Help me choose a motherboard please....

[CommGuru]

Hi all,

I'm looking to build a new conroe rig for for my HTPC but having problems deciding on a motherboard. The one requirement I have is that the onboard sound to support Dolby Digital Live. The ones that I can find that do indeed support it are the ~$250 models from Gigabyte and Asus. I don't see the need for a HTPC to have all those extra features and I'm hesitant to spend that kind of cash.

Can anyone recommend a conroe motherboard that has Dolby Digital Live and doesn't cost as much as the ones mentioned above? I've done some searching and from what I have found, while alot of the 965P chipset equipped boards have hidef audio onboard, they don't support the Dolby Digital Live and/or DTS Connect. The only one I am not sure about is the Intel DP965LT mother board. It lists having the SigmaTel STAC9227 audio chip onboard and when I looked up that chip, it can optionally support it but I aren't able to find any info/reviews to confirm that it's enabled on that particular board.

Thanks all, any info would be appreciated.

Mike

 

[CommGuru]

Ok, after doing some more looking around it seems that I will indeed have to break the bank if I want the high end sound after all. The Gigabyte DS6 looks like the one to get in my case but I sure wish there was an alternative. If anyone knows of one, please let me know.

Mike