can buy IMO. The engineering in them is far ahead of anything else out there. > Soundstorm is gone, just another Betamax on the trash heap of history.... Huh? Soundstorm lives on through nForce4. etc. Whilst I'm not a fan of nVidia's current VGA cards, their AMD chipsets are excellent and have served me very well over the last couple of years. Couldn't say the same for my SBLive when I owned it....

no soundstorm on nForce 4 :( just plain old AC97. pez "Damien Smith" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]... > > SFF is the way to go. > > Absolutely, and Shuttle XPCs are the greatest all round PCs money can buy > IMO. The engineering in them is far ahead of anything else out there. > > > Soundstorm is gone, just another Betamax on the trash heap ofhistory.... > > Huh? Soundstorm lives on through nForce4. etc. Whilst I'm not a fan of > nVidia's current VGA cards, their AMD chipsets are excellent and haveserved > me very well over the last couple of years. Couldn't say the same for my > SBLive when I owned it.... > >

Good news (from gameguru: http://gameguru.box.sk/) NVIDIA to Create SoundStorm 2 - NVIDIA CEO Jen-Hsun Huang addressed questions about the company's plans for a possible second spin of its popular but ill-fated SoundStorm audio solution. Apparently, a reprise of SoundStorm will happen. Huang told the assembled press types, "We're gonna build SoundStorm 2. It's gonna be awesome." He was less clear on what form the next SoundStorm would take, saying that NVIDIA was still trying to figure out how to deliver SoundStorm as a product. Huang said, cryptically, that the new SoundStorm "will come in a way that you won't expect." I hope that means a sound card "form factor". "Pez" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:41b9cb83$0$29757$[email hidden]...

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> no soundstorm on nForce 4 :( just plain old AC97. > > pez > > "Damien Smith" <[email hidden]> wrote in message > news:[email hidden]... > > > SFF is the way to go. > > > > Absolutely, and Shuttle XPCs are the greatest all round PCs money can

buy

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> > IMO. The engineering in them is far ahead of anything else out there. > > > > > Soundstorm is gone, just another Betamax on the trash heap of > history.... > > > > Huh? Soundstorm lives on through nForce4. etc. Whilst I'm not a fan of > > nVidia's current VGA cards, their AMD chipsets are excellent and have > served > > me very well over the last couple of years. Couldn't say the same for

my > > SBLive when I owned it.... > > > > > >