HTPC sound question

[gplracer]

I am building a HTPC and a somehow messed up and ordered a mother board with no optical or coxial sound going out. My receiver does not do HDMI so I need this. Should I RMA the motherboard or should I just get a sound card. It has been so long that i do not know what sound card to get. Thanks!!!

 

[gplracer]

Would this card be basically the same sound quality since i am using the optical? http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Rocketfi...&skuId=9180405

 

[schmunk]

I didn't see the MB mentioned. I have ran 3 different HTPC builds, and my first ones used optical out for sound. The motherboards had 3 pin SPDIF headers on them, I wonder if yours does too. The first was a biostar P-478 board and I wrote to the compay and bought a pci SPDIF bracket for $15 that had the Optical out port and also the SPDIF composite out on the metal bracket, and then one cable that connects to the 3pin header on the board. I belive the pin out it is data +, data- and ground. This is very common on MBs and any of the expansion SPDIF brackets should work.

 

[gplracer]

That is a good question. I have this motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128357

 

[schmunk]

Yes it has it! Look at the very bottom of the board towards the back plane. It is marked SPDIF and is black rectangular with 3 pins sticking out. Any back plate SPDIF moduel will work, heres a link to one for $15
http://www.bzsale.com/product/Gigabyte-SPDIF-Audio-Out-Bracket-Toslink-optical-cable_P11041.html

http://www.bzsale.com/product/Gigabyte-SPDIF-RCA-Out-Cable-Bracket-12CR1-1SPOUT-12_P9396.html

by the way, the second link has a different plug, but only 3 pins are needed, the other half can overhang the board, as they are an extra ground, and a non used pin and a missing pin. Here is the pin out on that

http://www.gigabyte.com/MicroSite/12/4-eng.jpg
or you could just get the 3 pin type and make it easy on yourself

 

[gplracer]

wow makes me wonder if i have one somewhere from an older motherboard.

 

[gplracer]

Schmunk thanks for the tip. Would you believe i actually have one for coaxial cable!

 

[schmunk]

If you mean the RCA type connector digital SPDIF output, there is nothing wrong with that. Same quality as optical, it uses a digital signal, the only disadvantage is it uses a ground connection too and sometimes you can introduce a hum into your audio due to the grounding of audio connectors.