Onboard audio for HTPC

[amheck]

Hi group,

Planning my HTPC and I had pretty much decided on using the digital out, provided on the nForce2 MB's for the auto that will be connected into my stereo receiver.

I was just reading about 2 new Intel chipsets which have HD Audio capability. I'm way over my head here, so I was hoping someone who was familiar with the nForce audio and these new chipsets might be able to comment on the pro's and con's of each. Basicaly, I just want to be sure I can pass a Dolby Digital signal out from the MB to my receiver.

I'm not quite ready to purchase, so if I need to wait a month or two for these new chipsets, that'd be fine with me. Just trying to figure everything out a head of time.

Aaron

 

[Odeen]

Any sound solution with digital out can PASS DD from an existing source (such as a DVD) through itself.

Any sound solution with digital out can also output a stereo PCM stream. The stream is the equivalent of what you'd hear from your front speakers. It is, at minimum, 16 bit / 48khz, although some chips can output 96khz and / or 24 bit.

The advantage of the nForce Soundstorm sound chip is that it can CREATE (with some limitations) a 5.1 surround-sound Dolby Digital stream from interactive content (such as a video game). This is useless if you have just a stereo receiver, like you said you have. Also, whether stereo, 4.0 or 5.1, DirectSound3d apps are rendered and mixed in hardware, right on the chip, instead of relying on the host CPU.

The advantage of Intel Hi-Def audio is 24 / 96khz output. If your receiver understands 24/96, the sound quality will be better. However, the audio is rendered and mixed on the CPU, which results in a performance loss when multiple streams are playing, or 3d sound streams are rendered.

 

[amheck]

Odeen,

Thanks for the explanation.

I perhaps used the term "stereo" receiver a little loosly - actually I've got a nice $800 Home theater receiver that does all those fancy decoding formats. So.....to get the most out of it, the Soundstorm sounds like it's the way to go. As long as it sends it to the receiver, the receiver shoudl handle it appropriately.