PC Optical out

[Wingznut]

I'm planning on running my PC's audio out through a receiver and 5.1 setup. My current motherboard has an optical out... Would I notice any better quality (for gaming, music, and movies) with a sound card?

The chances of me spending the amount it would take to get an Audigy 2 platinum is pretty slim, so I'm considering the Gainward Hollywood@Home.

 

[AIWGuru]

Well, you haven't actually told us what kind of solution you're using right now but I'm going to go out on a limb and say NO except CPU usage during gaming.

 

[InlineFive]

Originally posted by: AIWGuru
Well, you haven't actually told us what kind of solution you're using right now but I'm going to go out on a limb and say NO except CPU usage during gaming.

...unless you have a motherboard with the nForce Soundstorm with S/PDIF. In that case you should use the onboard sound as it is better then an Audigy1. If you are a big audiophile though you might want to consider a Soundblaster Audigy².

-Por

 

[AIWGuru]

Originally posted by: PorBleemo

Originally posted by: AIWGuru
Well, you haven't actually told us what kind of solution you're using right now but I'm going to go out on a limb and say NO except CPU usage during gaming.

...unless you have a motherboard with the nForce Soundstorm with S/PDIF. In that case you should use the onboard sound as it is better then an Audigy1. If you are a big audiophile though you might want to consider a Soundblaster Audigy².

-Por

wingz only uses intel systems.

 

[InlineFive]

Originally posted by: AIWGuru

Originally posted by: PorBleemo

Originally posted by: AIWGuru

Well, you haven't actually told us what kind of solution you're using right now but I'm going to go out on a limb and say NO except CPU usage during gaming.

...unless you have a motherboard with the nForce Soundstorm with S/PDIF. In that case you should use the onboard sound as it is better then an Audigy1. If you are a big audiophile though you might want to consider a Soundblaster Audigy².



-Por

wingz only uses intel systems.

Argh. These new avatars are screwing me up. 😕

 

[Pariah]

No, you won't. The biggest difference would be in gaming, but even with an Audigy 2ZS Platinum, optical will limit you to stereo gaming which sort of makes the extra money wasted. Stick with the onboard.

 

[Wingznut]

Originally posted by: PorBleemo
Argh. These new avatars are screwing me up. 😕

I've been using the same avatar for 2.5 years now. 😛

Originally posted by: Pariah
No, you won't. The biggest difference would be in gaming, but even with an Audigy 2ZS Platinum, optical will limit you to stereo gaming which sort of makes the extra money wasted. Stick with the onboard.

Optical is going to limit me to 2-channel gaming??? Say it isn't so!

 

[Dug]

Originally posted by: Wingznut

Originally posted by: PorBleemo
Argh. These new avatars are screwing me up. 😕

I've been using the same avatar for 2.5 years now. 😛

Originally posted by: Pariah
No, you won't. The biggest difference would be in gaming, but even with an Audigy 2ZS Platinum, optical will limit you to stereo gaming which sort of makes the extra money wasted. Stick with the onboard.

Optical is going to limit me to 2-channel gaming??? Say it isn't so!

Unfortunately it is so. The only way you will get positional sound through a receiver is if you could run a 4.1-5.1 sound card's analog out to the receiver. If your receiver can do pass through of the inputs without applying a sound field (like dolby surround) then it will work. If you decide to go this route, then the Audigy2 is worth the money.

Unfortunately Nforce2 is the only optical out that will allow for 5.1 because it takes the signal a encodes it to 5.1. Of course you loose sound quality slightly because of the encoding on the fly.

If receivers knew what to do with the different sound formats then you could run any optical out to them.

 

[Wingznut]

Originally posted by: Dug
Unfortunately it is so. The only way you will get positional sound through a receiver is if you could run a 4.1-5.1 sound card's analog out to the receiver. If your receiver can do pass through of the inputs without applying a sound field (like dolby surround) then it will work. If you decide to go this route, then the Audigy2 is worth the money.

Unfortunately Nforce2 is the only optical out that will allow for 5.1 because it takes the signal a encodes it to 5.1. Of course you loose sound quality slightly because of the encoding on the fly.

If receivers knew what to do with the different sound formats then you could run any optical out to them.

Well, hell. I guess I'll just stick with my Boston Acoustics, and pick up an Audigy. I'm not impressed with the onboard sound with the newer games (i.e. Far Cry.)