• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Need nForce SoundStorm audio info!

B

bluemax

Diamond Member
Well, for me the PERFECT nForce2 mobo would fit the following criteria:

uATX; I'll build a small desktop. Larger and quieter than a Shuttle XPC but not a big ugly tower.
Soundstorm audio; If it doesn't have true nForce audio, it's not worth having!
DUAL VGA; multi-monitors right out of the box is a huge bonus!

The audio is 75% of the reason I'd be jumping on it (video the other 25%). The fact I get a fast, stable mobo is a nice bonus. Therefore, the first two points are more important... uATX and nForce audio. The video can be single-monitor if need be. In fact, I might need to jump down to the older nForce1 chipset just to get something small+sound.
😛

Any suggestions?
 
GRAAAH!!!! #$&$! :|
So far it seems almost all the micro-ATX boards out there go cheap on the nForce audio and use some other CODECS and stuff... unless I don't really understand nForce audio and am looking for the wrong thing.

Should the adverts actually SAY "nForce audio" or "soundstorm" to be sure I'm getting the nVidia audio solution?
This is critical to me, since the nForce audio solution includes ASIO support that I'm researching.

For example; this Biostar board says it has:
NVIDIA APU(Audio Processor Unit) Dolby® Digital Encoder + Realtek ALC650 6-Channel AC'97 CODEC

So is it true nForce audio or not?? :Q 🙁
 
as long as the southbridge is the MCP-T chip then it will have audio (soundstorm) built into it. the realtek codec i believe is used to convert the digital audio from the southbridge into analogue audio for analogue output, but it still uses the built in APU unless the southbridge is just MCP
 
cow123 is correct. The MCP-T has the integrated Nforce APU, but it needs a CODEC to output an analog signal and to control the ports. Pretty much all the Nforce2 board uses the Realtek codec for this. If you want to bypass the codec, and get a digital signal right from the APU, you need to use a Coax or Optical SPDIF connection.

Check out this list of NF2 motherboards from Nvidia...any board that has the MCP-T should have the Nforce sound. Also, Soundstorm is just a certification...very few NF2 boards have it. Actually..only two....the Abit NF7-s and the MSI something...the A7N8X Deluxe was dropped for some reason or another.

🙂

nForce2 motherboard list @ Nvidia

🙂

Edit:

Looks like the Biostar M7NCG or the Shuttle MN31N are your only choices...
 
Thanks very much for that tip!!
The last of my research (which is probably larger) is now finding out if the ASIO drivers are "up to snuff" and will actually run the pro-audio apps without crashing and providing decently-low latency.
 
Originally posted by: bluemax
Thanks very much for that tip!!
The last of my research (which is probably larger) is now finding out if the ASIO drivers are "up to snuff" and will actually run the pro-audio apps without crashing and providing decently-low latency.
Click to expand...

Sure. 🙂 Not sure on the ASIO drivers, but if you are using the APU for audio recording, you might want to go with a digital connection to avoid the Realtek Codec...

If you got the Biostar...Newegg has a SPDIF bracket for it that is like $8 shipped..


Edit: Here is the bracket. It adds a COAX and a optical port. 🙂
 
Originally posted by: Insane3D
Originally posted by: bluemax
Thanks very much for that tip!!
The last of my research (which is probably larger) is now finding out if the ASIO drivers are "up to snuff" and will actually run the pro-audio apps without crashing and providing decently-low latency.
Click to expand...

Sure. 🙂 Not sure on the ASIO drivers, but if you are using the APU for audio recording, you might want to go with a digital connection to avoid the Realtek Codec...

If you got the Biostar...Newegg has a SPDIF bracket for it that is like $8 shipped..
Click to expand...

Woo... tough choice.... I won't be doing any real pro recording but it COULD happen... So it's dual monitors on the Shuttle or SPDIF stuff on the Biostar... ARGH! :Q If the SPDIF stuff was available for the Shuttle I could have it all in one shot. 😀

EDIT: Hey... the Shuttle does have a SPDIF in/out header.... is that a good sign? 🙂
 
Originally posted by: bluemax
Originally posted by: Insane3D
Originally posted by: bluemax
Thanks very much for that tip!!
The last of my research (which is probably larger) is now finding out if the ASIO drivers are "up to snuff" and will actually run the pro-audio apps without crashing and providing decently-low latency.
Click to expand...

Sure. 🙂 Not sure on the ASIO drivers, but if you are using the APU for audio recording, you might want to go with a digital connection to avoid the Realtek Codec...

If you got the Biostar...Newegg has a SPDIF bracket for it that is like $8 shipped..
Click to expand...

Woo... tough choice.... I won't be doing any real pro recording but it COULD happen... So it's dual monitors on the Shuttle or SPDIF stuff on the Biostar... ARGH! :Q If the SPDIF stuff was available for the Shuttle I could have it all in one shot. 😀

EDIT: Hey... the Shuttle does have a SPDIF in/out header.... is that a good sign? 🙂
Click to expand...

Here's the thing...to my knowledge, Shuttle does not sell a SPDI/F bracket for any of their boards, but they do have the headers on the board.
rolleye.gif
😕

However, if you got the shuttle, and the Biostar bracket, you technically should be able to use it if you did a little research on the pin configuration of each, and matched up the pins to the correct wires. No guarantee's but it could be worth a shot. Or, maybe even call Shuttle and see what they say. I imagine they must use some sort of connector for their SFF systems. Maybe they could tell you if that is available seperately somehow, or what type of header you could use. It's worth a shot.

I modded the Biostar to work on my NF7-S so I could have a COAX out too. Haven't tested it out yet though...🙂
 
Sound like you sure know your boards!

Ugh... this still leaves me with the awful choice; dual monitor or optional SPDIF out. And it looked like only out, not in.
My speakers can't use digital out anyways, so I think I might benefit most from the Shuttle board, at least right away.

Though I must say, I think my wife would throttle me if my desk had THREE monitors on it! Two for me, one for the Dell. 🙁 Old 14" monitors or not, that's still a lot of real estate!
 
QUESTION:

What is the board that does the real professional reviews of sound cards, right down to timing and frequency stuff?
I know it in my head, but I can't remember the site name.... I don't think it's 3Dsoundsurge.com which is not as good.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top