A question on S/PDIF, the internal header, optical out, and sound cards

[DigitalHermit]

Since Christmas is coming, it's time to plan some stuff if I miss the target savings for the G3258 system..

 

My component system (pictured in my showoff post) has digital in and my mobo has onboard S/PDIF but only has an internal header for it (shared with front audio)...

 

I'd like to be able to connect my PC to the component system via optical...

 

Is there any way to do this without getting a sound card (since I don't need one... The onboard on this mobo is pretty good...)?

[thekeemo]

your motherboard doesnt have s/pdif support period

[QueenDemetria]

Is there any way to do this without getting a sound card (since I don't need one... The onboard on this mobo is pretty good...)?

Nope, for optical audio you will need a soundcard. The S/PDIF on your motherboard is for the Coaxial type which is completely different.

[DigitalHermit]

your motherboard doesnt have s/pdif support period

? Is this different from ATAPI?

 

 

Nope, for optical audio you will need a soundcard. The S/PDIF on your motherboard is for the Coaxial type which is completely different.

That kinda sucks... The other PCIe slot is being blocked by my GPU heatsink, so I'm stuck with legacy PCI...

The only soundcards I can find here are the low-end Xonars and no-name ones... And most of them don't even have optical out which makes things pointless...

[QueenDemetria]

That kinda sucks... The other PCIe slot is being blocked by my GPU heatsink, so I'm stuck with legacy PCI...

The only soundcards I can find here are the low-end Xonars and no-name ones... And most of them don't even have optical out which makes things pointless...

You could use a USB soundcard with Toslink(like the Turtle Beach Amigo II or SIIG IC-710112-S1). Honestly cards like the Xonar DG 5.1 aren't that bad if you still wanted to use a PCI card. If you are only using the Toslink then there really isn't much difference between most cards.

[DigitalHermit]

You could use a USB soundcard with Toslink(like the Turtle Beach Amigo II or SIIG IC-710112-S1). Honestly cards like the Xonar DG 5.1 aren't that bad if you still wanted to use a PCI card. If you are only using the Toslink then there really isn't much difference between most cards.

 

Looks like I'm going to have to give up this idea due to the difficulty of looking for parts (too much effort for the benefit)...

 

I'll be looking for a Z/H97 mobo with optical out for the G3258 build instead since it'll be replacing my current build...

 

Thanks for the help...