[SOLVED] S/PDIF question

PoWn3d_0704 · 08-16-2009, 09:27 PM

My motherboard... GIGABYTE GA-M59SLI-S5...

has an S/PDIF output on the back of it. I was wondering if i could get better sound off of a sound card... or is directly off the motherboard as good as it gets? this is one area of the PC i have NO idea about.

thanks

Phædrus2401 · 08-16-2009, 09:32 PM

The motherboard sound should be good enough. Unless you're getting a 7.1 surround sound system or are going to be recording music it generally isn't worth it to get a new one.

Phædrus2401 · 08-16-2009, 09:38 PM

Also, if you're going to be using HDMI (as you've indicated in your other thread) then you won't even be using your sound card as that is handled by the sound device on the graphics card.

PoWn3d_0704 · 08-16-2009, 09:45 PM

well... yes but no.

You seem to be answering all my questions huh?

i have a surround sound system in my room with only a fiber optic port and 1 HDMI port. right now i'm using a HMDI cable from the surround to my monitor (with the HDMI DVI thing) or a straight DVI cable to my moitor from PC.

so i use the S/PDIf for sound... but it doesn't seem to want to play games in 5.1 it just sort of blares out of all speakers evenly.

Phædrus2401 · 08-16-2009, 10:01 PM

There's only one other tech online at the moment, that's why I'm all over the place.

I'm not an expert on sound, so I don't want to recommend buying a sound card to fix this problem when it could simply be a setting somewhere. However, if you do buy a sound card I would recommend something from the Creative Sound Blaster line, they're usually quite good, though the model I have seems to have an issue with driver conflicts.

PoWn3d_0704 · 08-16-2009, 10:37 PM

thank you good sir...

you've been a great help... going to close this one.. and hope you can help me on my other thread.

thanks

08-16-2009, 09:27 PM	#1 (permalink)
PoWn3d_0704 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 54 OS: XP pro	[SOLVED] S/PDIF question My motherboard... GIGABYTE GA-M59SLI-S5... has an S/PDIF output on the back of it. I was wondering if i could get better sound off of a sound card... or is directly off the motherboard as good as it gets? this is one area of the PC i have NO idea about. thanks

08-16-2009, 09:32 PM	#2 (permalink)
Phædrus2401 Hardware Tech Team Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: New Orleans Posts: 3,733 OS: Vista Ultimate x64 SP1 + Ubuntu 9.04 My System	Re: S/PDIF question The motherboard sound should be good enough. Unless you're getting a 7.1 surround sound system or are going to be recording music it generally isn't worth it to get a new one. __________________ Good PSU brands: Corsair, SeaSonic, CWT, PC Power and Cooling, Thermaltake Toughpower, CoolerMaster Real Power Pro On 80+ Certification - PSU Information and Selection - Power Supply Myths You don't get what you don't pay for.

08-16-2009, 09:38 PM	#3 (permalink)
Phædrus2401 Hardware Tech Team Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: New Orleans Posts: 3,733 OS: Vista Ultimate x64 SP1 + Ubuntu 9.04 My System	Re: S/PDIF question Also, if you're going to be using HDMI (as you've indicated in your other thread) then you won't even be using your sound card as that is handled by the sound device on the graphics card. __________________ Good PSU brands: Corsair, SeaSonic, CWT, PC Power and Cooling, Thermaltake Toughpower, CoolerMaster Real Power Pro On 80+ Certification - PSU Information and Selection - Power Supply Myths You don't get what you don't pay for.

08-16-2009, 09:45 PM	#4 (permalink)
PoWn3d_0704 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 54 OS: XP pro	Re: S/PDIF question well... yes but no. You seem to be answering all my questions huh? i have a surround sound system in my room with only a fiber optic port and 1 HDMI port. right now i'm using a HMDI cable from the surround to my monitor (with the HDMI DVI thing) or a straight DVI cable to my moitor from PC. so i use the S/PDIf for sound... but it doesn't seem to want to play games in 5.1 it just sort of blares out of all speakers evenly.

08-16-2009, 10:01 PM	#5 (permalink)
Phædrus2401 Hardware Tech Team Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: New Orleans Posts: 3,733 OS: Vista Ultimate x64 SP1 + Ubuntu 9.04 My System	Re: S/PDIF question There's only one other tech online at the moment, that's why I'm all over the place. I'm not an expert on sound, so I don't want to recommend buying a sound card to fix this problem when it could simply be a setting somewhere. However, if you do buy a sound card I would recommend something from the Creative Sound Blaster line, they're usually quite good, though the model I have seems to have an issue with driver conflicts. __________________ Good PSU brands: Corsair, SeaSonic, CWT, PC Power and Cooling, Thermaltake Toughpower, CoolerMaster Real Power Pro On 80+ Certification - PSU Information and Selection - Power Supply Myths You don't get what you don't pay for.

08-16-2009, 10:37 PM	#6 (permalink)
PoWn3d_0704 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 54 OS: XP pro	Re: S/PDIF question thank you good sir... you've been a great help... going to close this one.. and hope you can help me on my other thread. thanks